Bold Spirit: Helga Estby's Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America

Book Description

In 1896, a Norwegian immigrant and mother of eight children named Helga Estby was behind on taxes and the mortgage when she learned that a mysterious sponsor would pay $10,000 to a woman who walked across America.
Hoping to win the wager and save her family’s farm, Helga and her teenaged daughter Clara, armed with little more than a compass, red-pepper spray, a revolver, and Clara’s curling iron, set out on foot from Eastern Washington. Their route would pass through 14 states, but they were not allowed to carry more than five dollars each. As they visited Indian reservations, Western boomtowns, remote ranches and local civic leaders, they confronted snowstorms, hunger, thieves and mountain lions with equal aplomb.
Their treacherous and inspirational journey to New York challenged contemporary notions of femininity and captured the public imagination. But their trip had such devastating consequences that the Estby women's achievement was blanketed in silence until, nearly a century later, Linda Lawrence Hunt encountered their extraordinary story.

Customer Reviews:

Captivating read!.......2007-08-29

For anyone who loves to read and is interested in Women's history, this book is for you! Trust me; you will not be able to put the book down.

I found it in a little used bookshop and was afraid additional copies to share might be scarce. I'm pleased to find it is still available for purchase here on Amazon.

"...we expect the already great and famous to do great things, but we easily overlook the achievements of.......2007-05-27

the more humble among us."

Aptly sums up thirty-six year old Norwegian immigrant Helen Estby's 1886 walk with her eighteen year old daughter, Clara, 3500 miles across America. The trek was attempted for financial reasons, its completion with certain stipulations and within a seven-month time span would result in a $10,000 windfall for the cash strapped family. Unfortunately, due to negative feelings about the journey, during which Mrs. Estby left the care of her eight younger children in the hands of her husband, most of the information about it was not only not saved, but was intentionally destroyed by her descendants. Surmounting obstacles like difficult terrain, inclement weather, bad guys and a lack of money (the contract did not allow them to solicit donations) and the judgmental feelings of the many at the time who felt their behavior was in appropriate, the Estbys showed their detractors that they had the right stuff. The problem with the story, frankly, is a lack of firsthand information, which would have made its telling more personal and compelling: an okay story about a fantastic feat. Good companion reads: Tomboy Bride by Harriet Fish Backus, Grand Ambition by Lisa Michaels, In a Far Country by John Taliaferro and Nothing Like It In the World: The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869 by Stephen E. Ambrose.

Fabulous read - and perfect gift for a reader friend.......2007-05-07

I have purchased a dozen copies of Bold Spirit because I enjoyed this true, almost unbelievable, story so much, and have found that all recipients shared my enthusiasm. I'm grateful that someone unearthed Helga Estby's incredible tale - this book gives you quite an insight into a truly remarkable life that her scandalized family tried their best to bury.

We've Come a Long Way.......2007-04-10

BOLD SPIRIT: HELGA ESTBY'S FORGOTTEN WALK ACROSS VICTORIAN AMERICA is an unforgettable story of Helga and Clara Estby's trek from Spokane, Washington to New York. The book is an interesting biographical and historical narrative of the mother and daughter's trip because it is about ordinary people, and how their lives paralleled the historical past in terms of women's history, social and cultural history, and immigration history. Hunt stresses the restrained lives in which Helga and Clara lived, but emphasizes their desire to walk cross-country within the contiguous United States to raise funds to save their farm; a challenging and unusual feat during the late nineteenth century especially for women and the roles they lived.

