Patty Reed's Doll, The Story of the Donner Party by Rachel K. Laurgaard

Patty Reed's Doll - Housed in the Sutter's Fort State Historical Park Museum in Sacramento, California

This book was first published in 1956. It is often used in classrooms across America. I'm not sure why I decided to pick it up to read but I'm glad I did.

"In the winter of 1846, the Donner Party was stranded by heavy snows in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The pioneers endured bitter hardships, and many of them died. But some survived, including 8-year-old Patty Reed, a girl filled with dignity and determination in the face of mortal danger. This is her story, as told by Dolly, the wooden doll she kept hidden in her dress."

I really enjoyed reading about the trek from Springfield, Illinois to California in 1846. Their trials - the fun they had in the beginning. I've heard about the Donner Party all my life but "Patty Reed's Doll" added a few things I hadn't known about. Our history is quick to tell us about the bad, doesn't always point out the good things that happened. It's a very age appropriate for grades 4 and up.

It is not a political book at all. But as I finished it, I thought about the direction our country is heading at this point in history and realized we really have - as a country - forgotten how hard our ancestors worked to gain the freedoms we once had. 

Dolly said at the end of the book:

"And so I stayed with Patty always. She could not bear to part with me after all we had shared together. We had been pioneers across the plains and mountains and deserts to California, and in that long year since we had left Springfield, we had known the worst suffering that pioneers can know." 

If you google this book you will find numerous web sites with information for using this book in the classroom.

Rachel Kelley Laurgaard wrote Patty Reed's Doll as a master's thesis at Sacramento State College in 1956, where she also taught English. She lived for many years in Oakland, where she died in 2000.

Now that I've finished "Patty Reed's Doll" I'm passing it on to one of my grands to read - then hoping for a good discussion with her!

Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King

 

"The Same Sweet Girls" was published in 2005 and written by Cassandra King. A book about women's friendships. (one of my favorite subjects!)

"None of the Same Sweet Girls are really girls anymore and none of them have actually ever been sweet. But this spirited group of Southern women, who have been holding biannual reunions ever since they were together in college, are nothing short of compelling. There’s Julia Stovall, the First Lady of Alabama, who despite her public veneer, is a down-to-earth gal who only wants to know who her husband is sneaking out with late at night. There’s Lanier Sanders, whose husband won custody of their children after he found out about her fling with a colleague. Then there’s Astor Deveaux, a former Broadway showgirl who simply can’t keep her flirtations in check. And Corrine Cooper, whose incredible story comes to light as the novel unfolds."  Synopsis from Cassandra King website.

I enjoyed the book.  But I really enjoy a good book about friendships. 

The characters are as different - well as different as I am from my friends! Different personalities, different beliefs, different ways of looking at life - which made for very interesting characters.

There was one that didn't quite fit in - not sure that anyone really liked her and that was the only "unbelievable" part of the book. If one is not really liked, would everyone else really put up with her all those years? Then I realized, yes, we do. For many different reasons. I believe the main one being kindness. 

Lanier is given a note book to write down bits of "wisdom" throughout the story. This was a highlight for me - given my penchant for "journals" and writing anything but "diary" stuff in them! Here's an example of my JOURNALS.

Some of the wisdom she recorded:

"Honey, it will either work out or it won't."

"I keep doing the same crap over and over and expecting it to turn out different each time."

"Any landing you walk away from is a good landing."

"Take what you want from life, then pay the price."

"Only way to learn anything is to keep your mouth shut and your eyes open."

These are just a few that I marked. The book is full of wit and wisdom! Women standing together as friends without hidden agendas, without political activism, just good old fashioned friendships for friendship sake. We all need friends.

Years ago, I attended a conference where the speaker stated "...women need women friends. Years ago, women formed friendships while beating their laundry on a rock by the river! by baking together, quilting together, so many different get-together's where they shared, laughed and cried. Then women got busy. Busy working outside their homes and still keeping up their homes. Raising children, taxiing children to one activity after another. They discovered their "friendships" were the easiest to give up. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how good of friends you are, a man can't take the place of "girl-friends."  So many women have become discontented with their lives because of this."

