When the Meadowlark Sings: A Montana Memoir
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Book Overview
Born in 1918 in Fort Benton, Montana, Nedra Sterry has crafted a powerful memoir of life on the Montana prairies and a childhood defined in equal measure by poverty and grace, hard work and family ties. The daughter of hailed-out homesteaders, Sterry grew up in a succession of very remote one-room schoolhouses in northern and central Montana, where her mother, a teacher, eked out a living. Sterry married a wheat farmer and raised five children of her own on the Montana Hi-Line, and she learned young to take pleasure where she found it: in porcupine hunts, Saturday night dances, well-told stories, and the meadowlark's song. Clear-eyed and decidedly unsentimental, Sterry traces her family through the homesteading boom, the Great Depression, World War II, and the postwar advancements brought by rural electrification. In doing so, she offers remarkable insight -- and a woman's perspective -- on family, work, and life in 20th century Montana.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1931832390
ISBN13:9781931832397
Release Date:December 2003
Publisher:Riverbend Publishing
Length:224 Pages
Weight:0.77 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"
Related Subjects
Biographical Biographies Biographies & History Biography & History Memoirs Regional U.S. WestCustomer Reviews
3 ratings
When the Meadowlark Sings
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This is a charming book about the difficult life of an abandoned wife of a family in early Montana years that has to support them. Because early Montana schools did not have money to fund full year rural schools many times, she had to move her brood mid-year sometimes to yet another location she could find to teach & keep them together. Her daughter has written a lovely book that is a tribute to her Mom & the positive attitude with which they were raised/taught through this difficult life.
I've heard the Meadowlark
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Nedra Sterry is a great story teller. This is a throughly enjoyable read; it does get a bit confusing to follow as it isn't written cronologically. Aside from that, it could have been written about any number of Montana school teachers and their families, trials, and tribulations.
What a revelation!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Being from that part of MT myself, I found this book quite compelling and a very easy read. I found myself asking questions and then being surprised at the answers it took me awhile to find out after it dawned on me what was happening. I admire the perseverance of the women who pioneered the frontier. Nedra, you did a great job conveying the hora of living in that land back in the day. We all know it was hard but re-living it through your eyes brings it closer to reality. All we can really say, is thank God for your mother and her strong faith in education. I enjoyed the book very much and wish that more people would take advantage of this opportunity to learn about some of the stories of our foremothers so to speak.
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