The major argument about the book is that Hunt lacked enough primary documents in order to provide a complete account of the Estby's journey. However, the crux of the story involves women's suffrage, and the Estby's struggle for acceptance within a patriarchal society that looked down on women's progressive activity, especially Norwegian immigrant women who also experienced severity as well. Hunt successfully weaves a story and history about two women who lived during one of the most tumultuous periods in American history, which is closely connected to the family. With inspiration from a history essay written by eighth-grader Doug Bahr, grandson of Thelma Estby, and the remaining sole document of the Estby's trip, a scrapbook owned by Thelma, Helga's granddaughter, which reveals the remaining account of their trip from two newspaper articles from the Minnesota Times, Hunt was able to tell the Estby's story with the addition of research and a compilation of secondary sources. Despite the limited personal accounts from Helga and Clara, the articles reveal their adventure of scenic views of their trip, which consisted of the fading American frontier of pioneering days of the past and the somewhat fearful encounter of Native Americans amidst a transformed modern America constructed Union Pacific Railroad, and the beckoning cityscapes of Chicago and New York. Ironically, upon the completion of their journey, the women would face further personal hardships in terms of finding a way to return home and discovering the deaths of two family members.

BOLD SPIRIT is an insightful and visual narrative that shows the fabric of America. Linda Lawrence Hunt proves that a story that has been hidden for centuries as a result of familial strife that involved social and cultural norms that was expected during the nineteenth century, finally can be told. Thus Helga and Clara's history is a shared history that is worth reading and understanding.

Half a story.......2007-04-09

The author makes a valiant attempt to create an entire narrative out of a few shreds of fact. I was interested in Helga's story (though long passages of the book are tedious going), but in the end, I was hugely frustrated by the complete lack of information on the daughter who accompanied her step for step.

What, oh what, became of Clara? How can the author present as history an account that focuses on only one of the two persons involved? Did Clara marry? Did she have children and grandchildren? Did she ever speak or write of her epic walk? Was she shunned by the family, as her mother was? We simply don't know, after reading this book, and are left to wonder why there is no further information on Clara.

Ultimately, this book is a failed historical account of an intriguing personal adventure. Another reviewer suggested the story would have made a much better novel than nonfiction; considering the lack of primary information, I have to agree.

Never to Be a Mother: A Guide for All Women Who Didn'T, or Couldn'T, Have Children

Average customer rating:

Still reading
The best book I've read on childlessness
The best book for people who can't/don't have kids.

Never to Be a Mother: A Guide for All Women Who Didn'T, or Couldn'T, Have Children
Linda Hunt Anton
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Self-Esteem | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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Sweet Grapes: How to Stop Being Infertile and Start Living Again
This Too Shall Pass
I Will Bear This Scar: Poems of Childless Women
Why Don't You Have Kids?: Living a Full Life Without Parenthood
Women Without Children: The Reasons, the Rewards, the Regrets

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0062500791

Customer Reviews:

Still reading.......2006-09-01

I am currently still reading this book. For me, this is not an easy read and it is not a book you will read all the way through quickly. It is very emotional and I can sometimes only read one page at a time. However, it has givin me insight on my grief and loss, and I have began the healing process. I highly recommend it. But be sure to have some alone time, a box of tissues, and time to cry.

The best book I've read on childlessness.......2002-07-22

A wonderfully-supportive, optimistic book--the best book I've read on how to deal with the emotional aspects of childlessness. I'm 40, a woman and don't have children mainly because of chronic illness; this book has helped me a lot. Written by a social-worker-therapist who is childless due to infertility, it is easy to read and gentle with readers. Anton writes that she was determined not to let childlessness ruin the rest of her life and later wrote the self-help book she had needed. She understands the emotional pain that can occur when a woman wants children but doesn't end up with a child for whatever reason.

My favorite things about this book are:
(1) Anton shares the stories of dozens of childless women who she interviewed or who completed her written questionnaire. Reading their stories, presented as composites, was fascinating and very supportive. Many of them had successfully resolved their grief and moved on to other things in life.
(2) She broadens the picture from women who have experienced infertility to include single women, those with medical or genetic problems, disabilities, problem pregnancies such as miscarriage or stillbirth, relationship issues such as husbands who don't want children, women who inadvertently waited too long to have children and lesbians. I appreciate this approach because many people are left out of infertility resources and it shows us that we aren't alone.
(3) She presents ten practical steps to work through the grief. Examples of the steps are Acknowledging and Experiencing the Loss, Understanding the Loss, Surviving the Loss, Letting Go of Blame, and Talking to Significant Others. I found some of her suggested exercises helpful and skipped others.