-and I'm very sorry to say I don't have the name of the speaker written down, just the notes from the workshop.

Maybe that's why l like books about friendships so much. It's in our nature to have friends.

Cassandra King has written many short stories, essays and several full length books. Please check out her website H.E.R.E.

I plan on reading more of King's books after reading the synopsis' of them on her website. I'm sure they won't disappoint. 

 

The Christian Atheist Believing in God but Living as If He Doesn’t Exist Craig Groeschel

'The more I looked, the more I found Christian Atheists everywhere.' Former Christian Atheist Craig Groeschel knows his subject all too well. After over a decade of successful ministry, he had to make a painful self admission: although he believed in God, he was leading his church like God didn't exist. To Christians and non-Christians alike, to the churched and the unchurched, the journey leading up to Groeschel's admission and the journey that follows---from his family and his upbringing to the lackluster and even diametrically opposed expressions of faith he encountered---will look and sound like the story of their own lives. Now the founding and senior pastor of the multicampus, pace-setting LiveChurch.tv, Groeschel personal journey toward a more authentic God-honoring life is more relevant than ever. Christians and Christian Atheists everywhere will be nodding their heads as they are challenged to take their own honest moment and ask the question: am I putting my whole faith in God but still living as if everything was up to me? (From the Back cover)

This book was a “recommended read” from Pastor Brad Cooper. Since Brenda is from Enid, Ok. we were aware of LifeChurch and it’s unique method of church growth.

Craig Groeschel, founding and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, examines 12 areas of the Christian faith in which Christians struggle to act consistently with their stated beliefs. The author writes in a modest fashion and provides humorous and thought provoking examples from his personal life and his ministry to illustrate his points. His teaching is sensible and true to Biblical principles. I was especially impressed with the Afterword section of the book in which the author discusses the concept of “Third Line faith.” The book is an easy and enjoyable read. It will appeal to both old and new believers who want to grow in their Christian walk.    

 Randy Cohorn

   

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

I probably should have read this to review before Christmas but I just heard about it from my friend Ellen this past week. She said it was short and easy to read so I read it this afternoon! Ellen was right, very easy to read.

"Number one New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury delivers an instant classic with this heartwarming Christmas story about a hundred-year flood, lost love, and the beauty of enduring friendships."

This is a "Christmas Miracle" book. Kingsbury did a great job helping you see the characters and to feel with them. With all the natural disasters we have seemed to have had in the last few years, this book resonates with people everywhere.

I really liked the characters - what's not to like when one of the main characters sells books for a living! The authors description of how this book seller feels about the books he sells really speaks to my heart!

"There's not a person in Franklin who hasn't been touched by your books and your kindness, Charlie."

"He called it The Bridge because that was how he felt about books. They connected the past and the present, the present and the future. Books brought people together and gave them a path to worlds they wouldn't otherwise experience."

This book is more than a romance. It also shows strong faith and the way communities band together in times of struggle. Sometimes all we need to do is ask.

Karen Kingsbury has written several books and has a very interesting web site H.E.R.E.

In fact, I enjoyed reading her account of adoption on this site as much - or more than her books!! Very beautiful story of their adopting of 3 Haitian boys. I highly recommend you go to this website and look under "Karen on Adoption."  

 

The Faith by Charles Colson and Harold Fickett

Recently Pastor Brad started a new sermon series titled “What Do Christians Believe.”  One of the references for this sermon was the book The Faith by Charles Colson and Harold Fickett.

The Faith is a book about what Christians believe, why they believe it, and why it matters. First the authors offer an overview of what challenges face the church today and then they move on to core issues. The authors describe 14 doctrines which are the essential doctrines that constitute the Christian faith. The book is filled with stories which illustrate the practice of these doctrines. The Faith deals with the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the importance of understanding the essential doctrines that constitute the Christian faith. Not only does this book cover 14 essential Christian doctrines but it also covers such topics as the sanctity of human life, why liberalism has failed and how Christians use their beliefs and their relationship with Jesus Christ to be positive influences on society.

