The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

 My neighbor, Blanche Rich, put this in my hands a couple of weeks ago. She reads books by the stack and this is one of her favorites. The copy she gave me is her "loaner;" she won't lend her original copy out because it's too dear to her. This intrigued me! I let it sit a few days because I'm in the middle of the Sue Grafton marathon, and I'm up to "T." I was afraid I would forget the characters and plot if I took a little break from "T," but a couple of nights ago, I was in the mood to be swept away. And once I began The Snow Child, I didn't want to stop. It consumed me for several days, and I enjoyed every moment.

It's not a happy story, but it's a sweet and real story. It's not depressing, per se, but rather more philosophical. I kept wondering if it was "real" or a metaphor. I just read some reviews and one called it "fantastical reality." The characters are interesting, and the interplay between fantasy and reality moved the plot and my curiosity forward. 

I enjoyed the beauty of the writing. Beautiful language and poetic descriptions abound. The Alaskan backdrop is breathtakingly described. And the inner life of the characters is also beautifully rendered with sympathy and frankness. These homesteaders live a hard, cold life. Yet the joy they stumble upon is palpable and understandable. I especially enjoyed the character of Esther, who befriends shy Mabel and insists on becoming her friend. I also liked how the characters, especially Mabel and Jack developed over the years. They had lonely times and bonding and joyful times. They read each other's moods and wondered about each others' silences. The author described the development beautifully. 

One thing that I wondered about was whether or not there would be any reliance on God. He is mentioned occasionally, but is not a central driver of any of these characters. They had a strong sense of integrity and of keeping their word, but no ultimate expectation of help in dark times. Mabel's suicide attempt at the beginning of the story showed her hopelessness. There were lots of opportunities for faith to be exercised but it didn't enter the story in any explicit way. It was faith of a subtle type, perhaps; a hope in the words of Mabel's sister, for example. Interesting for me to ponder what was missing there. 

Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart

At a Laramie boomers' reunion in October of 2010, Lona brought each of us a copy of this slim little book. She loved it and wanted to share it with us. As I read it, I understood why Lona loved it so. This homesteader is a lot like Lona! She's resourceful, brave, and a very hard worker.

I love the fact that these are a real woman's words describing her real experiences. It gave me a greater appreciation for all of my creature comforts! This woman was also incredibly brave and generous as she interacted with her neighbors and her harsh climate. In one chapter, "Among the Mormons," she encounters a polygamist group and the description is lamentable... It does give a glimpse, though into their lives and shows perhaps some of the reasons the practice was discontinued.

Here's an excerpt showing how this pioneer spent her days: "I have done most of my cooking at night, have milked seven cows every day, and have done all the hay-cutting, so you see I have been working. But I have found time to put up thirty pints of jelly and the same amount of jam for myself. I used wild fruits, gooseberries, currants, raspberries, and cherries. I have almost two gallons of cherry butter, and I think it delicious... There was a tang of sage and of pine in the air, and our horse was midside deep in rabbitbrush, a shrub covered with flowers that look and smell like goldenrod. The blue distance promised many alluring adventures, so we went along singing and simply gulping in summer."

That description is SO Wyoming! It probably stood out for me, because after living ten years in Laramie, I knew what she meant about "gulping" in summer! It's entirely too short there, so you savor every moment. A truly joyous book, rich desciptions, and wonderful real people as characters. This is a treasure. I only wish she had written more letters so we'd have a deeper look at her life and thoughts.