Jen - Staff Member at the Howell Carnegie Library, 100 - days ago
"I must admit that I may have missed the part in history class when we went over the Dust Bowl. I had very little knowledge of what happened during that time and this 2008 Livingston Reads book will definitely give you tons of information on the lives of those who lived through it. This book gave gruesome details (which I love) about the damage the dust did to...everything. I found myself holding my breath during scenes describing the dusters rolling into town covering everything in its wake, including eyes, ears, and nose. This non-fiction book is a must read for those who love stories about overcoming human struggles. Also, be sure to participate in all of the activities that coincide with this book in Livingston County."
Donna PR at Howell, 100 - days ago
I'm just over half way through this book, but already feel that I have a better awareness of the struggles of Americans living through this devastation. We hear a lot right now about foreclosures and lost jobs, but it is truely put into perspective when you read this book. The way that this book is written, it draws you in to the details. I have enjoyed how the author takes the time to elaborate on factors leading up to the dust bowl--the backgrounds of the immigrants drawn to the dust bowl region, etc. I look forward to learning more about how the Dust Bowl impacted Livingston County and how the book relates to environmental and economic challenges we are experiencing today.
Sue N., Youth Services, 93 - days ago
I don't usually read history but decided to read this because of Livingston Reads. I couldn't put it down, It told about a way of life that was so terrible and hard to believe it happened in the U.S. I learned so much about that tiime and the people who lived through it. After reading the book, I viewed the DVD that we have in the library collection and was able to view a lot that was in the book.
Another interesting tidbit: the same day that I checked the book out of our library, my sister in Washington, D.C. also checked out the same book after talking to a woman in her church who had lived throught the dust bowl years.
Caroline, 91 - days ago
I very much enjoyed this book. What an incredible ecological disaster! It was interesting to see how government policy lead to so many lives being ruined, and to think about how agricultural policies put in place to help those poor farmers are impacting our lives today. I have a good friend who grew up in Iowa and whose father spent his career in the soil conservation efforts that arose from the dust bowl years so much of the book seemed very personal to me. In this election year, this book reinforced for me how important it is for all of us to be informed about government policy.
Edith Salyer, 75 - days ago
I really struggled reading this book. It just dragged on and on about the stubborn people who in spite of seeing their children becoming ill and even dying, stayed on. There was no bright side to their stories, just pain, dispair, and stubborness. In comparison with the Holicost, these people could leave at any time. It would be a struggle, but they were free to leave and start over. Some did. My grandmother left all she had and started over.
After a while I just dreaded reading more about their miserable way of life.
They were really igorant of the land and its nature. It makes me sick to hear that when the rains returned in the 40's and wheat prices shot up because of the war effort, the farmer's ripped out the shelter belt trees, to plant grain. Greed prevailed!!!
I will never understand why they let millions of bushels of wheat rot when so many people were starving. And dumping milk to raise the price of milk is a crime. And they didn't get higher prices anyway. What they didn't get was that most people didn't have any money to buy their wheat or milk at any price.
I am not so sure this slice of humanity was part of the greatest generation.
Kathleen, 72 - days ago
I was eating lunch in the Copper Pickle in Howell a week or so ago, and I had to smile when I overheard a large table of elderly women talking about the book "The Worst Hard Time." Some liked it, some hated it but they were actually TALKING about it. Mission accomplished for Livingston Reads! I'm still reading the book, but very much looking forward to seeing the author on April 17 at the Howell Library.
P.S. - Edith, I loved your post, and I agree with some of what you had to say. My family talked about it over the dinner table, and it was interesting to hear what my daughters thought about what you wrote. Bravo!
DonnaO from Howell, 72 - days ago
Kathleen: What did your daughters think?
gomezdanaL@gmail.com, 38 - days ago
I really disagree with Kathleen. I believe that the reason Mr. Egan had to right this book in the third person is that there was so much going on in the country, politically and economically, that led to the devistation. Those that suffered most only had the information that they got from the papers and local governments. I wonder if the mass rabbit kills could happen today. Surely not. Once word got out that there was glut of food available while some were starving, we would have neighbors feeding eachother with rabbit meat (I would hope).
I wouldn't say that "I enjoyed reading" this book. I do feel that this is an important read and I would recommend it for a text in a Highschool course on American History. I have given a copy to my reading-addicted 12 year old and she and I are having good discussion about the Dust Bowls.
