These Is My Words by Nancy E. TurnerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
"These is My Words" is a historical novel of a girl growing into woman, as a settler in the Arizona Territories. I loved imagining life in my Arizona way back then. And definitely loved the love story of the book. The book is not all roses, however, showing many or the real and heart-breaking struggles of the people of those days.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Sarah referring to her mother said, "She says a move is a time for lightening your load and starting things new." (3) That one just stood out to help motivate me to declutter for our upcoming move!
"Taking up marriage is a good excuse for taking up cursing I think." (248) Sounded good to me, though most of the ladies at book club added, "or having children!"
"Children are a burden to a mother, but not the way a heavy box is to a mule. Our children weigh hard on my heart, and thinking about them growing up honest and healthy, or just living to grow up at all, makes a load in my chest that is bigger than the safe at the bank, and more valuable to me than all the gold inside it." (303) This quote just went along nicely with a train of thought I've been having lately about children being both a blessing and a burden. I was so sad for Sarah, when she talked of her baby girl just crying nonstop, for years.
"It seems there is always a road with bends and forks to choose, and taking one path means you can never take another one. There's no starting over nor undoing the steps I've taken." (309) Sometimes it's hard to look back and wonder what might have turned out differently with different choices, though that type of thinking leads right into the last quote I marked.
"Mama told me to make a special point to remember the best times of my life. There are so many hard things to live through, and latching on to the good things will give you strength to endure, she says." (327) And that is a good enough lesson for all of us.
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