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Mammamel
07-12-2008, 07:18 AM
It is not often I find my self this way. With idle hands and lonesome mind. On such occasions I reach for my decent size collection of prairie books. Or read through a craft book.



Today was different. I wanted something new, unfamiliar. My Bible holds many treasures that would give my mind work to do. Today I wanted to play. So I left my Bible history study and turned to a book I got a few months ago. (Has it really been since May that I had planned to read this book?)


I longed to read of times past, but not so past as the pioneers that normally become my friends on such days. Still I longed to read of making do, and stretching, and Faith. Things all needed in these mild but troubling times.



So I turn to the book Shiloh Autumn by Bodie and Brock Thoene. I remember buying this book because a quote from it touched me so deeply. I forget now the quote, or where I saw it, but it hit a place deep inside so hard I knew I must buy this book.


I read a book a while ago that hit that same place, the Five Little Peppers book, the first one struck me with emotion, the others not so much. Things were too easy for them in the others. Will this book touch me as that one did? Will this one become one in a set that I must have, to reread on these days when the work is done?


Well here it is 4 days later. I must say this book took hold of me. When I read, I see pictures in my mind as if watching a movie.


This book is a continuing story I am told of a town in Arkansas called Shiloh. The details are rich, these men have done their homework. The tale follows the Tucker and Canfield families from the autumn of 1931 to the autumn of 1932.


This was a couple years after the beginning of the depression. A time when many good people failed, and needed help. The stories told in the book are historically accurate.


My emotion ran the gamut from joy to despair. It also opened my eyes to how unprepared we, and indeed most of us, are to face a similar occurrence in the near future.


The Tuckers thought they were secure, with the good farm and no debt. However, as happens in all lives, evil lurked at the door seeking whom he could devour.


I highly recommend this book, for folks who want to see what we may be up against in the future. I enjoyed the line of Faith that ran through the book, even when things were at their worst. I saw how one character developed their Faith, from lip service faith to finding the real deal.


Be warned, this is not a purely feel good story. Bad things happen to good people. However it is as honest a representation of life in the 30s as I have ever seen (history is one of my favorite things to read)


Hugs
mel

teakettle
07-12-2008, 07:50 AM
mel....thanks for the review....i just added "Shiloh Autumn" to the top of my library list :) and i am so glad to see that you are allowing yourself the time to relax with a fine story....and i agree....the best books are the ones that take you to a place where you find your yourself "seeing" the story as if you are watching a movie....there is nothing better.
:)

grace
07-12-2008, 07:56 AM
That sounds like a great book, I'm moving it to my want list too. I loved the 5 Little Peppers, and I agree with you Mel, on the first book being the best. Dd loved that one also.

Some of my other favorites...old but good... Gene Stratton Porter... Freckles, and any of his other books about the Limberlost.

GrammyGoo
07-12-2008, 11:22 AM
Thanks Mel, sounds like something that I would really enjoy.
Hugs, Ella

Melissa
07-14-2008, 09:47 AM
Thanks for the great review, Mel! I have just added this book to my library list. I think I'll wait til autumn to get it out. Historical fiction is one of my favorites and this sounds like a good one.

oursimplelives
07-18-2008, 10:02 PM
Mel,
Oh...I LOVED Shiloh Autumn!!!!!! Times were so hard for them, but with their faith in the Lord they got through! My favorite character was...I can't remember her name, but she was the main character's wife. I loved when she took her little boy to the fair with his 'prize chicken' and gave a "speech"!!!

I also LOVE The 5 Little Peppers and How THey Grew! Our family read that together a few years ago and my kids would play "The Peppers"...they would each pretend they were a different character and play something that had happened in the book. Did you know that there is a LONG series about THe Peppers? I haven't read them yet, but a friend of mine got them all off of Ebay. Each book is about a different character in the books. My friend says they are wonderful!!

I LOVE the same kind of books that you do!!!!

ThursdaysChild
07-21-2008, 06:07 AM
I love their books about Jerusalem after WWII. They have another series that's a prequel to that set, but I haven't read it. The series I read is wonderful. I wish I could think of the name of it. {argh!}