May 2012

TRUE SISTERS by Sandra Dallas looks at the story of how, in 1856, the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS, or Mormons) brought converts from Europe to Iowa, where they were fitted with handcarts that they pulled and pushed 1,300 miles to Salt Lake City. The carts were essentially square boxes on two wheels. The four women portrayed in the book were members of the Martin Company, the last group to head out that had 575 people in it when they left. Along the way, they lost one quarter of the group to harsh conditions, including blizzards and deathly cold. While the Donner party is referenced in history as the story of a magnitude of human loss, it is dwarfed by this.

When I read the book at the end of January, Sandra made me feel like I was right on the trail! I rarely get sick, but found myself nursing a wicked cold while reading it. They sneezed; I sneezed. I was joking that I was feeling way too much empathy for these characters.

I confess I had heard about the treks west on an episode of "Big Love" (forgive the pop culture reference point), and thus the storyline grabbed me. And it’s based on journals, stories and accounts of real women who made this journey forming bonds along the way. These are very different women; one is not even a believer. They are following men who are driven to get to Zion, while in their hearts and minds they are seriously questioning the choice of this journey. I love the way Sandra’s research informs, but does not detract from the pace of the story. Great as both historical fiction and women’s fiction.