It was well worth my trouble to buy and read this excellent, helpful resource. In fact, I wish I had read it several years ago. Reading this book before exhausting all options or making final decisions about whether to adopt or to stop infertility treatments could be helpful. I would also recommend this book for family and close friends who want to understand what a loved one is going through. Index and bibliography included.

Another excellent self-help book that can be applied to childlessness from any cause is "Sweet Grapes: How to Stop Being Infertile and Start Living Again" by Jean W. Carter and Michael Carter (revised 1998 edition); that book is written for both men and women.

What does Anton mean by "childless" and "childfree"? She uses childless as a neutral word to describe all women who once wanted children but are permanently non-mothers. Hence, "childless women" excludes those who did not want children and those who eventually adopt but includes those who now happily appreciate the advantages of childfree living. Childfree describes all non-parents; it does not imply that children are disliked or not wanted. (This differs from how Jean W. Carter and Michael Carter use childless and childfree in "Sweet Grapes.")

The best book for people who can't/don't have kids........1999-06-22

I found this book at a library after purchasing several "infertility" books and books dealing with childlessness. This one has helped me so much more than any others in coming to terms with the finality of it all. I'm having Amazon.com hunt down a copy of my own.

Average customer rating:

Happy Amazon book shopper
best of the mystery writers
Satisfactory, Archie.
One of the Best...
A style all his own

The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)
Rex Stout
Manufacturer: Crimeline
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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Prisoner's Base
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ASIN: 0553247379
Release Date: 1993-04-01

Book Description

When a baby is abandoned on the doorstep of a young socialite widow, the woman thinks she knows the identity of the father: her deceased writer husband, the cad! But who is the mother? Reluctantly, Nero Wolfe accepts the case, and Archie identifies the first clue: unusual buttons on the baby's overalls. "Vintage Stout: lots of grumbling and fine dining and brilliant thinking on Wolfe's part." — Marilyn Wallace, mystery writer

Customer Reviews:

Happy Amazon book shopper.......2007-03-27

I did a search of the Nero Wolfe series on the Amazon site and was delighted with the effectiveness of the search, the prices of the books, and the speed of shipment. Thanks to Amazon, I have all the Nero Wolfe series! I'm writing this review to promote Amazon, not Rex Stout. Anyone ordering his books is probably well aquainted with his work.

best of the mystery writers.......2007-03-02

Rex Stout is the best of the old school of mystery writers, and his Nero Wolfe stories are priceless. The story lines are good, characterizations are wonderful, and the banter between Wolfe and his assistant and narrator are greatly entertaining. I have read, and re-read, all of the Nero Wolfe mysteries, and is these qualities that keep me coming back.

If you want darkness and violence, then these aren't for you, but the story lines are good, characters are likeable, and the wit in his writing, and the banter between Wolfe and Archie Goodwin (his assistant and story narrator) make the stories a pleasure to read.

This is one of my favorites, along with Prisoner's Base, The Father Hunt, Too Many Women, The Golden Spiders, and The Rubber Band. Some are dated now, but that can be part of the charm. And all are clever and multifaceted, but it is the characters that make these stories great.

Satisfactory, Archie........2006-05-15

I love Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novels. I've read more than a dozen of them now, and I relish the interplay between eccentric detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin. The Mother Hunt was no exception. While this one was a little thin on plot - Nero and Archie are "blocked" for most of the book and make no headway on the mystery until the last quarter of the novel - it has great characterization in spades. Perhaps my favorite part: more insight into the enigma that is Saul Panzer, the ace operative Nero Wolfe calls first when they need an extra pair of eyes and legs. Saul's great; he could easily be Nero's right hand man, if only he weren't so much like him!

One of the Best..........2005-09-07

This story makes best use of Archie's abilities with women. In this case, two women - the client and a key informant - help solve an unusual case.

A baby is left at a widow's doorstep. A note is attached with a straight pin: "A Boy Should Live In His Father's House." Since the widow was painfully aware of her late husband's philandering, she accepts the responsiblity...

