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Summary: The Diary of Mattie Spenser
Review: Courage is the main theme of this wonderfully readable book. The historical aspects of the book seem very believable. This story of a resiliant young woman who is patient, forgiving, strong, and stubborn when stubborness is needed was refreshing and inspiring. Hopefully there will be many more Sandra Dallas books to come.
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Summary: A "real" historical novel
Review: Dallas strikes paydirt with this wonderfully told, and genuinely touching tale. So many "historical" novels place a contemporary woman in long skirts and bonnets, then ignore what society dictated, what life was truly like for them. . . but not Dallas. Her research is beyond reproach and her characters are true women of their times -- which is what makes "Mattie" such a touching tale. Tears ran down my cheeks at the end of this one. Bravo, Ms. Dallas.
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Summary: this book was definately worth the read!
Review: I absolutely love Sandra Dallas's books. Nothing could ever compare with Alice's Tulips, but this book is outstanding just the same! Mattie herself is surprised that the "catch of the town," Luke Spenser, proposes. Everyone thought he was for the lovely Persia Chalmers. So, with Mattie as the new Mrs. Spenser, the two newly-weds set out to the Colorado Territory to live. Not only does Mattie have a funny personality, but more excitement is in the book - Indian Battles, frightening neighbors, community scandals, etc! I loved reading about her life on the prairie, with her children, and her secretive, but handsmome husband. Of course, every book has it's heartaches, and man, this one sure did! Miscaraiges, deaths, kidnaps, and un-faithfulness are very depressing, but keep you literally glued to the page. I myself, was really dissapointed in the ending, but that didn't stop me from loving this sepectacular book.
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Summary: A short but captivating novel.
Review: I am 13 and I read this book in a day. It was really good and I came to feel for the narrator, Mattie Spenser, a young wife helping her husband to carve a new home out of the prairie. She writes of the sorrows and joys she experiances. Mattie's voice is authentic and the author conveyed the attitudes of the time towards Native Americans, foreigners, and others. A short but captivating read.
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Summary: Fantastic!!
Review: I choose this book for my book club and I am so glad I did!! This is the wonderful story of Mattie Spenser, a woman who endures the hardships of living on the Colorado prairie, with a husband she barely knows but loves. So much happens to her during the 3 years she writes about in her diary. I could not put this book down, I highly recommend it. Also a good choice for book clubs.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!!
Review: I choose this book for my book club and I am so glad I did!! This is the wonderful story of Mattie Spenser, a woman who endures the hardships of living on the Colorado prairie, with a husband she barely knows but loves. So much happens to her during the 3 years she writes about in her diary. I could not put this book down, I highly recommend it. Also a good choice for book clubs.
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Summary: Mattie is GREAT!
Review: I could not put this book down! During the day (at work,etc) I found myself wondering what would happen to Mattie. I couldn't wait to get home and find out. This was the first book of Sandra Dallas' that I read. I am loking forward to another soon! ENJOY!
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Summary: What a wonderful read!
Review: I couldn't put this book down! I love historical material and even though this is a work of fiction it was so beautifully written it seemed that I was reading about very real people. Sandra Dallas must have done a great deal of research of the people in this era for I felt as though I were living in the "soddy" with Mattie, "your darling boy" Luke, and "baby" Johnny or "boykins". If you like books about the early settlers you have to read this one! When I came to the end of the book I was sad to be done with such a great read!
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Summary: Wonderful endings are worth the wait
Review: I cried at the end of this book, was surprised and gladdened by its ending. I took pleasure in reading Mattie's words in her diary. But I also wanted to take a swift kick at foolish Luke. Even knowing that Mattie was being played a fool, I still kept reading. In truth, I was not thrilled to read of Mattie's devotion to her cad of a spouse. I tired of her imprisonment in this marriage where her "dear boy" really loved another woman and trifled on her. But I admired her determination to survive their primitive, pioneer life and its heartbreaks. I guess I was just too determined to finish it anyway. And it was worth it! Once again, Sandra Dallas has created a fine retrospective novel that is framed in the discovery of a very elderly woman's grandmother's diary. With all the emphasis on women telling their history, I can see where Dallas found her lure for this tale. I especially liked the characters on the frontier who surrounded Mattie, however, and was fearful for her in her left-alone state. The horrors she faced sometimes reminded me of another Mattie in Charles Portis' True Grit. This touching story is a historical romance, something that I thought I no longer wanted to read. But I did read it and am glad. I want to read the next Sandra Dallas book as soon as possible.
Rating: 
Summary: The Diary of Mattie Spenser
Review: I enjoyed this book , but would not consider it a "great read". I found the content to be very interesting, but I generally do not enjoy the Diary format, and I ws a bit bored with Mattie's style. In addition, I felt as if the adventures and misadventures of Mattie Spenser were too numerous to be believable. I think that the major obstacle, besides the hard work of settling a new land, and the dangers of doing that, would have been unbelievable boredom and loneliness . I just finished Willa Cather's My Antonia, which is a classic written in 1918, dealing with the same subject, and the difference in styles is very dramatic. Cather writes literature. Dallas writes a good story.
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