Silent Souls Weeping by Jane Clayson Johnson

 This book, first published in 2018, gained a wide following early on. I recall that Darci Galligo, my friend in Rapid City, highly recommended that I read it. She suffers from depression and found it so helpful to read this account of stories and experiences that helped her deal with her struggle. 

Johnson recounts many of her own experiences with depression as well as those of others. It's a hopeful book, in that ideas and coping strategies are shared. I got a little bogged down at the end; it felt kind of redundant. I have read widely about this topic, so most of this was not new to me. I did appreciate her faithful approach, and pointed out where church members could do better in supporting and not judging those among us with mental illness. 

I happened to see this on a Relief Society give-away table one evening here in St. George, so I thought it was worth picking up. I thought I would read it and pass it on, but I'm not sure whom to pass it on to. Those that I know who have bouts or clinical or chronic depression are pretty well-versed in the subject. But maybe I could pass it on to someone who doesn't have this background? We'll see. 

I think in its time it was a much-needed book. Now this topic is frequently addressed in General Conference and in Church magazines. I guess it never hurts to reiterate our responsibility to "mourn with those that mourn" and it's always good to be reminded to never judge...

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

 There seem to be quite a few wonderful Minnesota writers who write lovingly about this part of the world--the upper Midwest. This one is set in the Depression era, and includes fascinating characters and wonderful examples of overcoming the odds. The issue of faith and faith healers enters the story in a beautiful and unexpected way. This part of the country also has a history of abuse of Native Americans, and this issue is a theme in the book as well. This story is somewhat reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn, since this group of young people travel on the Mississippi River as well. The landscape and era are as important as the characters. I wondered many times, how on earth did these people survive? They had incredible hardship and they were incredibly resourceful. 

This little band of travelers included the main character, Odie, his older brother Albert, their friend Mose, and the little girl they rescued, Emmy. The story begins in the Lincoln School, a boarding school that is every bit as atrocious as history recounts they often were. Yet there are redeeming characters here as well, in the form of a teacher's family and a kind older employee. 

The climate and the land figure prominently in the story as well, especially when a tornado wipes out the struggling teacher-farmer's wife. One of my favorite characters was Sister Eve. She was the epitome of charismatic goodness, and used her gifts well. Odie was a wonderful character as well, and it was a good experience to live the story through his eyes. It was beautiful to witness his growing understanding of his brother. A fascinating case study in leadership could also be made from this story as the little group struggled to make decisions about how and when to travel and solve the obstacles that came their way. I enjoyed this story enough to want to read it again sometime. 

Update - I re-read this one in December 2024--for my Ridgeview Ward book club. I'm so glad I did! I visited with Linda Terry about it yesterday during a slow moment on our temple shift. We agreed we loved the sotry and the colorful characters. At the end, and I had forgotten this, there were many complicated twists and turns in the plot and the relationships. A few surprises! I think I enjoyed this book even more the second time through. When I returned it to the library, I perused the shelf for some more of Krueger's work, and it will be interesting to see if I like the River one as well...So far I do!

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

Leonard got me this book. He can't recall where he got it, or who recommended it, but he gave it to me just prior to my Boomers' trip to San Diego so I would have an enjoyable reading surprise on my flights. The title and cover were sweet and unassuming, so I had low expectations, but was open to whatever it offered. I started it before I left, so I could see if it was worth schlepping along. I wasn't very far into it, but each page brought more respect for the unfolding story and for the interesting characters. It was enjoyable from beginning to end!

It's a subtle, unfolding mystery. It's wrapped in sweet mystery. It caught me by surprise. And the courage and strength of the women in the Pickle Club were revealed gradually. There were also some wonderful analogies to life in the quilting...and in the fabric, and the feel of the fabric which I could totally relate to. The narrator of the story, Queenie, is a very sympathetic and interesting character. It's a simple book, on the surface, with simple and sweet people. But underneath there is more, and it's intriguing to have it revealed.

This book also perfectly captures the sweetness of sisterhood. How it made the very hard, depression-era life bearable. But it's a story that applies to any time, where good friends and support and a hobby can bring people together. My plan is to send it to my friend Lona, who is a quilter, and will definitely relate to all levels of this little powerhouse of a book.