JoAnn G. (bookwoman28) reviewed on 9/6/2006 + 166 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 3

This is a fictionalized version of the author's family memoirs as early settlers in the Territory of New Mexico, which includes present-day Arizona. It focuses mainly on the woman, Sarah Prine, who over the course of a difficult lifetime grew from a nearly illiterate young wife to a courageous, self-educated, and wise leader of her family and community. I found the early parts of the book, in which the author too faithfully reproduces Sarah's rough grammar and ill-chosen vocabulary - this is one of the disadvantages of writing in the first person in this kind of memoir. But that problem does lessen over time, as Sarah's writing begins to reflect her intellectual growth. I read this for my book club and most of the members found it fascinating and well worth reading.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details