Overview: Eliza Spalding Warren was just a child when she was taken hostage by the Cayuse Indians during a massacre in 1847. Now the young mother of two children, Eliza faces a different kind of dislocation; her impulsive husband wants them to make a new start in another territory, which will mean leaving her beloved home and her departed mother's grave--and returning to the land of her captivity. Eliza longs to know how her mother, an early missionary to the Nez Perce Indians, dealt with the challenges of life with a sometimes difficult husband and with her daughter's captivity.
When Eliza is finally given her mother's diary, she is stunned to find that her own memories are not necessarily the whole story of what happened. Can she lay the dark past to rest and move on? Or will her childhood memories always hold her hostage?
Based on true events, The Memory Weaver is New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick's latest literary journey into the past, where threads of western landscapes, family, and faith weave a tapestry of hope inside every pioneering woman's heart. Readers will find themselves swept up in this emotional story of the memories that entangle us and the healing that awaits us when we bravely unravel the threads of the past.
ISBN-13: 9780800722326 | Publisher: Baker Publishing Group | Publication date: 09/01/2015
Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBDMy Review: This is the first book I've read in a long time. I was in a little bit of a reading slump, and then I had a lot going on in my personal life. I just didn't have time to read. I think this book is going to be the gateway for me to get back into reading. I really enjoyed the story. It's written like the pages of a diary from Eliza's point of view. At times, I was a little confused as to what was going on, but I think it's because the first half of the story was read in little bits and pieces at a time by me. To fully enjoy the beauty of this narrative, I think I would have had to read bigger chunks at a time.
The descriptions of the trials, tribulations, and memories Eliza has to deal with and the land, homes, and settings were phenomenal. I could empathize greatly with the women in this story. I really didn't care for the men. I thought Eliza could have done better in her choice of husband, but he gained my respect by the end. The story mainly focuses on Eliza and her growth as a Christ follower. I really enjoyed following her journey from the trials she faced at a young age to womanhood. It was inspiring!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Jane Kirkpatrick weaves a story of overcoming past trials to face present times in an amazing way, with God at the center.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Revell Reads blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*
About the Author: Reviewers and readers alike acclaim Jane's work as unique in a world of storytellers. “Kirkpatrick's books enfold the reader. They whisper "let me tell you about a woman who…. They find a secret place in each of us and bring it gently to the surface.” The Statesman Journal, Salem Oregon. Moving from being a rancher, writer and rattlesnake fighter to full time writer has produced 29 books from bestselling and award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick. She has 24 novels and five non-fiction titles to her credit. Creating stories from the lives of actual historical women or events, Jane's focus is on telling stories that inspire. “I like helping people from the distant past step from their generation into our own to teach us and touch us with their lives.” Jane lives with her husband Jerry and two dogs near Bend in Central Oregon. Her works have sold over a million copies, been translated into foreign languages, won literary awards such as the Wrangler, WILLA Literary and Carol as well as being a New York Times bestseller. A mental health professional, she's a lively presenter who has spoken about the power of story throughout the world. Enjoy receiving her Story Sparks newsletter by signing up at http://www.jkbooks.com/.
