What the Wind Knows – Review – Ashes Books & Bobs

What a delight, to begin the year with one of my most anticipated reads of 2019, by one of my favorite authors of all. Every Amy Harmon book leaves me in awe – completely astonished by the gifts she was endowed with, the feelings she’s able to put into language my brain does not possess. Amy Harmon holds more talent in her little finger than most of us could wish to acquire in a lifetime. That’s why anything I say about her or her books will be an injustice to the greatness she is able to craft in her stories.

What the Wind Knows started off slow for me. It took some time for me to grasp the numerous characters and the history taking place. Granted, I’m not familiar with Irish history, making everything in these pages new to me. I also wasn’t in the correct frame of mind for reading when I started this novel – life hit my family hard in the new year and it’s taken time to adjust. Finally, I was determined to let the characters sweep me away to 1920s Ireland and leave my present world completely behind. I was not disappointed in the least and I cannot say how grateful I am that I was able to escape my own reality for a few hours. The attention to detail in this book made this story come alive in a way I’ve rarely experienced while reading. I could feel the discomfort of the clothing, the confusion of being in a new place and time, and see the world as if I was reading in 3D.

“But the wind and water know all the earth’s secrets. They’ve seen and heard all that has ever been said or done. And if you listen, they will tell you all the stories and sing every song.”

Time-travel is a subject that has always fascinated me from a young age. My imagination is often absorbed by history. I will find myself standing in a place and wonder about the feet that have stood where mine are planted. What the Wind Knows takes this idea and expands upon in it, layer upon beautiful layer. Time is not linear in this story, but annular, leaving readers with a picture of just how connected all of our stories are, if only were are open to listening.

“I loved churches the way I loved cemeteries and books. All three were markers of humanity, of time, of life.”

I highlighted line after line within these pages, again completely awe-struck as I read feelings and thoughts I have experienced, but have never been able to put into words as eloquently as Amy Harmon. The connections to ghosts of the past are sure to leave each reader full of wonder. Once you come up for air, you may not be sure which time period you’re living in, only to realize it truly doesn’t matter. What the Wind Knows grants a shift in perspective, allowing readers to realize what is important has always been important. Love is love, no matter which year we live in. Only our relationships, our legacies of love, and the stories of our passions will be the things that matter in the end.

I don’t know where to begin in describing my admiration for the characters. Being along for the ride through Anne’s perspective was everything I needed, while still getting to experience life through Thomas’s eyes in his journal entries. As Anne fell for Thomas, I did too. He was timeless – simple, yet strong, and completely human. His care for Anne shows the type of love every woman should aspire to find. The dedication and loyalty the characters showed to one another was inspiring and beautifully written. Despite my love for the main three characters, the standout in my mind was Maeve. If she was in the story at the moment I was reading, you can be sure there were tears flowing the majority of the time. She gave the story a nostalgic feel I reveled in.

Thank you, Amy Harmon, for the chance to read an ARC and for kicking my reading year off with a bang. My words are inadequate, but I hope they will encourage readers to pick this book up and stick with the story throughout. The ending made my heart swell and my eyes swim with tears – just try to read this one without shedding a tear or two. This beauty will hit your Kindles on March 1, or if you are impatient, pick up a hardcover on February 1st. You will not be disappointed.

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