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Book Summary and Reviews of True Sisters by Sandra Dallas

True Sisters by Sandra Dallas

True Sisters

A Novel

by Sandra Dallas

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  • Apr 2012, 320 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

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 ragtag group of weary families headed for Zion, is the last to leave on this 1,300-mile journey. Three companies that left earlier in the year have completed their trek successfully, but for the Martin Company the trip proves disastrous. True Sisters tells the story of four women from the British Isles traveling in this group. 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. 

There's Nannie, who is traveling with her sister and brother-in-law after being abandoned on her wedding day. 

There's Louisa, who's married to an overbearing church leader who she believes speaks for God.

There's Jessie, who's traveling with her brothers, each one of them dreaming of the farm they will have in Zion.

And finally, there's 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. Her rich storytelling will leave you breathless as you take this trip with Nannie, Louisa, Jessie, and Anne. This is Sandra Dallas at her absolute best.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"One shortcoming is the novel's sometimes one-dimensional male characters, who are pompous, selfish, or weak. But the focus is on strong women and the beautiful relationships they can create even in impossible circumstances. As such, this is a memorable story." - Publishers Weekly

"Solid for discussion groups." - Library Journal

This information about True Sisters was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Diane S.

Sister Wives
It is 1856 and Mormons from all over converge on Iowa City to start their journey on foot to Salt Lake City and the "Promised Land.' Another emotional read for me, the hardships, deaths, these amazingly strong people, was just heartbreaking. I became so enmeshed in these characters lives, their sorrows and joys, their hopes and fears, that it was hard to turn away from this book. I am so glad that I did not live back then, don't think I could blindly follow my husband , nor put aside myself in blind obedience. I loved the women and the way they helped each other and each others families but I am not sure I will ever understand the Mormon faith.

Suzanne G.

Mormon pioneers
Converts to the Mormon faith leave England and Scotland to settle in Salt Lake City, Utah. They begin their trek in Iowa using hand carts rather than wagons. We learn of the hardship, sadness and losses endured on their trip west from four women who are singled out to tell the story. Not being a Mormon, I couldn’t take offense at the authenticity of the faith of which Sandra Dallas wrote, as have many reviewers. So the history, about this time, was interesting for me. I had no idea hand carts were used by those who moved west. I thought settlers used wagons and trains! Where have I been? I loved the book.

Beki

For true stories go to the right source.
This is fictional so it portrays lds men as lustful polygamists who are dishonest and domineering. I know there are always going to be people who don't live a principle in the spirit it was given or under the direction of the Lord and give things a bad name. Many of the rlds reformation of the church and other groups of people continued to live polygamy and just chose wives it wasn't a call from the Lord and it was defiled in a way. Sandra is a great story teller and skilled writer and went to work to get history timeliness right but is for sure bias in her opinion as to how the saints lives played out I believe. For the true stories which some are still hard to read but nevertheless factual read Saints a 4 volume book series written by church historians its wonderful.

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Author Information

Sandra Dallas Author Biography

Sandra Dallas, dubbed "a quintessential American voice" in Vogue magazine, is the author of over a dozen novels, including I>Prayers for Sale and Tallgrass, many translated into a dozen languages and optioned for films. Six-time winner of the Willa Award and four-time winner of the Spur Award, Dallas was a Business Week reporter for 25 years covering the Rocky Mountain region, and began writing fiction in 1990. She has two daughters and lives with her husband in Denver and Georgetown, Colorado.

Link to Sandra Dallas's Website

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