I discovered a new author from a recommendation from Shelley Buckley. Her name is Sandra Dallas and I have read two of her books. The first one, "Prayers for Sale", is a quaint story about a small mining town in Colorado in the 1930s. Hennie, 86, and Nit, 17, become best of friends. The women quilt, pick berries, make pies, prepare for a baby and help each other out so much. So much of daily life in that time was physical labor that the women banded together for support. They were so much closer and relied on each other so much. I truly enjoyed the mannerisms and some of the sayings that are used in the book. The title, "Prayers for Sale", is on a sign that hangs on the main characters fence post. She doesn't go to church but feels so blessed in her life that she doesn't need to offer many prayers for herself but will "sell" her prayers and offer them up for others. She makes a point that most of us are truly blessed every day and there are often so many others that are in far worse circumstances that we can offer prayers for. It makes me think that we should offer an unselfish prayer every now and again. Prayer for everyone else and not yourself. You know, how you offer those gratitude prayers, and only offer thanks and don't ask for anything. Maybe trying to only think of others once and a while will put things in perspective for us.
The second book of hers that I read was called "Tall Grass"
It also, was set in a small town in Colorado during World War II. They established a Japanese Internment Camp in this town and it displayed how they all interacted with each other. The main characters were beet farmers and they had a son go off to war and a daughter at home. It again, was mostly about their daily life, the way of life during the 1940s. There was a little murder mystery invovlved also. I really enjoyed learning more about life during the war and how it affected those living here in the States.
