By Esther Callens
Award winning New York Times Bestselling Author has returned with another wonderful novel. James McBride’s latest offering, The Good Lord Bird, offers an adventurous story that takes you on an action packed trek through the Wild West. Thoroughly engrossing while enveloping pure humor, The Good Lord Bird is a highly entertaining, good read.
James McBride has a knack when it comes to writing brilliant tales based upon historical events and people. As with The Good Lord Bird, he is holding true to his calling. With his new narrative, readers are introduced to Henry Shackleford. Henry is a slave living in Kansas during the 1800s. As a young child, Henry is taken by the legendary, Bible spewing, slave abolitionist John Brown when a quarrel occurs at Henry’s master’s place. After emancipating Henry, John perceives Henry to be a girl. He also thinks Henry, aka Henrietta, is his good luck charm and begins to call him “Onion.”
John and his band of misfits go on numerous raids with Onion in tow. It is during this time that Onion learns a lot about survival. However, dissension separates John’s crew and Henry is finally on his own. This proves to be short lived as John reconnects with Onion just in time for the famous 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry which went down in history as the spark that fired the Civil War.
Laced with historical reference James McBride has once again proven he is the master of storytelling. The authenticity of his characters makes it seems as through the actual novel is being played out right before your very eyes.
The Color Of Water, Miracle At St. Anna and Song Yet Song are James McBride’s award winning titles. Aside from writing, McBride is an accomplished musician as well – having written songs for Anita Baker, Grover Washington, Jr. and others. Currently, McBride is on a 20 city tour and he will be at The Alabama Booksmith on Thursday, August 22nd at 5 p.m.
