This book is so fabulous that I was half-way through it and already wanting to read it again. This is one I plan to own so I can read it again and again. Since I'm not a big re-reader, that's about the biggest endorsement I can give. I finished this on the way home from Texas, and raved so much about it that Brian decided to read it too. He flew through it and loved it as well. This is a must read!
My only warning is that this diary-style novel starts out with a little bit of poor spelling and grammer to reflect the character's lack of formal learning at the time. Don't worry that the whole book reads like that. It's really just a few pages at the beginning until her grammer improves.
Okay, one more warning. Be prepared to lose sleep over this book. You won't want to put it down.
Here's a blurb from Amazon. (They have two blurbs, and the first contains spoilers, so be careful if you go there...)
"This novel in diary format parallels the early history of the Arizona Territories as Sarah and her family travel from the New Mexico Territory and settle down to carve out a new life on a ranch near Tucson in the 1880s. Sarah's diary, based on the author's family memoirs, is a heartwarming and heartbreaking fictional account of a vibrant and gifted young woman. Sarah starts out as an illiterate, fiery 17 year old. Eventually, her writing becomes as smooth and polished as Sarah herself as she becomes a tenacious, literate, and loving wife and mother. A treasure trove of discovered books becomes the source of her self-education. Turner describes the trip in such detail that one has a sense of having traveled with Sarah, experiencing all of its heartache and sadness, its backbreaking exertion and struggles, its danger and adventure, its gentle and lighter moments. Life in the new country brings the constant fear of Indian raids and the threat and reality of floods, fire, and rattlesnakes; bandits; rough men, and pretentious women all have an effect on the protagonist but her strong marriage makes the effort worthwhile. Sarah centers her world around her home and family but maintains an independent spirit that keeps her whole and alive throughout her many trials and heartaches. This is a beautifully written book that quickly captures readers' attention and holds it tightly and emotionally until the end."
6 comments:
I was the SAME way! I don't think I have ever read a book more than once, except maybe The Hiding Place. And halfway through this one, I wanted to start over again to reabsorb every single little detail. Ah! When I finished, I wanted to read it again too (but had to move on to other more depressing books... lol). I absolutely loved the book.
Ooh, I MUST read this book! I keep putting it on my "to do" list, but somehow, my list keeps shoving it to the bottom. Yeesh!
Rachel lent that book to me and I ended up giving it back because I just couldn't get myself to start reading it. After hearing so many great reviews on this book, I guess it's time to borrow it again and make another attempt at reading it.
LOVED this book! It's my new number 1 favorite.
Donna, you need to read the other two in the series. I loved them as well. "Sarah's Quilt" and "The Star Garden." I think there are waiting lists at the library so get yourself on them!
I actually read Sarah's Quilt, but didn't like it as much as the first. I think I'd like it better on the re-read, though, now that I'm adjusted to a certain plot element that I didn't like at first. (I don't want to post any spoilers, but you can probably guess what I'm talking about.)
I haven't read Star Quilt yet, but I'm on the list at the library. Amy says people usually like the first book the most, the last book the second most, and the second book least.
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