Review of "MY NAME IS ESTHER CLARA" by Laurel Johnson 2006
Laurel Johnson speaks for her grandmother, Esther Clara Sanow Ford, with this
- what the author refers to as creative nonfiction - first-person tale of a
woman's journey through life. The reader relives history through the eyes of
Esther, who experienced the hardships of World Wars I and II and the Korean
War, the discord of the Vietnam War, and the worst depression this country has
experienced to date. Esther's life evolved from one extreme to the other, from
having to cook on a wooden stove, read by kerosene lantern and use an outhouse
to one with all the luxuries electricity and running water have to offer; and
from riding in horse-drawn carriages to traveling by automobile. How
delightful to read about her antics as a child and terribly sad to learn of the death
of a beloved child during her marriage.
Esther was a forward-thinking woman who lived during an exciting, progressive
time in our nation's history. Her love and devotion to her family, especially
her husband Herb, was her number one priority. It is through Esther one is
reminded of the basics of life: enduring hardships with bravery and positive
thoughts, loving with all one's heart, showing kindness toward others, and above
all, being true to one's self.
It's a rarity when a book of this quality crosses my desk. It seemed as if
Esther sat across from me, talking directly to me. I didn't want to put the book
down, nor did I want it to end. Although Esther may not have had a documented
impact on the history of America, she certainly made an impact on this reader
and, I imagine, many others.
by Christy French,
2006
MY NAME IS ESTHER CLARA
By Laurel Johnson
Dandelion Books
www.dandelionbooks.net
Tempe, Arizona
ISBN: 1-893302-89-X
Genre: Nonfiction
Paperback, 242 pages, $16.95
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Christy Tillery French P.O. Box 297 Heiskell TN 37754 E-mail: readermail@ChristyFrench.Com |
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