Review
5 Stars Review-Literary Titan Website, December 30, 2021
Fates Final Destiny by E T McNamara takes the timeless 'Boy next door' love story to a whole new level. Not only do you get an emotionally captivating tale of how true love can stand the tests of fate, but a lesson in history as the characters navigate the difficult times of the Dust Bowl, Great Depression, and subsequent war that followed.
The story begins as we meet two close-knit, farm-owning families who live next door to each other in small-town Goodwell, Oklahoma. Readers get a look into all that goes into farm-life, and the dreams of a different future for some of the characters. We watch as our two main characters, Michael and Cindy, develop from children into teenagers and their neighbor-friendship turns into young love. A devastating event results in their physical separation, but they keep their love alive through love letters filled with hopes and dreams of their future. When a disapproving family member begins to secretly intercept the letters before the other receives them, they are both left heartbroken, believing the other has moved on with their life. Fate takes both characters on separate, interesting journeys- their paths almost leading back to each on several occasions, but the timing never seems to be right. The wonder of whether fate will ever work in their favor leaves the reader entranced in the story, rooting for their happily ever after.
Readers will enjoy this fascinating literary hybrid of part love story, part historical fiction. Readers with military ties will find solidarity reading through these turbulent stories. Getting a look into the emotions of soldiers making life and death decisions as they lived through war, and the subsequent mental and physical effects that stay with them, was educational, eye-opening, and will no doubt increase the understanding and empathy for all that serve.
Fates Final Destiny is an inspiring tale of love lost and the journey to find footing in an ever-changing world. This memorable book will appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction, romance, and war drama.
Pages: 371 | ASIN : B098VZC135
From the Author
Fate's Final Destiny is a novel inspired by the period of American history that "Our Greatest Generation" helped to make famous. It begins on the battlefield of Iwo Jima during World War II and goes back in time to the Oklahoma Panhandle. The story chronicles the lives of two young friends from Goodwell, Oklahoma, growing up during the turbulent times of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. One of the book's goals was to have accurately set the stage as they grow into young adults full of hopes and dreams, only to have those dreams shattered by world events.
Goodwell had initially been chosen by simply looking at a map of Oklahoma. It seemed to be as logical a choice as any, and it became the setting for the novel. As the story progressed, it became apparent that Goodwell was the right choice. Besides the correct geographic location, it possessed the people of that generation that endured tremendous hardship and exemplified the American Spirit. They were hard-working and family-oriented. They had great faith, and they used their faith to help them persevere through the toughest of times.
Although the plot is about fictitious people, the story's framework is about actual historical events. Much research was needed to represent the era and the characters as accurately as possible, but written publications can only provide facts. What was needed was the human perspective. Gaining this viewpoint would require talking to people from the Oklahoma Panhandle who not only lived there but were also able to impart their recollections of the past. Thus, what began as an attempt to write a historically based drama became a journey of discovery. Besides justifying the selection of Goodwell for the novel, the friendliness, and cooperation of the residents of Goodwell and the surrounding area were impressive. Their efforts to help a perfect stranger trying to fill in the missing bits of local history were note-worthy. The acknowledgment section that follows will mention who they were. But more importantly, having been able to talk with them reinforced the belief in the American spirit. It is alive and well in Goodwell, as I am sure it is in similar small towns across our great nation.
Perhaps, this endeavor's most significant, enlightening, and emotional experiences came from researching our Navy Nurses' role in the Pacific during World War II. Once again, nothing could provide as much insight into the real thing as much as speaking with someone who experienced it firsthand. Through the generous help of the Navy Nurse Corps Association, I was fortunate to interview one of the last remaining U.S. Navy Flight Nurses from World War II. Lieutenant Jacqueline (Jacquet) Melvin was one of the original "Angels of the Airfields" and was on the ground in Okinawa evacuating severely wounded Marines and Sailors while the fighting was still going on. It was an honor and a privilege to have been able to speak with her. It was an experience of a lifetime. Sadly, Jacqueline (Jacquet) Melvin passed away shortly after, three months shy of what would have been her 100th birthday.
As with the enthusiastic and helpful people of Goodwell, there were others from the Navy Nurse Corps Association who were of great assistance. They, too, will be mentioned in the book's acknowledgment section. An added benefit was developing friendships with the people who were instrumental in providing the information needed to accurately portray the life and times of one of the central characters. Besides the oral histories provided, the copies of photographs, letters, personal notes, and log entries made writing the novel easier and more insightful.
It was vital to have accurate facts as well as a precise timeline. Therefore every effort was made to ensure that the dates involving the characters' actions correctly corresponded to the real-time historical events. This exactness meant checking minor events such as the release dates of any movies mentioned in the book. And although the characters in the novel are not real, the other stories and people they interact with are. Therefore, the challenge was to make it difficult for the reader to separate the story's fiction from real-life events. If the characters seamlessly blend into those times and events, these efforts will have been successful. Finally, to keep the dialogue authentic to the times and situations, apologies are extended to anyone or groups that might have taken offense for the necessary choice of words. Although not considered politically correct today, any derogatory terms or expressions were historically accurate and used commonly three generations ago when this story takes place.
Finally, although the story is by no means a reference work, great effort was made to infuse as many fascinating facts of that era as possible. That included searching for the lesser-known stories behind the better-known events of that period. Often it required searching multiple sources to both understand and confirm those stories. By the conclusion of the research, the result was having a better understanding of how important it is never to forget that crucial period of American history and the people who lived it. They indeed were the "Greatest Generation."
