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Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Diary of Mattie Spenser- Bookish Thoughts #9



What The Diary of Mattie Spenser is about:
Mattie marries Luke and they embark on a new life in the untamed frontier known as Colorado. She endures Indian attacks, brutal winters, devastating life events, and uncertainty about the future. She records her deepest secrets in her personal journal...which is brought to light eighty years later.

Why I wanted to read it: I am a huge fan of Sandra Dallas and this book was on my library sale cart for a whopping quarter! I had to buy it!

Source: Library Sale

  • I love books that are told in diary form and this one stole my heart with Mattie putting down her deepest fears, her hopes, and the everyday chores of her prairie life.
  • I know for a fact that our ancestors were much tougher than any of us today. What a hard and demanding life. One that I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to endure.
  • There are pages of her journal that quite literally broke my heart. All of them rang true...living on the frontier took guts and determination. Many women experienced so much sadness and traumatic catastrophes that I wonder how they were able to get out of bed the next day. 
  • Mattie's story will steal your heart and you will be rooting for this young woman from the beginning to the very end. 
This book was everything that I hoped it would be and more. I cried at certain points in the story and found myself wondering what I would do if I had to walk in Mattie's shoes. It has truly given me a new respect for those that ventured into the untamed wild west of America!

Bookish Thoughts #9
© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 



18 comments:

  1. I've made this comment way too many times, but I really do need to read Sandra Dallas. So many friends love her books.

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  2. Sandra Dallas is one of my favorites too. I don't know why I haven't read this one. I've read other diary-stories of this time period and, as you said, a great admiration for these women grew within me.

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    1. I'm glad that I am doing the 52 books/52 weeks challenge and worked this one in. She's such a fantastic author and has a way of creating memorable characters.

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  3. This sounds so good. I love novels about people trying to make it on the frontier. Really makes you think about how people used to live and how easy we have it now.

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    1. I cry when my electric goes out...can you imagine how I would have held up on the desolate frontier???!

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  4. I've heard this is good so I'm glad to see you liked it, Staci!

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  5. I've never read anything by Sandra Dallas. Will have to check out her books and see what she is like.

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  6. I haven't read a Sandra Dallas before but this one sounds beautiful, similar to The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop; harrowing but beautiful. I'll definitely keep an eye out for it.

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    1. It was very similar to The Last Letter, which we both loved!

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  7. OOO, another Sandra Dallas book...excellent. This is a book I'd pick up and try just because of the author.

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  8. OOh, another sandra dallas book for me to read. I would pick this book up purely because the author is so great. Thanks for the review.

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  9. I love Sandra Dallas's work. Prayers For Sale is a favorite and I'll be adding this one to my list too.

    Happy weekend, Staci!

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    1. Hi Beth,

      I loved Prayers For Sale and Tallgrass...she's wonderful and really evokes so much emotion!!

      Thanks for taking time to stop by my blog every now and again. I feel so honored when you visit!!

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  10. This book sounds interesting...and if it made you cry then I'm surely going to have to read it myself. I've yet to read this author but I'll add her to my TBR list.

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  11. I've read and enjoyed a couple of Sandra Dallas's books, but missed this one. It sounds like something I'd enjoy. Have you read These Is My Words by Nancy Turner? I've read it a couple of times and thought it was fabulous. Click on the title to read my review, which I see you commented on. :)

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  12. I'm so glad you enjoyed this. Staci! I read it before blogging and liked it a lot. I ditto Les's thoughts (above) about These Is My Words.

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