For the best of 2007 swap I had decided to chose The Diary of Mattie Spenser as the book I wanted to reveal.
So I already had a copy but I thought it would be smart to mooch another copy on bookmooch so that person could send it to the one who ended up with the book.

Well I guess something went wrong cause she send the book to me.
Now I have 2 copies.
This is a hardback. I probably will keep this copy for myself.


The buoyancy and simple, uncloying sweetness of spirit of Dallas's appealing protagonist--the young wife of a homesteader in Colorado Territory--give a bright, fresh shading to the tragedies and small sharp joys of 19th-century frontier life. Again, as in The Persian Pickle Club (1995), Dallas has caught the lilt and drift of regional speech. At 22, plain Mattie is astounded that handsome Luke Spenser desires to marry her--he has been keeping company with pretty Persia. Nonetheless, he chooses her, and they head out from Iowa in May 1865 to the homestead Luke has already planted in Colorado Territory. There are pleasures along the way: nice folks, and quiet days spent with Luke, her ``Darling Boy.'' But Luke, who doesn't smile at her jokes, works very hard and doesn't like her to flirt with him. As for the marital act: ``I still think it's overrated.'' Danger comes soon enough, and it's Mattie's quick shooting that saves two lives, although she doesn't seriously contradict Luke's dismissive observation that it was a ``lucky shot.'' Once they arrive in Colorado, though, Mattie is disappointed by the homestead (out on the plains, she finds, there is ``too much sky''). Her education in the real travails of people, particularly women, separated from the cushioning platitudes and quick-step judgments of home, begins immediately. A despised ``slattern'' proves herself a true friend; Mattie witnesses women weakened by too many births, another abused and horribly killed, and murder and torture by both whites and Indians. She also experiences wild joy and then tragedy, suffers many dangers, and is rocked by Luke's sudden betrayal. (``How could he ever again be my Darling Boy?'') Yet torment yields to endurance and a kind of compassion. Tragedies and sad little domestic dramas are muffled within the decency and humanity of a character whose understanding--but not essence--changes with events. A modest, appealing novel with a convincing reach into Colorado's plains and skies.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I really loved this book and this was my second copy. Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
This was mailed yesterday to my Crazzziness Exchange partner.
It should be on time cause I mailed it priority.
Hugs

This got here for the spring crazzziness exchange.

Thanks for the reminder pm Marlene! I put these away to air out a little bit (they were making me slightly headachey due to the smoke smell) before reading, and kept remembering I needed to journal them when I was online but not near the books.

This was a much more adult look at the hardships of life on the frontier than some of the books I've read in the past.

I loved this book. I was drawn into the story as the journal unfolded, wanting to know more, and not let down by the end.

This is the first book I've read by the author, and now understand why she is so well recomended.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Book was left in the window of an Evanston Round Table free paper box facing the station entrance.

not read yet, probably keep for while then drop off at some cta rail station in Chicago. Usually put on top of inside recycling box

CAUGHT IN EVANSTON IL USA