Two young kids really don’t belong in the room at the back of a saloon and brothel, but when Jane saw them bringing their sick father into town for treatment, she knew they couldn’t stay in the sick camp either. Calamity Jane really is the last person anyone would consider “motherly”, but it doesn’t take long for Jimmy and his sister Hour to gain a special place in her heart. But Calamity’s life in Deadwood is rife with stress given her reputation as a bit reckless and raging alcoholic. Will Jane be able to care for the kids, or will it be calamity for all of them?
Michelle Rene has made a name for herself in the historical and speculative fiction markets, with her novel Hour Glass winning several awards in 2017. This novel is loosely based on “Calamity” Jane Canary’s life in Deadwood and beyond – her work with the military and to keep the settlers of Deadwood safe and her time in the traveling Wild West shows. In particular, this novel focuses on her time in Deadwood as a nurse and humanitarian. Rene delivers a compelling tale about the smallpox epidemic across the western frontier and it’s youngest victims – the orphaned children left behind. At it’s core, this is a tale of friendship and good hidden behind some of the most infamous stories of the western expansion.
I give Hour Glass 4 out of 5 stars. I really liked the portrayal of Calamity Jane as both a humanitarian and a troubled soul. I also liked the juxtaposition of the children against the rough world of the Deadwood miners’ camp and the saloon. However, the author’s portrayal of Hour’s autistic behaviors felt like a crutch – something not needed to further the story, and pushed to the front of the story in very awkward ways that made me cringe. After years apart, the journey to care for Jane in her final days and bury her in Deadwood also felt contrived. Additionally, I was troubled by the “romance” between the 12-year-old Jimmy and one of the brothel girls. With that said, I found myself enjoying the western tale – it reminded me of the 1950’s western romances, especially the Doris Day 1953 movie “Calamity Jane” set in Deadwood as well.
I would direct this novel to more mature audiences over the age of 16. With themes of alcoholism, violence against women, prostitution, and death, this may be a harder read for the younger audiences. If you love the old western movies like I do, you may really enjoy this book!
I chose Hour Glass for the US States Reading Challenge prompt “South Dakota”. I honestly didn’t read the blurb on this one before I picked it up, so I was pleasantly surprised to find one of my favorite American West celebrities as the main focal point. Calamity Jane had a troubled and varied life, and sorting the facts from the fiction is not easy given Jane’s own habits of embellishing the truth to win over an audience. Her own “autobiography” and other marketing materials published during her stint in the Wild West shows often contradicted each other as well as established factual records. One thing we do know about Jane, and the author included in her writing, was her humanitarianism and need to protect. She often jumped in to protect women in the frontier territories, as well as the elderly and infirm. I used to watch a lot of old western movies with my grandparents and “Calamity Jane” was a common repeat for me. Do you know the movie? Share your memories with me in the comments!
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