In the back of the book there is a list of the 14 essential doctrines described in this book. I found I got more out of the book by listing these doctrines in a word document and the cutting and pasting at least 1 paragraph that explained the doctrine. I facilitate a weekly bible study using study guides from the pastor’s sermons. By listing these doctrines not only did I understand them better but I can present them to my Bible study group better.

 I found this book to be an easy read. It would appeal to both the experienced Christian and the new believer. I am someone who likes to get to the point and I found that some of the stories were too long before the authors got to what they wanted to say. I feel all of the doctrines mentioned in this book are biblically correct. Of course any Christian’s belief system should be based on the truths of the Bible and any book written on the what Christians should believe should be referenced to the truths of the bible.  

In the first sermon of this series my pastor stated that “most Christians really don’t know what they believe and therefore can neither stand for, nor defend, their Christian faith, much less live it”. I also found this statement in the preface of this book. This statement stimulated my wife and I to review our own belief system, the statements of beliefs from the church we are currently attending and several that we attended in the past and to create our personal statement of beliefs. My wife listed this statement on her blog, http://b-allaboutbooks.blogspot.com//.  You may click on the link or just go to the top of this page and click on "What I Believe."

Randy Cohorn

We attend Cross Road Church in Wichita, Ks. The Senior Pastor is Brad Cooper. All of Pastor Brad’s sermons including the “What do Christians Believe” series can be viewed at http://www.crfbc.org.

 

AND THE WINNER IS.....

I first published this for July 11, 2011

 

Randy did the drawing for me!

And the winner is.....

Dixie Gramke!!

Dixie, email me your address and the publisher of Sheila Walsh's new book

"God's Shelter For The Storm"

will  mail it to you!

Thank you all for reading the review of this book and for commenting on it.

“God’s Shelter For Your Storm” by Sheila Walsh

I first published this review July 5, 2011


If you have always had a perfect life, have never experienced any problems, then this book isn’t for you. However, if you have lived real life like the rest of us, I highly recommend “God’s Shelter For Your Storm” by Sheila Walsh.

“The storms of life are not discriminating. We all experience them no matter our age or status.” This first sentence of her book describes the subject she addresses in this small, easy to read book of encouragement.

She directs us to ten of God’s promises that we can stake our lives on. She presents each promise that pertains to storms in our lives and with the experiences of many that are living above the storm through the strength of God.  

I’ve been raised on the Bible. I have gone to Sunday school, small groups and women’s Bible studies for most of my life. I am going to make a confession here – I have never said it aloud before and definitely have never written it for others to see… But, when I’m reading a book that includes Bible verses, I often just skim over the verses because once I see which passage of Scripture it is, I know what they are trying to say.

Sheila includes the Scripture in such a way that I didn’t want to skim over God’s Word. She made it an interesting part of what she was saying.  We’ve all read authors that state their agenda and find a verse to fit what they are saying. Not Sheila, she takes God’s Truth and weaves her story and the story of others into His Word. – His promises that we can stake our lives on.

Sheila Walsh, Women of Faith speaker, is also the author of several books. You can learn more about her HERE.  She is also a woman that lives a life just like you or I. Not one time reading this book did I feel as if she was holding herself up to a higher level than the average reader.  (I know, we’ve all read at least one of those authors, right?)  She seems to be a real person, not an unattainable superstar.

A few years ago, I was living in constant turmoil and upheaval. I called on God’s strength and perseverance to help me through my husband’s infidelity and ultimate divorce. Many times my prayer was “I just don’t know what to pray, but you know my heart, God.” I see “God’s Shelter For Your Storm” being such a comfort.  This truly is a book that can help guide you in surviving the storms of life.

I liked this book. I am already planning on keeping a few extra copies on hand to give as gifts to those I know who need a reminder of God's promises.  It’s comforting, it’s encouraging – it’s about God’s truth.

