Island Of Wings [Paperback]

The islands of St. Kilda, a windswept archipelago off the coast of Scotland, are the setting for a profoundly moving novel that pits the zeal of missionary Neil MacKenzie against centuries of tradition, the minister forcing a harsh and judgmental God on natives who have known only superstition, the guidance of ancestors and the reliability of seasons, either an abundance of arriving birds they harvest for sustenance or grueling winters when Hirta, the only inhabitable island, is scoured by violent storms. Like the extremities of the weather, the missionary's worldview is equally stark, the stubborn beliefs of the St. Kildans unacceptable, MacKenzie urging acceptance of civilization and "the purifying property of the heart's sorrow", available only to repentant sinners. Brought ashore in 1830 with his pregnant young wife, MacKenzie seeks redemption for past sins, convinced God's forgiveness will be secured by reshaping the lives of primitive islanders mired in ignorance.

Altenberg's descriptions of the islands are extraordinary, a sky filled with beating wings, the joyful shouts of natives racing to gather nature's bounty, barren cliffs dotted with thick-walled dwellings built by ancestors, a democratic community untainted by ambition or greed, a remote place where a troubled man searches for affirmation of his work, the landscape of his soul barren and exposed, the progress of his subjects the proving ground for his worth. Success is measured through the community (his mission) and the state of his marriage. The unconsciously beautiful Lizzie MacKenzie bedevils her husband, a temptress who speaks to his baser instincts and diverts him from his holy goal. Their newly-begun relationship breeds hope in a lonely woman's heart, but this man of God's demons run deep, not easily expelled by affection or compassion, Lizzie's most damning observation that Neil is "the bravest of churchmen and most cowardly of men".

His hope for redemption threatened at every turn, by the native population and at home, the MacKenzie's endure hardships and brief periods of happiness, children both living and dead, as Lizzie learns to embrace this gentle community, while Neil berates his parishioners with God's wrathful judgment. Recreating a unique civilization before the assault of those who dictate religious and political governance, the old ways are rejected by the Christian message, the natives' humanity found inferior by pompous do-gooders cloaked in the same hypocrisy that insulates Rev. MacKenzie from himself. The result is hypnotic, a love affair with the St. Kildans and a lonely minister's wife, with an isolated island coexisting with nature's fury- and the tragedy of an obsessed man's futile quest, pitiful against the panorama of life on Hirta. I am bereft at the end of this tale, saddened to leave the enchantment of a world so beautifully imagined. Luan Gaines/2011.

I read this book for three challenges. My Around the World challenge which I can knock Scotland off my list because this book takes place on the the island of St. Kilda which is off the coast of Scotland. I also read this for my RCC Challenge, and the NetGalley 2012 Reading Challenge.

My first love is history, I had to sit through hours and hours of The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel etc. as a kid thanks to my dad so unlike a lot of other kids, I actually love history. This has translated into a great love for historical fiction and while you haven't seen me review a lot of these titles don't worry :) The reviews are coming I'm just trying to branch out an explore other genres.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I was kind of hesitant to read it because I learned that the book wasn't originally published in English and sometimes when a novel gets translated things get lost...in translation. Sorry, I had to say it. Anyways, I was a little concerned but I quickly realized my fears were misplaced.

Karin Altenberg has written a beautiful novel that is based on a real man Neil McKenzie who really was a reverend on the Island of St. Kilda. I thought that Karin did a fantastic job for getting the tone of her novel perfect. In my opinion she did an excellent job of recreating life during that time. Most of all I love how you could sense that she wrote every word with conviction.

The author also has a gift at creating characters that actually evoke emotions. Lizzie, Neil's young wife was my favourite character. I hated how Neil treated her and made her feel weak and stupid. However I'm glad to see that she grew as a character throughout the whole novel. I felt so bad for her. She's thrust into a new life, on an isolate island where her husband is the only one that can speak English with her, she's also coming to terms with her impending motherhood and struggling to find the real Lizzie.

I personally HATED Neil. The way he treated Lizzie was abhorrent to me and the fact that he treated her so poorly to make up for his own mistakes sickened me. However, just because I hate Neil and wanted to strangle him at several points in the book I feel that Karin wrote him very realistically. I did not agree with Neil much throughout the book if ever. I know that he went to St. Kilda with good intentions but I think he failed the islanders in a lot of ways. Most of all I hated how he looked down on them from his holier than thou pedestal that he placed himself on. It really irritated me but it worked for the novel as a whole.

I also enjoyed the setting. I felt as if I were actually in the places where scenes in the book took place. She was descriptive without overdoing it and that enabled her to write the scenes beautifully. It's wonderful to find an author who is skilled at making the reader feel as if they are present in the novel.

I think that this book was rich in history and though I didn't always see eye to eye with Neil I think that Karin Altenberg is extremely adept at creating characters, she makes them so realistic you can't help but admire her skill in writing. The novel as a whole is a great example of a debut author writing a fantastic piece of historical fiction.

I would have absolutely no problem recommending this book to anyone. I especially recommend it to lovers of historical fiction and those who may be new to the genre. It's great book and is now one of my new favourites. I can see myself reading this one again and again.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my freehonest review.

I have been a history buff since the dawn of time, or at least since I first read the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I fell in love with being able to live life as others did, even if it was vicariously. I picked this book because the New Hebrides Islands were an area that I had never explored before, which intrigued me. I had read many books about and taking place in Scotland, but never anything in this particular area. The first thing that amazed me about this book was the author's portarayal of the lives of the Islanders and how bleak it was. The next amazing thing was that the Reverend McNeil and his wife were actaul historical characters, and not just fictional characters that the author used to describe the story. The story of the lives of the Reverend and his wife was fascinating, as was the underlying history. There were many characters that engendered both interest and sympathy. In short, I was not disappointed in Karin Altenbergs portrayal of the lives of The Reverend McNeil and his wife, their time on the Island of St. Kilda, and the lives of the Islanders. As with a lot of the good historical fiction that I have read, this book has enticed me to read and learn more about the Reverend McNeil, the Island of St. Kilda, and the changes in the Church of Scotland that were occurring at this time. In my mind there is no higher praise than that.