I really loved the look into the past. The author shares his knowledge of the eras in such a way as you will find yourself as a witness to the story, the visual takes you to 1765 where you'll see a young officer as he writes his diary/log. His account of the daily challenges met in the soldier's interactions with the tribal parties sets the tone for the rest of the book. A winding road through some of the more turbulent periods in history. Read and learn.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I enjoyed this book so much. Highly recommend.

I loved this read. It was so very different to anything else I've previously read. I loved how it was spread across different eras involving different yet in many ways, similar characters. It was well written with captivating characters. It's one I won't forget in a hurry.

Richard Snodgrass wrote this story about two stories going on at once,or in the past and one in the future where it surrounds a book that was written by a soldier a very long time ago A girl goes looking for her mother that was suppose to be with this solider and wants to find out what happened to her and the solider who was taking care of this fort.. then it jumps to a brother and sister who find the book,who are related to the solider so long ago,his book he wrote, but the sister tells the brother it's a love potion book. The sister teases her brother to examine her body. Then you n back to the girl and the man with no hands and then back to the brother and sister where the sister is being sent away cause the two were found out on this game they are playing. I don't know,I read I just didn't see what the point of the stories were and how they were tied together if they were suppose to be.Maybe when you read this book you will understand I just didnt..but don't let me stop you from reading this and my review.. I will read another book from this author cause he can write and tell a story but this story and I just didn't click! Received from Net Gallery!

Another thoroughly enjoyable read from Richard Snodgrass, an author who deserves to be much better known in my opinion. This latest novel is another instalment in his Furnass series, taking us back to the origins of the iron town, which we normally visit in a contemporary setting. The novel is “a story within a story within a story”, focusing on the journal of Thomas Keating, a Scottish ensign of the Black Watch whose adventures in the 1750s begin when he is sent to find out what has happened at a remote outpost during the Indian Wars. It’s an often brutal tale, and we are not spared any of that brutality. Keating starts his journal in the aftermath of a savage attack, and the book eventually makes its way to the children of the first ironmaster in Furnass. Three different times, three different linked tales, three perspectives, all come together in a satisfying, compelling and well-paced narrative. The dialogue feels authentic, the characterisation is nuanced, the setting vivid and the historical accuracy convincing.

3.5 / 5.0

When I initially saw this book and its description, I was tickled. As a member of a reenacting 42nd Royal Highlander regiment of the French and Indian War, I am always on the prowl for historical fiction accounts based on strong research to help me in my portrayal of a woman attached to the regiment on campaign in North America. Although this book did not help me much in that regard, it still provided some interesting tidbits regarding regimental daily life and the area around Fort Pitt (present day Pittsburgh, PA).

It is an interesting premise to have the daily journal of a Black Watch ensign be the center point of the stories across three time periods, (1817, 1776, 1765). However, the incestuous beginning and ending of the book really was quite jarring and I'm not certain of its necessity to the story. I personally would have been content with the 1765 writing period and the 1776 recounting of the journal. Be that as it may, the author does a spectacular job of describing the wilderness in which an outpost to Fort Pitt is situated. As for the details of the military attire described in the journal, there were a few which could be improved. ("shoulder belt" = baldric, "leggings" = diced hose, "tunic" = regimental). I therefore could not recommend this story to my my fellow highland reenactors. It would only disappoint and frankly, frustrate.

As I've mentioned, the writing is highly descriptive and painterly. However, the constant utilization of periods at the ends of phrases and limited complete sentences, was irritating to this reader. When used on occasion, it can be quite effective; when so often - just affected. With references to 18th century philosopher, David Hume, there was a strong sense of philosophical ponderings throughout the book, thus giving the reader opportunity to pause and reflect. It is strongly juxtaposed with the gory details of a soldier's life in native American country of the wilderness. If a story on colonial soldiering, replete with sex and gore appeals, then this may be a good choice for you.

I am grateful to author Richard Snodgrass and Calling Crow Press for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review.

More than a 3, but not enough to round up, primarily due to the incestuous storyline bookending the novel, a small piece of the book overall, but enough to impact the rating. I appreciate the chance to read this through net galley in exchange for an honest review which I know you will believe this is.

The feel overall was deeply atmospheric. The setting and time, the area around Fort Pitt just prior to the American Revolution, at that time a frontier pushing against and through Native American populations who warred as much with one another as they did the colonists. The time back and forth between the two major storylines flowed easily. The leads, a Scotsman not truly yet a man finding himself in command after a decision to delay a potentially easy married life in Edinburgh with nagging philosophical questions he sought to answer. And a heroine of dubious morals who made choice after choice to challenge those philosophies.

