’Til All These Things Be Done: A Novel

In a market filled with enjoyable but very similar historical fiction novels, Suzanne Moyers has created a novel that feels fresh and new. Interspersed with chapters set in 1986, when the protagonist is an old woman, it tells the story of Leola Rideout’s adolescence in rural Texas. She dreams of doing more than anyone would expect with her working class upbringing and getting her education, but she knows it won’t be easy. When her father disappears in the midst of an influenza pandemic, it only grows more difficult still.

Leola’s story is a powerful one, but that isn’t the only reason it stands out. There are many powerful stories published lately, enough that even they can blend together. What stands out with Leola is the powerful voice the story is told in, both in narrative and dialogue. Moyers makes the world of the poor in Texas both rich and specific, giving her readers a wealth of details that only add to the novel’s strength.

I highly recommend this book to any fan of historical fiction. It deserves to be one of the most remembered books of the year.