Hello Friends- It’s me Hillary-
This week, I finally read a book that was loaned to me way too long ago to mention (sorry Jessica!!!). I read “These is My Words”, by Nancy E. Turner. This is one of those rare cases where I did actually judge the book by the cover, and the inside cover, and was still in no hurry. So, when I finally looked at this book, looking back at me, and the guilt of having it for so long, I picked it up. It took about 20 pages or so before I was glued, but once I was glued, I was glued. This book is fantastic!
The story is inspired by real family events, introducing us to an amazing person who is Sarah Prine. The novel takes place between 1881 through 1901 starting in Oregon and finishes off in New Mexico.
The novel is unique because it is written in the format of a journal. However, for the most part, it doesn’t read much like a journal. The story tells of Sarah’s family chosing to move from the Oregon area to New Mexico via wagons, foot and horseback. Sarah is the only girl of 5 children, having had one sister die not long after birth. The trail starts out with excitment and fun, however as time passes, we soon read of the heartache from family being killed by attacking Indians, attacking illness and the pain of men with bad intentions. When they reach one of the forts, they are further accompanied by a troup from the army that helps to protect and guide them the remainder of the trek. Though there is much pain, there is also much hope, as Sarah’s dear friend marries her brother, and Sarah begins feelings of innocent, young love.
When they reach their destination, life does not suddenly become easy, as they are still in Indian territory, still have criminals that wander from home to home, seeking innocence, and there is still the pang of death.
As all of this is going on, we learn that Sarah Prine is no ordinary woman. She is fiercly independent, strong, caring and overall an amazing woman. The book is not without humor, as in one instance, she is headed to the new bank to deposit money she has earned on her own.
“I went to one of the [teller] windows and introduced myself, and after I told the man what I wanted to do, he had the gall to sniff in my face and tell me to let my husband handle my money and not trouble myself with the confusion of it all.”
“Oh, I said, how confusing is it? If it makes you confused I surely don’t want this bank holding my five hundred dollars. Well, he perked right up and said, five hundred dollars? Mrs. Elliot, I believe we can be of service to you after all…
we offer one point nine percent interest, annually, he said.”
“I stood up. Well, I told him, I can turn this around in supplies and stock and see about twenty-five percent on cattle as long as there is no drought, and a hundred and fifty percent on soap, more if there is a drought. It’s a little at a time, but it comes right in steady as a clock. In case that’s confusing to you, Mister, it’s called profit.” and up she left. Gotta love gumption!
And seriously how often do we, as “modern” women feel this same way:
“All day long I was at wit’s end alone with these children, and just barely heated up some scraps of beef from yesterday…to make a stew, when here comes Jack (her hubby) and some other soilder I don’t even know as company for dinner, and on top of that asked me to cut his hair and draw him a bath as he was too tired to haul the water.” (the soldier took one look at her and politely excused himself) “When he left, I turned to Jack Elliot and said “If you are too tired to haul water, you are too tired to bathe in it, and I am fit to be tied. Your supper is on the stove…and April has lost the scissors under the house through a crack in the floor so there will be no haircut tonight. If that don’t please you, then I will put on a uniform and ride out of here tomorrow morning and chase around the countryside and you can wear this apron and tend these crying chidren and this drafty house from dark to dark and then tell me you think I should haul you a bath.”
My kind of woman.
There is definite cause that this book has won awards. I would recommend it even for the reader who does not enjoy a pioneer story as it has less to do with the pioneers and more to do with just Sarah. I highly recommend it!
ftc fyi- borrowed for a looonnng time- but gave it back yesterday.
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