I Read a Lot of Books

For regular readers of this website (hi, Mom), you are aware I have a thing for Amy Stewart books.  I’ve read about worms, how to make alcohol from plants, killer bugs, etc… So when I saw she had a fiction book coming out that wasn’t about natural earth science, I was intrigued. I honestly did not expect to like it. I thought, “How can someone who is that talented with non fiction write a novel?” I also wasn’t too thrilled about the genre. Historical fiction sometimes annoys me as authors very easily fall into the pitfall of trying to address every single historical event that happened at a certain time period which is illogical. I’m proud to report that Stewart’s book was not only well written, but good fun and while it didn’t go so far to restore my faith in the genre in general, it DID give me faith that one of my favorite authors delivers yet again, and in the most surprising way.

Girl Waits With Gun is the strong female lead (based on a real woman) that this era has been looking for. Constance Kopp (our main character) is a bit unconventional for her age, a tall spinster who runs a household with her sisters out in the country, she isn’t your typical damsel in distress. Constance’s story starts the same year WWI began. At the time she’s a respectable old maid with a slightly unconventional household. As the story progresses, Constance is involved in an accident with an automobile. She and her sisters are not at fault and when they attempt to press for payment for the damages they incurred, a bad situation turns worse quickly. She uncovers a criminal element and is forced to defend her small farm and help the local sheriff in the process. On top of all this she also must manage her baby sister’s theatrical aspirations as well as her other sister’s passion for all things carrier pigeon. While the subject matter of the book is very serious (we cover wealth disparity, gender equality, unplanned pregnancy, etc) the tone is a bit irreverent and bouncy, for lack of a better word. There is a lightness to the story that does not make the dark bits seem depressive or overly hopeless. In short, the reader believes in Constance’s ability to find the right solutions in just the right situations… though there are many surprises along the way.

I most enjoyed Constance’s progression as a person. We meet her in a very specific time of life, and a very specific station, but through well placed flashbacks we see the Constance that once was, and through her actions and bravery fighting criminals when the norms at the time suggest she should have been better served letting the menfolk deal with the problems, we catch a glimpse of the Constance that might one day be. Stewart’s prose style is well suited to creating charming characters, the Kopp sisters Constance, Norma, and Fleurette are unlikely justice keepers, but their personal quirks are so vivid one can’t help but think that Stewart knows women like this.

I have recommended this book to several people, while I think it might appeal more to women who read, I think it contributes much to the idea of historical fiction in general. Stewart clearly researched and in cases has used actual newspaper quotations. This is what I would expect from a nonfiction writer that moves into historical fiction. Her historical notes section at the end shows her thoughtful study and what parts of the story were invented entirely. I loved this book and can’t wait for the sequels to see where the Kopp sisters will take us.