The description of the natural world was delicious in detail and greatly supported visualization. I decided to reach this book because it did in fact offer something different from my usual fare, and I am glad I did. I look forward to checking out more of Snodgrass's work as this is past of a series.

Basically 4 plot lines in one...although one was weak and I’m not sure why the most “modern” segment was necessary. Shock value, perhaps? I enjoy historical fiction and really wanted to love this, but it fell a little flat for me. The intertwining of the diary and the reading of the diary was clever, but just didn’t make up for the incestuous arc or the love triangle motivation that seemed to interrupt the flow.

To say this is a strange book would be an understatement. If your head enjoys bouncing around like a basketball a decade or two at a time this is your book. A little hysterical romance. A tidbit of incest. Not quit bigamy. A boy and girl are playing showing and tell in the own little harbor. The boy years later finds himself wandering in academia in Scotland and falls in love with an undergrad who is in love with Hume. She tries to get the green-eyed dragon to show itself but she has other fish to consume.

The insanity drives him to black watch and the colonies in the era of the French and Indian Wars. He ends up at an outpost with Indians behind every tree. There is also an Indian maide3n that he spends a few nights with, as they get to know each other as well as they possibly can, or do they. Out of all those going out only he and the squaw come back, and she is dying from a miscarriage. His life goes on.

All this is seen through the eyes of a double amputee as he reads an old journal to a young lady, who is now at the same outpost, but years later. Included in the journal is why his older sister was forced to leave home, recalling yet another tryst. Why he up and left home and joined the Black Watch. Oh and how the amputee lost his hands.

I would normally give this book about a four for all the synapses that had to fire, but I am a sucker for texture and word pictures and it had them in the proper quantity.

Courtesy of NetGalley, I received the ARC of A Book of Days by Richard Snodgrass. I chose this book because I was raised in Western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, the site of this novel. This story of a soldier's journal written in Gaelic in 1753, subsequently found by later generations, captured my attention with the magnificent descriptions of the surrounding forested area, the universal horrors of war, the complexities of relationships, and the philosophical wisdom of David Hume.

The Book of Days is an intriguing book. It is a story set within 2 other stories as it tells the journeys of those who find and read the journal of a Scottish soldier- a member of the Black Watch in the 1760’s during Pontiac’s Rebellion in what is now Northwestern Pennsylvania. Across the span of time Richard Snodgrass weaves the stories showing the connectedness of life and love. Within the context of the lives of the soldier and those who find and read his journal, themes of morality, passion, lost innocence, and discrimination are brought to the surface. #bookofdays #amazon

Ensign Thomas Keating, an Engineer with the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, has been sent from Fort Pitt in 1766 to a nearby fort. There he discovers that almost the entire garrison abandoned the fort to defend an Indian village and has not been heard from for several days. He, along with a half Indian woman and the remaining soldiers, set out in pursuit. It seems as if she knows more than what she’ll say about the band of Indians who are following them through the wilderness. Eventually Thomas is trapped, writing a memoir of everything that has happened up to that point.

Ten years later Sara is looking for her mother, arriving at the same place where Thomas spent his last days. There she meets a man with no hands. He found a hidden book, written in Gaelic by Thomas and, over a few days, reads it to Sara. Together they ponder Thomas and her mother Elizabeth’s fate.

In 1817 Colin and Lydia, a brother and sister discover the book, using it as a love pact. Though unable to read it, Lydia imagines it contains secret messages that allows them to commit incest. Colin is enthralled, and is ready to follow whatever path Lydia lays out for him.

Over the years readers will see how Ensign Keating’s voice is applicable to the lives of people who lived years after he died, and discover things about themselves they never knew.

Recommended for Adults,

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The 'Book of Days' is the journal of Thomas Keating, a book which acts as a talisman for two groups of settlers in Pennsylvania; 1776 to mid 19th century, the span of three distinct narratives are linked by the book.
Set pieces - Indian atrocities, sexual awakening, the presence of ghostly animals and people are crossed with the philosophy of David Hume. The Edinburgh culture brings Hume and Keating into contact. This sets up a contrast with the spirit life and beliefs of the indigenous people Keating meets in Pennsylvania.
I felt the book would succeed as a visual construct - film or play - more than as a novel. So many different themes, loose character construction, unfinished thematic suggestions. A work in progress.