Type of bind: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Amazon Remainders Account
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 240
Printing Date: May 15, 1998
Publishing house: Amazon Remainders Account
Sale Popularity Level: 476550
Studio: Amazon Remainders Account
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Product Description:
Unexpectedly married to the man considered the catch of her hometown, a young woman finds herself traveling via covered wagon to Colorado in search of a new start, with only her reticent husband and her personal journal to keep her company. 30,000 very first printing. First serial, Good Housekeeping. '
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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When asked for a book I would recommend, this is my very first suggestion every time. I enjoy every book Sandra Dallas writes, this it the my all time favorite. Her surprise endings sneak up on you, and leave you in a state of shock.
Rated by buyers 
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Life in the untamed west was difficult for everyone, but especially for women. Their hardships often led to death or madness. Isolation, Indians, harsh conditions for child-bearing, back-breaking work, and, many times, an inconsiderate husband made these women age beyond their years and die before their time. Such was the life of Mattie Spenser, a young woman forging west with her new husband to build a life on a homestead in Colorado in the 1860's. We follow Mattie's most private thoughts as she enters all she experiences in this, her journal.
The story Mattie writes is filled with patience, compassion, discouragement, and fear as she struggles not only with a new marriage, but also with taming the wild land. She loses three children and discovers the secrets of her husband, all of which almost shatter her life. Some people don't survive on the feral land, and there were times Mattie had doubts of her own survival.
Ms Dallas tells her story in a realistic, heart-warming manner, filling it with the fear, strength, sadness, loss and humour of the amazing women who settled the west. I recommend this book.
Rated by buyers 
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Sandra Dallas tells good tales. The Diary of Mattie Spenser has intriguing turns. New Mercies has southern charm. Unfortunately, Dallas succumbs to decorating her books with the bric-a-brac of pseudo research--without integrating it into the tale. It glows like Mattie's silver spoons in a sod house. Dallas demonstrates no mastery of letting her characters speak --choosing rather to sprinkle the dialog with newspaper headlines and abrubt colloquialisms. One does not have to include every historical figure, building, or event in a book. Dallas has the talent to write well; it is unfortunate that she chooses formulas which no doubt drive and satisfy publishers but do not create good writing. A warning to readers--positive reviews can indicate that others have abandoned a book because it was not worth reading. Before you waste money on Dallas books, sample her writing from the local library.
Rated by buyers -
When I plucked this one off the shelf I was iffy. But it wasn't a daunting book, and looked like it would be a breeze to finish off even if it didn't entirely hold my interest. You know those books - the kind that aren't page turners but are good enough to keep going, unless they're 400 pages and not worth it.
I became wrapped up in this one quickly, and it's not just the author's writing style as Mattie, but Mattie's personality. I don't know how authentic it is - this era isn't really my thing - but it certainly has the feel of authenticity.
The critical review ("Trite and Formulaic") baffled me. I don't know that a book using a checked off list of required elements would have this much substance and life to it. And the ending didn't strike me as Hollywood at all, but entirely in keeping with the ways of the world at that time. In fact, had it ended the way it might otherwise have, I'd have said THAT would be a Hollywood ending.
And why that reviewer feels the written ending reflects Mattie faltering and losing sight of her true self really puzzles me. She's just going to do it anyway? I don't think so. Maybe in 2008, but not then. I don't want to go into this more - it will give too much away.
Rated by buyers -
I started this book because my DIL wanted to read it together. Well, she forgot but I kept reading it and became totally engrossed in this fascinating account of a young woman on the frontier. I love Sandra Dallas' historical fiction, and this one was up to her same standards. I was really surprised to see it has been 10 years since she wrote it. I am sorry that I didn't get around to reading this book sooner! It has suspense, and yearning, motherhood, grief, recovery... it was just an excellent read.
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