TRUE SISTERS is based on true events. It is set in 1856
and tells the
story of the Mormon converts that travel from Europe to
America and then
walk 1300 miles, pushing handcarts, from Iowa City to Salt
Lake City (Zion
- the promised land) through scorching prairie, over
treacherous rivers, and
across frigid mountains. The goal is to escape from
religious persecution
with hope of a fresh start in a new land.
What started out as a good
idea with the handcarts, ended up being a catastrophe. Not
only were the
carts made with wood that wasn't sturdy, there wasn't any
provisions along
the way. They ended up losing, leaving or selling most of
their belongings.
Beaten down by weather, sickness and a handful of other
reasons, so
many gave up. Losing each other and their spirits in the
process.
The story focuses on four women, their families, and how
their faith is
continually tested through life threatening disease,
horrific loss of limbs,
starvation and death. They are introduced to polygamy and
told this is the
Mormon way. They are seeking the promise of salvation and
prosperity in
a new land. It turns out to be a most harrowing journey,
with disease,
deprivation, discouragement and despair, as well as death
being their
companions when the company encounters bitter winter.
Nannie, who is
traveling with her sister and brother-in-law after being
abandoned on her
wedding day; Louisa, who's married to an overbearing church
leader who
she believes speaks for God; Jessie, who's traveling with
her brothers,
each one of them dreaming of the farm they will have in
Zion; and Anne,
who hasn't converted to Mormonism but who has no choice but
to follow
her husband since he has sold everything to make the trip
to Utah.
TRUE SISTERS has to be one of the saddest and most tragic
books I have
ever read, however, the writing is brilliant and I found the
ending to be
exceptional. Sandra Dallas is a wonderful storyteller. I
was instantly caught
up in these women's lives from the first page. The strength
of these women
really shines through, as well as their heartbreak and their
faith. From
nearly starving to death to freezing in the snow-covered
mountains, they
test their faith and their choices. Beautifully written, I
highly TRUE SISTERS!
TRUE SISTERS is a quick read, and more compelling than I
expected. I appreciate
that Dallas is not Mormon herself, and did her homework with
lots of
research to write TRUE SISTERS which is truly heart
wrenching.
In a novel based on true events, New York Times bestselling
author Sandra Dallas delivers the story of four
women---seeking the promise of salvation and prosperity in a
new land---who come together on a harrowing journey.
In 1856, Mormon converts, encouraged by Brigham Young
himself, and outfitted with two-wheeled handcarts, set out
on foot from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, the promised land.
The Martin Handcart Company, a zealous group of emigrants
headed for Zion, is the last to leave on this 1,300-mile
journey. Earlier companies arrive successfully in Salt Lake
City, but for the Martin Company the trip proves disastrous.
True Sisters tells the story of four women whose lives will
become inextricably linked as they endure unimaginable
hardships, each one testing the boundaries of her faith and
learning the true meaning of survival and friendship along
the way: Nannie, who is traveling with her sister and
brother-in-law after being abandoned on her wedding day;
Louisa, who’s married to an overbearing church leader who
she believes speaks for God; Jessie, who’s traveling with
her brothers, each one of them dreaming of the farm they
will have in Zion; and Anne, who hasn’t converted to
Mormonism but who has no choice but to follow her husband
since he has sold everything to make the trek to Utah.
Sandra Dallas has once again written a moving portrait of
women surviving the unimaginable through the ties of female
friendship.
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