Sons of Blackbird Mountain (A Blackbird Mountain Novel)

I have been anxiously waiting to read this book. The author is a superb storyteller and makes the historical details precise and interesting. The three brothers are each different but blend well together to make a strong family. I would love to visit their orchard and partake in harvesting the apples. It was easy to picture the land with such vivid descriptions that the author uses. Cider was plentiful and the family made a great living but it sure was hard work.

Thor was very much my favorite character. He reminds me of a gentle giant. He is deaf and mute but the author does an exceptional job of showing how to interact with him through sign language. Thor has gotten a taste for the hard cider. At times I thought he could be dangerous, show more but it really was to ease the pain Thor has dealt with for so long. Will he be strong enough to give up the hard cider? The struggles he goes through are heart wrenching and I felt tears gather in my eyes for him.

Aven is quite a determined young woman. When she finds out that her aunt has passed, she realizes that now she is there in the Appalachians with three grown men and no place to go. I think I would be a bit uncomfortable around them, but soon Aven seems to settle in and start working to help the brothers. What happens when the brothers start to show their attraction to Aven? The dynamics of the time Aven and Thor spent together is worth every moment as the author sweeps readers up in a whirlwind of understanding, devotion and respect. I can't say enough about how beautiful the story is and how gifted the author is in writing a story that captures the time period in perfection.

The story does have some intrigue in it that pits brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor. There are some moments that I almost held my breath not knowing what was about to happen. The ending is pure beauty and gives us a glimpse into the next book. I will be counting down the days until I get to continue this enchanting story of brothers who hold honor with the highest regard and love that heals wounds that have been buried deep beneath the surface.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. show less

Sons of Blackbird Pond will go down as one of the best books I have read in 2018. The world of the late 1800s Appalachia comes alive in this beautifully written and richly detailed novel. This one really made an impression on me — I will be thinking about it for a long time. It gets the very rare very highly recommended rating from me.

Bischof has done her homework. The setting of the novel is an apple farm and cidery in the mountains of Virginia. This reader could almost smell the rich aromas of apples, cider, and woodsmoke. Vividly told with a wealth of historic detail, the novel explores the family dynamics and the community relationships of the Norgaard family. Former slaves and plantation owners are part of the mix, and Bischof show more presents an unvarnished narrative of those tensions. Of Norwegian heritage and the sons of immigrants, the three Norgaard brothers work together to make a life that is in many ways very fulfilling, but in others, especially for Thor and Haakon, lacks the essentials of what brings joy. A love triangle develops between these two and the widowed wife of a cousin who arrives on their doorstep from Norway. Her presence is a welcome addition to the family, yet brings to a head the complex rivalry of the two brothers. Characterization is strong. The characters’ flaws make them so very real, and I couldn’t help loving them like family too. One theme of the novel is the need to be heard and is poignantly portrayed by Thor who has been deaf from birth. The silence that he endures is a good representation of all who struggle to be heard by men and by God.

While the novel at times takes a dark turn, the overall story is one of hope. Sons of Blackbird Mountain is just the first book in the series, and I look forward to revisiting the Norgaards in Daughters of Northern Shores due out next March. In the meantime, I may have to schedule a re-reading; this one deserves to be savored again and again. Also, I know you’ll want to talk about this book, so grab some friends to read it together.

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Celebrate Lit and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

This was a really captivating story. The way in which the author incorporated ASL and the nuances of siblinghood were unique and kept me wanting more. There were some aspects that were a little cringy, but I still admired the storyline. I was left with some unanswered questions but I see that there is a sequel to this book so hopefully everything will be resolved in that story.

As many books as I've read and enjoyed in 2018, none have touched me as profoundly as Joanne Bischof's Sons of Blackbird Mountain.

Ms. Bischof's story of a young Irish woman finding a new beginning in the home of three Norwegian brothers, who live on a farm in the wilds of Appalachia, is perfectly plotted and beautifully written. Set in the 1890s, every character grabs you with a depth of feeling and personality in a truly unique story--especially the three Norgaard men. (Okay, they rather reminded me quite a lot of my three rough and tumble sons who also farm together and whose birth order and personalities coincide almost bizarrely with these characters. Maybe I was biased the moment the Norgaards started cleaning their guns on the show more kitchen table and one of them climbed up on the high beam to have a look-see down his rifle sight at the Klan approaching their mountaintop home.)

I heard rumblings all around social media about this story before I finally go it on my TBR list, but I'm so glad I finally did. There are so many nuances to this story that will touch you deeply, from the mounting conflict between the main characters as well as outsiders, to the beautiful and tender love story, to the realism and rich history... If you haven't gotten hold of this one yet, add it to your list!

THIS BOOK IS A SPECIAL TREAT IF YOU ARE A WRITER.

As I mentioned above, Sons of Blackbird Mountain is perfectly plotted. Ms. Bischof does an exceptional job of illuminating back story in a way that advances the plot and character development yet never dumps information on the reader. She also takes us deep into the characters' points-of-view by consistently showing without telling. The way she presents the POV of a deaf-mute is artistic.

