Customer Reviews

Prairie Son (First Series: Creative Nonfiction)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although the story was sad, Clausen did a wonderful job of describing his father's life, keeping the story interesting and adding comical interludes. My husband and I fought over who was going to read the book first each night, we couldn't put it down.

Lloyd A. Clausen is adopted, but he is alone. The adversity he faces as a child, shapes him as a man. Even at a tender age, he simply plays the hand that he is dealt, and manages to show the mature understanding that people are capable of good as well as bad. A heartbreaking story that is beautifully told. You want to give Lloyd Clausen a hug to get him over the next tragedy. If you are not moved by this book, you won't be moved by any book.

I, too, could not put this book down once I started reading it. This story has a most authentic ring to it and moved me to tears quite a few times throughout. The story of Loyd's childhood is delivered without fanfare, yet it seems almost lyrical all the while effectively depicting rural life in the Midwest during the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Terrific and insightful characterization, too; I wanted to hate Ma and Pa but, as Loyd eventually did, I ended up feeling sorry for them and could forgive them in the end. I felt as if I had actually met most of these people described in the book. I'm grateful I picked this book up and recommend it wholeheartedly!

This book tells a story of a hard life, but without great bitterness or constant regret. It has the voice of a modest person who has reluctantly agreed to tell us some of the truths about life if we are willing to slow down and listen. The narrator is an orphan boy who is adopted by a Minnesota farm family in the early 1920's. The story covers his life from early childhood to young adulthood. At all times in the book the narrator is very concerned with discovering his birth mother. The narrator is adopted and raised to be a "hired man"; a laborer for his adoptive parents. The book tells many stories about conditions in a America that seems to be centuries away in attitudes and practices. Was life better or worse in that "simpler" time? The author lays out both cases often in the same episode. As like so many people in the Midwest who have rural area relatives, ancestors or other connections, I very much appreciated learning about Minnesota farm life during that era, attitudes toward children, and views of the outside world and events by rural people of that day. The narrators coninual search for his birth mother is also especially touching.

I found this book to be a very vivid account of the extremely difficult life of an adoptee. This child experiences great losses and abuse but somehow manages to find beauty in his narrow world. I could not put this book down. It was both haunting and a tribute to the human spirit. A similar book is PATTY'S JOURNEY by Donna Scott Norling.

I received this book as a christmas present and from the minute I started reading it I couldn't put it down. The author's excellent writing style not only vividly described the hard times faced by his father growing up in western Minnesota but also flows in such a manner that it makes for an easy read. Another title for this book could have been: "Love Stories" as there were many levels of these not the least of which was that between father and author that resulted in the publication of the book. One of the most excellent books I have read. I am remined of Willa Cather's (sp?) "My Antonia". EXCELLENT!

I was deeply involved in this book within a few pages. In an incredible way this author tells multiple stories within this book. Each story is clear, from Lloyds struggles of having been adopted, the powerful recount of the impact of the Great Depression, the recognition of the value others had played in his life etc. I don't know when I have read such a moving story with such a well written style.