But she also wants to know who the mother is. Not to exact revenge, but really to make sure that the baby's mom is OK.

This story has a strong plot line, but it is Stout on mental health that makes it memorable. So much of this, almost unconsciously, is about forgiveness, moving on with life, and the power of selfless love for another person.

Murder mysteries don't often afford much of a platform for this type of discourse. Here, you'll learn something valuable about life, in addition to seeing a tough case solved...

A style all his own.......2002-09-19

I was surprised to find that I had been given this book four years ago. Time does fly, it seems, because I find it hard to believe that I've been working my way through the Wolfe books for over four years. But it's true. I am nearing the end, however, and Stout isn't failing yet. While I'm slightly disappointed to discover that every Wolfe novel revolves around not just a mystery, but a murder, I can also understand that this was Stout's formula for the Wolfe stories and to wish it different would be like wishing that Wodehouse had written westerns. Stout continues to be increasingly frank regarding sex in these books--I wonder if the books written in the 70s will go even further. I doubt it. Too much more change in this area and it wouldn't be the same formula.

Average customer rating:

Unique, Compelling, Challenging
Superb
Trust the Author's Plan
Five for Uncharted Waters!
Fabulous allegory and story within a story!

The Novelist
Angela Hunt
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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The Canopy

ASIN: 084994483X

Book Description

From the author who taught you to expect the unexpected...an intriguing tale about families, fiction, and what to do when life veers wildly off script.

It begins...when a smug college student challenges a best-selling novelist to write something "more personal." It begins...when a mother finds her troubled son slumped unconscious outside her house. It begins...when fiction and reality blur, and the novelist finds herself caught somewhere in the middle of it all. Where does it end? That all depends on who is telling the story...

Customer Reviews:

Unique, Compelling, Challenging .......2007-07-23

The Novelist is part scientific study of the workings of the mind, a write-a-novel-in-simple-steps how-to guide, and allegory -- all in one book.

And it works.

I found myself itching to take notes when Jordan Casey taught her college class. I cried with Jordan as her life began to unravel and her heart began to despair. The story of William touched me and I rooted for his success in finding the meaning of life.

Satisfying and powerful stories woven together with theological lessons on God's sovereignty and valuable tips for wanna be novelists. Broken characters finding the path to redemption and restoration. An extremely unique and satisfying read.

Superb.......2007-05-27

I couldn't put the book down. Hunt grabbed my attention from the first page and carried me with her main character, a successful novelist, Jordan Casey Kerrigan as she teaches a nevel writing class, 'An Introduction to Novel Writing,' at the local community college.

But guess what? Kerrigan's not only teaching the class in her book how to write a novel, she's also teaching, you, the reader. I picked up some great novel-writing pointers. Then as she writes a book for her novel class, the characters in her book (allegory) start to take on a life of their own. So now you are wrapped up in two stories in one because the novelist has some personal problems with her son, Zack, that she is going to try and work out through her novel and tells a story so her son can read her book and relate it to his own problem. She's telling him without telling him. What a wise writer Mom.

The book also has the Christian salvation theme in it. Hunt also uses her novelist's allegory to tell the creator's creation story and show how evil was introduced into a perfect world. It is superbly done.

The story is unique and that's what appeals and holds your attention, not to mention Hunt's flawless style of writing. It is a must-read book for a new novelist and a great read for any reader. The book has a surprising ending--so I won't tell it. Enjoy.

Trust the Author's Plan.......2007-03-14

Angela Hunt insightfully creates wonderfully believable characters in Jordan Casey Kerrigan, best selling novelist, and her seminary professor husband, Carl. The Kerrigans live a comfortable life in the suburbs of Reno. The only major dilemma in their lives is the instability of their youngest child, twenty-one-year old Zachary.

After bringing Zack home from college in Utah after what seemed to be major bingeing episodes and a beating by thugs, Jordan and Carl pray that they can keep an eye on their son. They also pray that somehow Zack will grow out of his destructive behavior and become more interested in the life in Christ that they found not long ago.

