Customer Reviews

A Boyhood in the Dust Bowl, 1926-1934

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Anybody who grew up this area (south central Oklahoma) during this time, or had parents who did, will enjoy reliving tales of a youngster growing during the Depression. Robert Rutland has a real gift of story telling - light, easy to read but profound. The best part is that although he had it tougher than most because of his fractured family, he was able to tell his story through the eyes of an innocent 10-12 year old boy. There were harsh things going on around him that he didn't recognize nor understand. Although his father died when Robert was young and he was sent to live with his grandparents, away from his mother and his baby sister, it was obvious he was raised with love and protection. His biggest concerns were usually escaping from the bullies about town and trying to find ways to make a nickel! My father-in-law lived around these same places, Okemah, Cromwell and Seminole as his dad tried to make a living in the oil fields for his family of seven. So many of Rutland's descriptions sounded familiar. Despite the tough and sad times, Rutland didn't dwell on the tragedies. Instead, the reader comes away almost longing for those simple and innocent days when traveling circus (without animals!) was the highlight of the summer. They were hard times but they were also the growing up years for the "Greatest Generation."