The Healing of Natalie Curtis by Jane Kirkpatrick

-

 


This historical fiction opened up a whole new area of history for me that I was very unaware of. I knew of the Indian schools that the white people had established and how awful it was for the Indians, how they were to give up their own culture to embrace the white man's way of life, but what I didn't know was that there was someone who was taken in by their singing and who set about to preserve it for generations to come.

Enter Natalie Curtis. She hears one elderly Indian woman singing a song and she is transfixed and given a purpose that she pursues with intensity for the next couple of years. This purpose helps to restore the health and vigor that had been stolen from Natalie at the beginning of her music career.

While historical fiction, Jane tried to stay as true to the story as she could. There really is a book called "The Indians' Book" edited by Natalie Curtis and filled with songs, legends, stories and more that tell of numerous Indian tribes at the turn of the century. Being acquainted with the President of the United States also help to speed along Natalie's work as she was allowed to let the people sing for her without being punished.

This was an enjoyable story that taught me something new about our country, though the history of seeking to extinguish other cultures simply because they were different than ours is sad.

I received this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fragrant Whiffs of Joy by Dorcas Smucker (It's Giveaway time)

-
Image
Ah yes, this was just what the doctor ordered. I've wanted to review Dorcas' last book or two and was always too chicken to ask, but this time I threw caution to the wind and said, "Yes, I want to review your book." And I'm so glad I did. It was the perfect book for this stage in my life. Short, easy to read chapters that can be picked up and read whenever and wherever. They are guaranteed to either make you laugh, smile, cry, or or just give you that ah-ha feeling that someone else experiences life like that too.  I could quote from pretty much every chapter something that struck me in one of those ways, but I really want you to go buy the book so I won't do that many spoilers. I only want to give you a hint of what is to come in the book. First off, isn't the cover beautiful? I can dream of a kitchen table like that with the apple pie still steaming and the tea pot, or coffee pot more likely, full to the brim and a beautiful arrangement of flowers ...
Read more

All the Pretty Things by Edie Wadsworth

-
Image
I haven't posted a book review in over two weeks, I must be lazing off!!! Actually, I had two books going at once and also read a non-review book in between. Not that I think anyone missed me or anything. But just to be clear, I am back and have about six books to review in the next few weeks. Okay, "All the Pretty Things". When I started this book, I loved it. I thought it was an amazing story and it is. Edie was born to an alcoholic father. She rarely saw him sober, but she loved him and enabled him until his dying day. She missed that father figure in her life and attempted to salve that wound by working hard at everything she put her hand to except her marriage. She was raised in rather extreme poverty. Her parents divorced and both remarried, but divorced again. She was abused as a child, though it became a repressed memory that came out through recurring nightmares. She was introduced to Jesus and would often respond to altar calls to make sure she was saved. Sh...
Read more

PRECIOUS CHILD

-
In my dreams, you are alive and well Precious child, precious child In my mind, I see you clear as a bell Precious child, precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be filled But in my heart, there is hope 'Cause you are with me still In my heart, you live on Always there never gone Precious child, you left too soon Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart In my plans, I was the first to leave Precious child, precious child But in this world, I was left here to grieve Precious child, my precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be  filled But in my heart there is hope And you are with me still In my heart you live on Always there, never gone Precious child, you left too soon,  Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart God knows I want to hold you,  See you, touch you And maybe there's a heaven And someday I will again Please know yo...
Read more