Meanwhile, Jordan takes on teaching an evening fiction writing class at the local community college. When a badgering student challenges her to open a vein and write something more personal than her usual machismo loaded novels, an idea flourishes that Jordan believes may get a message through to her wayward son.

Jordan writes a brilliant allegorical novella (captured within the main story) as a teaching aid for her class. She also hopes to eventually use it to help capture the heart of her struggling son.

I don't always appreciate it when a writer attempts these feats of a story within a story, but I found this one intriguing and well developed. There were a few times while reading the allegory that I found myself wondering what was happening in the main story. But overall Hunt did a great job of holding my attention in both worlds.

The characters behave believably as many parents who find themselves in traumatic situations with their children. They struggle to know the right thing to say and do, and sometimes work harder keeping up appearances than being than being open, honest and real with their hurting children.

In resolving the story, Hunt takes an unexpected turn. Then we, along with her characters, are surprised by a heart-rending discovery.

- Victoria Austin

Five for Uncharted Waters!.......2006-11-14

Angela Hunt offers us a rare insight into the inner workings of a writer and a parent in this fine novel.

Jordan is challenged to write a novel from the heart rather to simply fit a genre. As a beginning author I was deeply gratified with Hunt's willingness to abandon her own genre and to indeed write a book strictly from the heart. I don't how much of the Novelist reflects Hunt's own soul but I know she must have left some of it on these pages.

The story within the story takes a little while to get used to. But it works wonderfully once you give it a chance! How many of us would be willing to examine ourselves as honestly as Jordan does in the Novelist? This is a different kind of book and for that I give it five stars.

Fabulous allegory and story within a story!.......2006-10-28

This is the first book authored by Angela Hunt that I've read, though I own many. Now I'm wondering why I waited so long to discover this talented author's work. I've read many stories with parallel times or situations, usually with the present reverting to a historical setting, and often I prefer one story over the author. I want to flip past the present story to read the good stuff...the story within the story. But The Novelist isn't like that. It's the only book I've ever read where I can stay that both stories equally stimulated me. They both held my attention. Both stories contained "the good stuff" I crave in a book. I love emotion, believable conflict, and a story that sucks me in so much that I can't stop reading it. And the allegory was so incredibly well done and ingenious that it literally blew my mind. I now see Christ's redemption even more powerfully because of the allegorical tale in this book. (BTW, I also love romance, but there wasn't much in this baby--and I still loved it! That's how you can be certain it was fabulous.)

The Novelist is one of the best books I've read in regards to tying things together in a convincing and satisfying conclusion. I loved how Angela Hunt showed the author in the story growing more than the person she hoped to influence with her story, and after fighting the Lord, she ended up being okay with that. Aren't most of us like this? We elbow the person next to us when the pastor is preaching a convicting message, but we should be looking at our own hearts first. The Novelist had me looking at my own heart and I'm better for the experience. Few stories impact me so much that I want to grab people off the street to tell them they MUST read this book, but The Novelist is one of them. It's got a powerful message that is seamlessly woven in, dynamic characters who will grip your heart, and it deals with sensitive subjects in an incredibly sensitive and well-informed manner. I loved this story because it has impacted my life--and not just because I am also a novelist--but because it's so rich and satisfying. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Great For Daily Meditations
Joyful, compassionate, full of the power of the Holy Spirit

Love: A Fruit Always in Season
Dorothy S. Hunt , and Mother Teresa
Manufacturer: Ignatius Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Devotionals | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light
Words to Love by
Praying In The Presence Of Our Lord With Mother Teresa (Praying in the Presence of Our Lord)
In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers
Everything Starts from Prayer: Mother Teresa's Meditations on Spiritual Life for People

ASIN: 0898701678

Customer Reviews:

Great For Daily Meditations.......2007-01-05

This book gives you powerful insights into the soul of Mother Teresa and is an excellent resource for daily reflections.

Joyful, compassionate, full of the power of the Holy Spirit.......1999-05-07

Small gems, filled with great love, fill this book of daily meditations by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, which can be read over and over again, year after year. If you are acquainted with her writing and speeches, you will recognize some of the quotes, while others will be fresh and new.

