You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
catmorg128's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this book. It is amazing to read the little details of a young life lived so many years ago—the 1820s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. It’s fascinating to see how they were so similar to us, and yet so different. Lucy’s descriptions of her family were beautiful to read about. Her earliest memories, some from younger than two, were fascinating. I loved the parts where she wrote of her Puritan Faith—indeed, this is a Christian book, and lots of wisdom can be taken from it. I loved her little lessons written throughout in this regard. I must say, some parts of this were a little dull (which means less exciting than a novel!), and she quoted a few too many poems, which I didn’t take the time to appreciate. That was my own fault. Other than that this was a beautiful slow and simple book about times past. ❤️
naomind's review against another edition
3.0
This book barely kept my attention, and that's why it sat on my nightstand for almost two years. There was always some other book that was more compelling, so this one had to wait its turn over and over again. I finally plowed through it, and am so glad I can move onto other things. I'm certain that there are some great nuggets of wisdom here, and a useful memory of historical details from the POV of a "normal" white protestant woman of her era. I enjoyed the energy she brought to the notion of being a very young girl, adored by her family, and left to her own devices before the millwork began.
I bristled at the few times she spoke of people who were Other, whether it be the foreign people of her port town, or the Native Americans with their "pathetic" ways. She definitely didn't reflect much on those people, but did plenty of analysis on her faith and all those HYMNS. And women were put on this earth to be helpers! I found myself mostly bored by the end, and really wishing this book was less about the girlhood part, and more about the major culture shock she alluded to while on assignment to spread Christianity to the West.
I'm more used to reading fiction, rather than memoirs. This one felt to me like I was sitting in front of an elderly woman in a rocking chair with her book of hymns, and she was telling me her story—with more telling than showing. Parts were boring as she got lost in her memories. She didn't really build scenes, so much as reminisce about them.
I bristled at the few times she spoke of people who were Other, whether it be the foreign people of her port town, or the Native Americans with their "pathetic" ways. She definitely didn't reflect much on those people, but did plenty of analysis on her faith and all those HYMNS. And women were put on this earth to be helpers! I found myself mostly bored by the end, and really wishing this book was less about the girlhood part, and more about the major culture shock she alluded to while on assignment to spread Christianity to the West.
I'm more used to reading fiction, rather than memoirs. This one felt to me like I was sitting in front of an elderly woman in a rocking chair with her book of hymns, and she was telling me her story—with more telling than showing. Parts were boring as she got lost in her memories. She didn't really build scenes, so much as reminisce about them.
More...