Read it, highlight it, take notes to see how it's done. If you want to develop your own voice and writing style, it's imperative to read good writing. Ms. Bischof is the kind of writer whose works you want to have on your shelf or Kindle just to study the craft well done. show less

This is Bischof's best work, by far. My review can't do this beautiful book justice, but I'll do my best.

The characters. Just wow. Somehow, Bischof creates such amazing, multi-faceted, realistic characters, and has you in love with them before you even reach the end of chapter two. I loved the female MC, Aven. Her sweet spirit, compassion, kindness, and gentle heart were inspiring, and her struggles were so relatable and realistic. Thor, the male MC, is a bit rough-and-tumble but has such a sweet heart. Being deaf, he struggles to express his true self, but when he does, it's the sweetest thing. I also loved the background characters of Jorgen, Ida, Cora, and even Haakon (at times). I loved Jorgen so much, I almost wish he could have show more his own book . . . or at least a novella, maybe. Words cannot express just how much I absolutely adored all these characters.

The story, while not action-packed, is gripping nonetheless and definitely emotion-packed. My goodness. So many emotions . . . I particularly appreciated the brother relationships; having six brothers, I can attest to the accuracy of the characters' interactions. The brother-sister relationship between Aven and Jorgen was also adorable.
The portrayal of deaf life and sign language was very unique and fascinating. The subject of alcoholism is a tough subject to tackle, but Bischof did it with great grace and raw honesty. Also, the representation of the racial issues of the time, including the Ku Klux Klan, was very interesting and accurate.
I was wary at first of the romance because of the hinted love triangle, but it ended up being very sweet.

Joanne Bischof's writing style is as beautiful and poetic as ever. Her descriptions and dialogue are always on point. The bit of humor thrown in on occasion helped to keep things lighter without detracting from the seriousness of the story. I loved the redemption and faith elements; they were so beyond beautiful and inspiring.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed Sons of Blackbird Mountain, and highly recommend it to lovers of historical fiction! Definitely up there in my top 5 favorite 2018 releases. If you haven't read it yet, you must find yourself a copy and do so!

CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 16 due to mature elements. Alcoholism and addictions play a large part in the story, particularly in the first half. Also, as mentioned, racial issues and issues with the Ku Klux Klan. A few semi-passionate kisses, and vague mentions of intimacysleeping together between a husband and wife. There is also an attempted rape, but nothing happens beyond being roughed up.


FTC disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions. show less

First of all, Joanne Bischof where have you been all my life? I can not believe I have not read this author until now. I am glad I rectified that error and I can't wait to read more by this very talented lady.
I Sooo Loved this novel. It is in my top 5 favorites for this year. I don't know where to start explaining why I loved it so much, but I will try. If you read this book, which I hope you do, you must read Joanne Bischof's explanation at the very beginning. She explains some of the text and why it sounds and is written different. What it is like to speak and write ASL. I believe it helps you understand and enjoy the story. I have a deaf friend, have had the opportunity to be introduced to the deaf community and I am learning ASL. show more Whether Ms. Bischof has personal experience or has spent a great deal of time in researching, I feel she has done an excellent job of representing the deaf community. That is one reason why I was so drawn to this story, but there are many more. She does a great job of developing her characters. There are several complex personalities. Thor, the deaf brother, to me was the most complex. He is not only deaf, but mute and struggles with alcoholism. How she was able to get inside of Thor's head and portray his life and feelings, to me is amazing. The time period is just after the war. There was still so much unrest and injustice going on, especially in the south. Not everything in this book is easy to read and I am sure some parts may have been hard for the author to write. Even though the author doesn't skirt around this and other hard issues, she brings light into the darkness. I would whole heartily recommend this wonderful book. I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through Net Galleys. The opinion expressed in this review is completely my own. show less

The ability to transport a reader to a time and place, to immerse them in a family so thoroughly that they become real, is a gift God’s given Joanne Bischof. Even more impressive is the way she puts readers in the head of a man who can’t communicate like most.

In the first book of her Blackbird Mountain series, we are introduced to the Norgaard brothers. Three men who make a living brewing something that haunted Aven’s marriage with the brothers; cousin.

Both of the younger brothers, Haakon and Thor, have demons they battle, but they approach them differently. Thor is a big, strong hero with a heart of gold when it comes to Aven. He’s willing to do the hard things—fight those demons, learn new things, protect with this show more life—for the woman who has captured his heart.

Aven is enveloped into the family, but it’s the big, quiet Thor who both calls to her heart and offers her the promise and safety of home.
Bischof portrays life in late 19th century Appalachia—complete with feuds and social issues—combined with the depth of characterization make this worth the read alone. Then she goes and adds the detailed descriptions of the Norgaard farm and the scenery that I could almost see (and taste) to once again confirm why this author’s stories are so loved (if you need proof of that, just check out the 100+ Goodreads reviews for Sons of Blackbird Mountain).

This beautiful story of love conquering life’s biggest challenges is one you definitely need to read as soon as you can fit it into your TBR pile (you might want to slip it to the top)! A memorable portrayal of I Corinthians 13:7: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Now, my only question is How long do I have to wait until the next book?

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. show less