Every Sunday brings a new Bible quote, followed by a week of reflections on that quote. Here is food for thought, food for meditation, food for prayer. As she fed the hungry bodies of the Poorest of the Poor, Mother Teresa's words feed the mind, heart, and soul of the reader. They give a flavor of God's Love to each new day.

The occasional photos scattered throughout the book bring smiles or grip the heart with compassion or awe. In keeping with her simple and direct way, everything in the book is simple to read, simple to look at, and, like Mother Teresa herself, filled with the mystery of God's Love which passes all understanding.

The Awakening
Average customer rating:

Amazing!

Excellent Contemporary Faith-Based Literature

Revealing

Intriguing!

Great book

The Awakening
Angela Hunt
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Single Women | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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The Canopy

ASIN: 0849944813

Book Description

Aurora Rose Norquest is different from her neighbors, different from most people. Still single at thirty-five, she spends every hour of her days and nights in an elegant Manhattan apartment, quietly caring for her invalid mother.

Then her mother dies, and Aurora's world spins on its axis. Reality shatters into startlingly realistic nightmares, and the shards of troubling memories slice into her sleep. Everything Aurora has believed about herself and her world fades into murky dreams that will not let her rest. Something, someone is pursuing Aurora--growing more threatening by the day, testing the limits of her sanity.

Will she find the courage to confront her unseen pursuer? Or will she surrender to the destructive melancholy that haunts her days and nights? What will it take to satisfy the relentless intruder whose voice presses her toward The Awakening?

Customer Reviews:

Amazing!.......2006-09-19

This is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. Hunt's books have the power to really bless the reader. An amazing story that is anything but predictable, but not so complicated that the message/symbolism isn't perfectly clear. Sleeping Beauty being my favorite fairy tale as a child drew me to this book, but this book is more than that. Aurora's dreams will suck you in, her relationship with Philip is romantic most in the way that it follows no formula you have ever found in any other book. I strongly recommend this book, and any by Hunt, she is an incredible author who never sticks to a prescribed formula. Her books will lift you up, and carry you to a place you've never seen before. I loved this book!

Excellent Contemporary Faith-Based Literature.......2006-08-02

The Awakening is a truly astounding work of art, all the more compelling as it arises from a genre, Christian literature, that has been a dim light in the field of literature, to say the least. I am reluctant to even write a review on this book as I feel completely handicapped in relating how much Angela Hunt means to me. Since becoming a Christian I became both lost and found; found in Christ, but lost in the world. Everything I had once loved, the literature, the art, movies, it all now lacked that God-spark and spirit. When I would reach for Christian fiction I was deflated by the lack of creativity, intelligence, percision of language, not to mention the ability to bridge my spirit. Books have always been my bridge to the world, my path to feeling connected and understood and so for the last 3 1/2 year I have been flailing as no contemporary Christian writer came even close to creating a connection in me. Then came Angela Hunt onto the shelves of my church library and what a blessing she is. She never cowers from asking a tough question that one of a weaker faith would fear to ask, let alone satisfyingly tackle.

In The Awakening we have Aurora, the significance of the name not lost, trapped by lies built up as stakes supposedly to keep her safe. I related deeply to this woman who connects to the world through books, and is somewhat wary of the human heart. She is in want of nothing, rich, intelligent, attractive, but she is disconnected from the world, from her heart and from her soul and her mind is becoming unseamed as it knows she needs the truth to survive, but is Aurora strong enough to let the truth enter her world? Gently a neighbor helps Aurora see the light, the light of truth, of God, of her own being and she lifts those stakes of lies and realizes she is not alone, she is not helpless. I would recommend this book to anyone as a testimony to the power of Christ and as a testimony that there really is a contemporary Christian writer who knows her way around a pen. Thank you Angela Hunt.

Revealing.......2005-08-05

The book was slow to begin but took off in great wonders. The author was very detailed oriented - she made you feel as if you were sitting in the same room. It was a very good read.