My favorite “quote” from the book is,

“... rules might give us some order, but love and grace make life worth living.”

Leave a comment about why you think you might like to read this book or give it as a gift and your name will be put in a drawing for a free copy. The drawing for the free copy will close on Monday, July 11.

Thank you Overture Media/Thomas Nelson for providing a free copy for review process.

http://overture-media.com/
Opinions expressed are strictly those of Cohorn Recollections

and are not influenced by outside sources.

Randy's Review: Sweet Wine From These Grapes by Howard Domnick

I first published this review June 18, 2011

“Sweet Wine From These Grapes” by Howard Domnick is a captivating story of two families meeting by chance the day before the famous run for new land in Oklahoma. They become life-long friends, steeled and honed by ever-present hardships encountered daily as they wrested an existence from an unwilling prairie. The author, Howard J. Domnick (1915 – 2007), was an Oklahoma educator in the Enid, OK area. He also wrote several pageants and books depicting the opening of the Cherokee Strip including this book and “Danny on the Prairie”. Coming from pioneer stock, Domnick had watched with enduring interest the struggle of men and women taming and conquering one of America’s last frontiers. It was his philosophy that these people, contrary to general consensus, were not mis-fits and ne’er-do-wells, but were people of sterling character and purpose who stand shoulder to shoulder with the patriarchs of American history. 

The time line of the book is from the day before the land run of 1893 until Oklahoma becomes a state in 1907. The main characters of the book are Joe Adams and Ridgley Barton. Joe Adams is a store owner from Pittsburg, PA who is seeking a better climate to raise his sick daughter. Ridgley Barton is the second son of a Georgia Plantation owner seeking escape from the old southern plantation traditions. The author uses these two men and their families to chronicle the lives and events of those pioneers who settled the Oklahoma territory.

One of the problems I have with the book is that the author never mentions the Cherokee Indian Nation and the interaction that had to occur between the previous land owners and the current ones. I think the author would have made his novel more interesting and more true to Oklahoma history had he included the Cherokee into his story.

Another problem I have is that the main characters live through those 14 years of extreme hardship unmarred. My research of that time period tells me that the period between 1893 and 1899 were extremely bad times in the Oklahoma strip. Only 20 to 30 percent of the people who staked a claim stayed on the land long enough to get a clear title. Those were years of great hardship and almost every family was scarred with death, illness or some other tragedy.

As a book of fiction I would recommend this book. The author tells a story based on historical fact and it has a happy ending. This book is an easy read. The author will draw you into the story to where you can’t wait to find out what happens next.

by Randy Cohorn 

Earlene Fowler, Author

I first published this review June 14, 2011

In the year 2000 I discovered a new-to-me author. Anyway, I think it was around 2000. Earlene Fowler is a Christian from California. She writes mystery novels about one of my favorite heroines, Benni Harper. There are 15 books so far in this series. The title of each book is the name of a quilt pattern. You can see a list of her books on her web site: http://www.earlenefowler.com/

I just finished her newest book Spider Web.  Fowler's books are easy to read and entertaining. On one of my earlier blogs, I wrote about finding friends in books - Fowler has a talent of making her characters seem like your friends from next door. Her books are "cozy mystery's." (I think I'll chase the "cozy mystery" rabbit in a blog  at a later date.)        :)

In Spider Web Fowler proves her gift of multitasking by having three "mysteries" going on at one time. The biggest mystery includes a "cop killer."

IF you are a reader that is very particular about preciseness and  believability in your mysteries, Fowler's books may not be for you! San Celina is a small to medium size community and LOT's of crime!  - but I like them and have suggested her books to many friends.  Her books remind me of Agatha Christie books. When asked who my favorite author is - which we all know is a stupid question because how can I have only  one favorite author? -  in my "list" of favorite authors, Earlene Fowler is at the top of my mystery genre list!  Right along with Agatha Christie, Lilian Jackson Braun, Rita May Brown, Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich and I could go on and on! and on......