My two most haunting passages: the two criminals asked to dance in the courtroom, and the rabbit kills.
"I must admit that I may have missed the part in history class when we
went over the Dust Bowl. I had very little knowledge of what happened
during that time and this 2008 Livingston Reads book will definitely give
you tons of information on the lives of those who lived through it. This
book gave gruesome details (which I love) about the damage the dust did
to...everything. I found myself holding my breath during scenes describing
the dusters rolling into town covering everything in its wake, including
eyes, ears, and nose. This non-fiction book is a must read for those who
love stories about overcoming human struggles. Also, be sure to
participate in all of the activities that coincide with this book in
Livingston County."
I'm just over half way through this book, but already feel that I have a better awareness of the struggles of Americans living through this devastation. We hear a lot right now about foreclosures and lost jobs, but it is truely put into perspective when you read this book. The way that this book is written, it draws you in to the details. I have enjoyed how the author takes the time to elaborate on factors leading up to the dust bowl--the backgrounds of the immigrants drawn to the dust bowl region, etc. I look forward to learning more about how the Dust Bowl impacted Livingston County and how the book relates to environmental and economic challenges we are experiencing today.
I don't usually read history but decided to read this because of Livingston Reads. I couldn't put it down, It told about a way of life that was so terrible and hard to believe it happened in the U.S. I learned so much about that tiime and the people who lived through it. After reading the book, I viewed the DVD that we have in the library collection and was able to view a lot that was in the book.
Another interesting tidbit: the same day that I checked the book out of our library, my sister in Washington, D.C. also checked out the same book after talking to a woman in her church who had lived throught the dust bowl years.
I very much enjoyed this book. What an incredible ecological disaster! It was interesting to see how government policy lead to so many lives being ruined, and to think about how agricultural policies put in place to help those poor farmers are impacting our lives today. I have a good friend who grew up in Iowa and whose father spent his career in the soil conservation efforts that arose from the dust bowl years so much of the book seemed very personal to me. In this election year, this book reinforced for me how important it is for all of us to be informed about government policy.
I really struggled reading this book. It just dragged on and on about the stubborn people who in spite of seeing their children becoming ill and even dying, stayed on. There was no bright side to their stories, just pain, dispair, and stubborness. In comparison with the Holicost, these people could leave at any time. It would be a struggle, but they were free to leave and start over. Some did. My grandmother left all she had and started over.
After a while I just dreaded reading more about their miserable way of life.
They were really igorant of the land and its nature. It makes me sick to hear that when the rains returned in the 40's and wheat prices shot up because of the war effort, the farmer's ripped out the shelter belt trees, to plant grain. Greed prevailed!!!
I will never understand why they let millions of bushels of wheat rot when so many people were starving. And dumping milk to raise the price of milk is a crime. And they didn't get higher prices anyway. What they didn't get was that most people didn't have any money to buy their wheat or milk at any price.
I am not so sure this slice of humanity was part of the greatest generation.
I was eating lunch in the Copper Pickle in Howell a week or so ago, and I had to smile when I overheard a large table of elderly women talking about the book "The Worst Hard Time." Some liked it, some hated it but they were actually TALKING about it. Mission accomplished for Livingston Reads! I'm still reading the book, but very much looking forward to seeing the author on April 17 at the Howell Library.
P.S. - Edith, I loved your post, and I agree with some of what you had to say. My family talked about it over the dinner table, and it was interesting to hear what my daughters thought about what you wrote.
Bravo!
Kathleen: What did your daughters think?
I really disagree with Kathleen. I believe that the reason Mr. Egan had to right this book in the third person is that there was so much going on in the country, politically and economically, that led to the devistation. Those that suffered most only had the information that they got from the papers and local governments. I wonder if the mass rabbit kills could happen today. Surely not. Once word got out that there was glut of food available while some were starving, we would have neighbors feeding eachother with rabbit meat (I would hope).
I wouldn't say that "I enjoyed reading" this book. I do feel that this is an important read and I would recommend it for a text in a Highschool course on American History. I have given a copy to my reading-addicted 12 year old and she and I are having good discussion about the Dust Bowls.
My two most haunting passages: the two criminals asked to dance in the courtroom, and the rabbit kills.
nice
wonderful