Intriguing!.......2005-07-04

What a captivating book! The story is intriguing and the characters are well written and well developed with realistic flaws and emotions. The heroine, Aurora, wasn't your typical beautiful princess/damsel in distress type that is found in so many other books. She was realistic and at times her actions frustrated me to no end, but that was what made the book so great. Ms. Hunt also does an excellent job of incorporating humor into the story. The book is a page-turner that never gets dull. Occasionally the dream sequences got a little unrealistic, however they were necessary to keep the story going.

Great book.......2004-09-21

In this book, Aurora's life spins out of control when her mother, suffering from dementia, dies. Aurora struggles with strange dreams, visions, and memories, and with agoraphobia.

I thought all of the symbolism in this book was very interesting. The memory of Aurora's father telling Aurora's mother, that she wanted nothing to do with love because she wanted nothing to do with faithfulness, was interesting. That parallels our relationship with Christ, when sometimes, we aren't as faithful to Him, and we can't feel His love at times. I thought the book written within this book, I Know She Weeps was very interesting as well, about the love between father and daughter. I thought that strongly paralleled our relationship to Christ as well.

The characters were great in this book. I loved Phil and his sense of humor when Aurora played "Walked Like An Egyptian" in the middle of the night as a way for Aurora to cope with her dreams. I loved how Phil was there for Aurora. I also got so aggravated at Clara for not letting Aurora be an adult. The characters were written so well.

And the ending was great, as Aurora did find love. The book focused on a lot on love, but not in a "boyfriend/girlfriend" sort of way.

I look forward to reading more books by Angela Hunt.

Average customer rating:

Sister Katie
This book touched my soul!!!
Brilliant in story and language
I know a good book when I read one.

Sister Katie
Doris Hunt-Jorden
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Mothers & Children | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1418440159

Customer Reviews:

Sister Katie.......2007-03-13

This book is very dense, thickly populated with words. Each chapter is filled with so much detail that it's startling. It's not a story that I related to very well and didn't enjoy as much as someone who might have experienced these things growing up. It wasn't one of my favorite reading experiences.

This book touched my soul!!!.......2006-08-01

I am an avid reader and I can honestly attest to the fact that this story touched my soul! The characters became a part of my life. I couldn't wait for a spare minute to sit down and read a couple of pages. This author deserves to be on mass market.. The publishing companies are really missing the boat with this one!
You will experience an array of emotions and at the end you will want more! I believe that is what makes a great writer and Doris Hunt-Jorden is one... !!!!!!

Brilliant in story and language.......2005-12-19

I found Sister Katie to be a novel whose characters and story haunt your mind long after you close the book. Doris Hunt-Jorden brings to life with breathtaking vividness the violent struggle that erupts in the white and black communities of the small town of Bennettsville, Missouri in the 1930s over money left by a white man to Sister Katie's daughter Margaret for her education. Sister Katie is a chilling page-turner grounded in black and white history. Through Hunt-Jorden's masterful writing we see, breathe, smell and experience as if we were in the story each moment ourselves. The human capacities for evil and for heroism ring with truth in Sister Katie, truth we need to contemplate for our own times. But Sister Katie also brings an unexpected and fabulous literary reward I have not seen anywhere since Zora Neale Hurston: the combining of the voice of a contemporarily-educated black storyteller with the characters' authentic black southern speech circa the 1930s. Don't miss owning this remarkable novel.

I know a good book when I read one........2005-10-12

Sister Katie is a rare novel. It was written about a time that many black people have forgotten. But while I was reading the book, I found myself glad that the time had passed. Doris Hunt-Jorden captured the essence of that period very well. Another book I enjoyed reading this year is Lunch With Cassie by Janet M. Henderson. It is also about black people and some of their struggles.

Average customer rating:

that special bond between mother and child
Funny and sweet
love reading and re-reading this book to my daughter!

Mommy in My Pocket
Carol Hunt Senderak
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Helping Your Child Overcome Separation Anxiety or School Refusal: A Step-by-Step Guide For Parents

ASIN: 0786855967

Book Description

What happens when one little girl is too nervous about leaving her mom on the first day of school? She lets her imagination run wild and pictures a day with Mommy in her pocket.Told in sweet couplets, this story assures young ones that although they may be heading out on their own, Mommys love is with them always.

