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literarywinner 's review for:
The Memory Weaver
by Jane Kirkpatrick
When I was first offered the chance to review The Memory Weaver, I jumped at the chance. I was gruesomely fascinated with Indian attacks, the kind we all heard about over and over in the Little House series, but never saw much evidence of. However, when I started reading the book, it was definitely something different.
At first, I was somewhat confused by Eliza’s mother’s diary entries. I wasn’t sure what had happened, wasn’t sure where the family lived when they were written, and didn’t find them all that interesting. I skimmed many of the first ones but then at one point, they tell more of Eliza’s life as a survivor of a massacre and hostage situation. I suppose we are meant to see how Eliza’s memories as a little girl in a horribly traumatic incident are flawed, but I really didn’t get that from the diary entries.
Also, I finished the book to find the author’s note at the end. I think much of this information from Ms. Kirkpatrick would have helped me read the book with a far more lenient mindset. I understand why she may have kept it at the end, perhaps due to some “spoilers” but I would advise readers to flip to the back first and read her notes, even if just the first few pages, to see what kind of story you’re really diving into.
I did enjoy this book. I think it was fun to read a less fictionalized account than Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series. I still am amazed at how women would have been in this time of pioneering, with understanding why a husband would need to be constantly on the move with his cattle to feel fulfilled. And I felt that the description of Eliza and Andrew’s secret courtship was absolutely thrilling – Ms. Kirkpatrick was spot on with her prose here and brought back all of the emotions I had at Eliza’s age.
As I’ve said before, I recommend The Memory Weaver to any fan of the Little House series. If you always wanted to read more about the Indian attacks on the frontier, pick this up. And if you’re just interested in the story of a mission family’s work with Native Americans, go ahead and read this book.
I was sent this book to review as part of my involvement with Revell. All thoughts are my own.
At first, I was somewhat confused by Eliza’s mother’s diary entries. I wasn’t sure what had happened, wasn’t sure where the family lived when they were written, and didn’t find them all that interesting. I skimmed many of the first ones but then at one point, they tell more of Eliza’s life as a survivor of a massacre and hostage situation. I suppose we are meant to see how Eliza’s memories as a little girl in a horribly traumatic incident are flawed, but I really didn’t get that from the diary entries.
Also, I finished the book to find the author’s note at the end. I think much of this information from Ms. Kirkpatrick would have helped me read the book with a far more lenient mindset. I understand why she may have kept it at the end, perhaps due to some “spoilers” but I would advise readers to flip to the back first and read her notes, even if just the first few pages, to see what kind of story you’re really diving into.
I did enjoy this book. I think it was fun to read a less fictionalized account than Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series. I still am amazed at how women would have been in this time of pioneering, with understanding why a husband would need to be constantly on the move with his cattle to feel fulfilled. And I felt that the description of Eliza and Andrew’s secret courtship was absolutely thrilling – Ms. Kirkpatrick was spot on with her prose here and brought back all of the emotions I had at Eliza’s age.
As I’ve said before, I recommend The Memory Weaver to any fan of the Little House series. If you always wanted to read more about the Indian attacks on the frontier, pick this up. And if you’re just interested in the story of a mission family’s work with Native Americans, go ahead and read this book.
I was sent this book to review as part of my involvement with Revell. All thoughts are my own.