3 out of 4 stars
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My dearest child, do you like to know what it was like living in the early 1900s? We used an icebox instead of a refrigerator, washtub instead of washing machine, and played outside instead of video games. I observed the social changes with fascination throughout my whole life. Back then life was much simpler, we never had Facebook, iPod, or portable phones, but now, I can't live a moment without depending on them.
Being the only girl in a family of two boys: we lived with our grandparents until my parents could be financially stable. It was normal back then for married children to live with their parents until they could be financially independent. Can you imagine that? Hardly, I think. Now, now, I know you want to hear more about the old days, my dear. Let me take you back: I still believe that I grew up in the best of times...
Reviving heart-warming memories, Gertrude Coulter inspired me in her short read Dibs and Dabs of My Life. It unfolds a woman's journey through a different era, bringing out the importance of family values and love. Written in the first person perspective: it's an ideal read for readers who have keen interests in family theme, memoir, and 1900s lifestyle.
Gertrude takes us to a time when life was family oriented: mothers were full-time stay-at-home moms, and dads were the breadwinners. A time when technology had less influence in the people's lives. Gertrude included surface details about her experiences during World War II. The background information provided takes us to the East of Arkansas.
The style of writing was simple and effective. Gertrude included family pictures: this evoked a feeling of looking at an old family album. Gertrude used sound effects as an added literary device to offer an effective reading experience, such as, "When Grandmother heard the sounds of the horse’s hooves clomp, clomp, clomping down the street, ... (p. 141)." Her ability to give life to her words contributed a pleasant and comforting reading experience which allowed me to rate this read 3 out of 4 stars. Her passion is evident, and there were tit-bits of laugh-out-loud moment in this read.
Gertrude's power of positivity and lively nature captivated me. Her ability to adapt in any negative situation is evident on the way she handles them, such as, "... United States had declared war. That was on Sunday, December 7, 1941. During the next few years, everyone had to make a lot of sacrifices. Foods and shoes were ration. One thing we learned was how to budget. (p. 234)" The author never burdened her readers with her troubles. She took care to write what was necessary and needed.
I enjoyed this read on one sitting. It provided insightful visualizations about the lifestyle in the early to mid 1900s. The author portrays how technology changed and influenced people's early lifestyle. I noticed the values and free-spirited nature of her family which made me realize how much we miss. Gertrude portrayed true circumstances that era provided. The author was a great storyteller: she gave me a perfect experience of a grandma telling her story.
Honestly, there wasn't a section in this read that I didn't enjoy. I didn't encounter any difficulty while reading but noted a lot of minor grammatical and punctuation errors. Therefore, I wish to exercise the importance of re-edit this read. Concluding her insightful journey, I couldn't agree more on,
So this is my story: now, run, run along and play, my dear. It's a beautiful day!... parental help and attention at home are essential to a child’s progress in school (p. 462).
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Dibs and Dabs of my Life
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