If you are a cozy mysteries fan  - check out Earlene Fowler.

Friends Found in Books

I first published this June 9, 2011

(I don't sell collectable books anymore)

Part of the joy of listing books to sell is that I usually try to list only collectable books. I mostly get them at auctions and thrift stores. Everyone that knows me, knows that not only do I like reading books, I enjoy having books all around me!

In buying used books - especially the old ones - so many times there are names, dates, comments written inside the books. That is a special surprising joy - to see that someone else loved the book enough to write in it.

This book, "The Count of Mente Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas is really in too bad of shape to list. Lots of damage on the cover and spine. However the pages are all intact. I had such a wonderful surprise when I opened this book. In the most beautiful handwriting ever - written with an ink pen it says:

"To Oliver ----

Christmas, 1928

From William ------ --------

     Of the many fine friendships that we have the opportunity of cultivating as we travel through life, perhaps one of the finest is to be found in the lasting friendship of good books.  The man or woman who avails himself of every opportunity to read good books soon realizes that he is building a friendship which the vicissitudes of our human existence cannot destroy.  Such a friendship is indeed priceless. It is with a great deal of pleasure that I present to you a good friend of mine, 'The Count of Monte Cristo.'

Your Friend

William ------ --------"

Many times when I've finished a book I realize I miss the people I've met within it's pages. How fun it is to find others that feel the same way.  

In what books have you found friends?

    

Randy's Book Review: Retreat With Stilwell by Jack Beldon

While helping Brenda list books I ran across this book titled “Retreat with Stilwell” published in 1943. The book chronicles the invasion of Burma and the retreat of the Allied forces under the command of American General Joe Stilwell.  It  is a firsthand account by author Jack Belden. Moving from south to north the Japanese quickly over run the county, overpower the allied forces and create a mass retreat by the British, Chinese and native forces.  Already in Burma covering the Chinese war with Japan, war correspondent Jack Belden attaches himself to Gen. Stilwell as he retreats using motor vehicles, mules, water rafts and finally on foot. 

The first paragraph states;

“On the eve of the invasion of Burma the outcome was a foregone conclusion. The Japanese marched in as a single co-ordinated  unit organized for total war, with supreme confidence, in high spirits, and armed with an appeal to the native population to help them overthrow the British, who met the invasion without plan, morally undermined by a fatal policy, and organized for an ancient kind of frontier warfare."

Not only does the author write about the invasion of the Japanese and the retreat of allied troops but also tells the reader about the politics and actions which caused the Allied forces to lose control of the country.

This is a book that I could not put down. I read it in just a few days. The geography of Burma and the Asian names of the geographical features of the country were unfamiliar to me. The book provided a map of the country and I was able to follow the action by referencing the map as I read the book. Because the author spoke Chinese he was able to better define the many characters in the book and had more insight into the feeling and motives of the people of Burma. I found this book to be very interesting and would read this book again.  

Keeping Bees and Making Honey by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum

I first published this review May 21, 2011

For awhile, I seriously considered keeping bees and harvesting honey.  My grandson Riley informed me if I had bee hives he would never come visit me again!  :)  Riley - along with moving to the city from my 8 acres helped me decide NOT to start bee keeping.

However, before I made that decision, I did research on keeping bees. My favorite book on the subject is "Keeping Bees and Making Honey" by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum.  Not only does this book have many of the answers for a beginner bee keeper, it has beautiful pictures :) and it covers:

• history of beekeeping
• what you need to consider before becoming a beekeeper
• housing your bees
• needs for keeping bees
• honey
• seasons of beekeeping
• bee products
• and even some recipes

"It is estimated that around 70% of the food we eat is dependent upon pollination by bees and other insects. However, with bee populations worldwide on the decline due to factors such as intensive farming, urban sprawl and disease, their vital ecological role is under threat.  The need for bees has never been more apparent." 

If you are interested in keeping bees, I suggest you begin with this book.