Customer Reviews:

that special bond between mother and child.......2006-10-30

This is an absolutely delightful book. The story is sweet and tender, and the illustrations are beautiful. How special for children of all ages: the young ones going off to school for the first time, and those who are older and still have those separation pains of leaving home. I hope we will see more from this author.

Funny and sweet.......2006-08-30

A very cute book about starting school that will help reassure both kids AND moms!

love reading and re-reading this book to my daughter!.......2006-04-11

This book was loving and explored in a joyous way the "fears" of seperation from Mommy, like starting school. This story is so sweet, full of imagination and comfort. My daughter has had me read and re-read it. The illustrations are colorful and the text is wonderful for little ones to "grasp". A real joy.

A Nero Wolfe Casebook : Fer De Lance, Black Orchids,The Mother Hunt, Might As Well Be Dead

Average customer rating:

A Nero Wolfe Casebook : Fer De Lance, Black Orchids,The Mother Hunt, Might As Well Be Dead

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HWBUKU

The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection)

Average customer rating:

Perfect!
For all who are or would like to be mothers . . .
A heartwarming collection
Fabulous!
Lovely!

The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection)
Deborah Bedford , Angela Elwell Hunt , and Robin Lee Hatcher
Manufacturer: Multnomah Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1576736997
Release Date: 2001-03-05

Book Description

Just in time for Mother's Day gift-giving, The Story Jar honors and blesses mothers of all ages for their faithful, enduring love. When a newly-widowed woman shares three stories, Beth Williams draws comfort and encouragement from the lessons learned by other mothers before her. These inspiring novellas are enhanced by tributes to their mothers from Jerry Jenkins, Francine Rivers, and many others. This book will inspire women to rejoice in the gift of children and to rely on the strength of God even as they reverence generations of mothers who have come before them.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect!.......2003-03-15

As a young woman is cleaning a church, the pastor's widow arrives for a last look around. They find a jar filled with little trinkets from previous church members. The widow explained the jar was "a story jar" and that each item had a special story behind it. Thus three stories emerge about some of the items.

*** A special book just in time for Mother's Day! In between each novella are poems and short true tales from various other people. Many of them are author names I recognize. However, several are not. I saw some poems from children about their mothers. It was so special and gave me such a warm feeling. The stories are inspirational. I found myself near tears of sadness at times, joy at others, and a few times a feeling of awe and wonder that only another mother could understand. Fabulous! ***

For all who are or would like to be mothers . . ........2001-06-12

This book isn't just for Mother's Day--if you are a mother, have a mother, or would like to BE a mother, this book is for you. The three authors have given us such different stories--they cover all aspects of motherhood, including the desperate wanting to be a mother an infertile woman feels. A lovely book that's as honest as anything I've read lately. There are no easy answers, but God is faithful. I highly recommend!

A heartwarming collection.......2001-05-11

A collection of heartwarming stories that honors mothers of all ages can be found in "The Story Jar." Top inspirational writers Robin Lee Hatcher, Deborah Bedford and Angela Elwell Hunt team up to produce a continuity story about an ordinary jar that holds an extraordinary power to encourage and heal the heart. The story jar was placed on the alter of a small country church each Mother's Day, and the mothers of the church would each contribute some small memento that has meant something to them during the previous year. Those mementos are the basis for a tale that weaves through several generations of women, and how they drew strength and encouragement from the lessons learned. Also included in "The Story Jar" are tributes from some of the country's top inspirational writers to their mothers including Lori Copeland, Linda Windsor and Jerry Jenkins. This book will inspire women everywhere to rejoice in the gift of children, and after all, this is the reason behind Mother's Day! Now, go get your mom a present!

Fabulous!.......2001-04-11

Lovely!.......2001-04-10

You won't be disappointed in these tender stories of motherhood. The Story Jar truly celebrates the joys, the heartaches, the fulfillment of being a woman. --Lisa Samson, author of The Church Ladies

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