It's very rare that I give up on a book I'm reading. Whether I love it or not, I tend to be a "finisher" because there is usually something to be learned by reading - in this case, learning about the history of the settlement of Louisiana. Although the historical setting and the detailed description of the scenery of the time is exquisite, the plot is confusing and the characters never really cause the reader to care about their relationships or to empathize with their situations.
I found it quite difficult to connect to the characters in the novel. The young Elizabeth Savaret is sent to the colony as a potential wife for one of the settlers. She is wed to Jean-Claude Babelon, who she finds herself in love with. Although he seems to be attracted to her as well, their relationship never really blossoms. She has a number of failed pregnancies, while he travels often, trading with the Indians, and has an affair with an Indian slave. Halfway through the book, he is murdered. As I read, I never really felt invested in the outcome of their relationship nor did I care what happened after his death as she tried to move on without him. There is a hint of romance between Elizabeth and Auguste, Jean's friend who has been raised in the Ouma tribe, but nothing materializes between them. Eventually, Elizabeth remarries, not for love, and I read no further after that.
Overall, this book painted a beautiful picture of a historical time and place, reminiscent of an impressionistic Monet painting, but lacked the emotional connection to characters or plot that appeals to me as a reader.
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