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16th out of 31 books
—
21 voters
Hannah Fowler
Samuel Moore and his daughter Hannah set out for the border country with a party led by George Rogers Clark but left to follow the Kentucky River to Boones' Fort. As the story opens, Hannah is nursing her father, injured when an axe slips and cuts his leg. By the time Tice Fowler, on his way to Logan's Fort, stumbles upon them alone in the wilderness, Samuel is dying from...more
Hardcover, 219 pages
Published
1956
by Houghton Mifflin Company
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3+. Published in 1956, it is a story of Hannah Fowler, a frontier woman and her family, their dealings with the land and the Shawnee and Cherokee Indians before Kentucky became a state (circa 1770). I enjoyed the descriptions of them living and moving around the land in West Virginia (a favorite backpacking location for me). I also enjoyed the simple, sweet relationships she had with her husband and neighbors. I appreciated many little pearls of wisdom she had in her no-nonsense life and her lov...more
My wife is much more likely to read historical fiction that doesn't contain monsters or premature burials or something than I am, and she suggested that I should take a look at this one. It was very enjoyable to read. While the plot is probably pretty standard frontier times stuff, the period details were interesting, and the very placid pacing of it was actually a pleasure (too much alliteration there). I also liked the way the dialogue was rendered.
Great book. The story of a woman in the wilderness of Kentucky in the days of Daniel Boone (1778ish). Took me a few chapters to really get into her speaking dialect, but a great story. In many ways it reminded me of "These Is My Words." Both are about strong women doing amazing things and thinking that they're perfectly normal.
Jan 23, 2009
Diana
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who enjoys a good story about the American pioneer.
Recommended to Diana by:
found at library
This is the story of Hannah who starts a journey through the American wilderness with her father. She had been raised in old Virginia and her ideas and speech are what you would expect from someone who was rarely in company. Her strength and inner beauty are incredible. Janice Holt Giles created beautiful characters.
Oct 07, 2008
Art
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone wanting to know about Kentucky around the time of Daniel Boone
Shelves:
kentucky
I had read this book before however I forgot most of it.
Janice Holt Giles is just like Lois Lowry, Ann Ridnaldi and Pearl S. Buck.
I enjoyed this book about Hannah Fowler who like myself came from Pennsylvania.
Her Father and Her travelled the Ohio River and they got off on the Kentucky River while the rest went to the Falls of the Ohio. The cities there today are Jeffersonville, IN and Louisville, KY.
The Winter of 1779-1780 reminds me of "The Long Winter" w/Laura Ingells Wilder and "The Forgotten...more
Janice Holt Giles is just like Lois Lowry, Ann Ridnaldi and Pearl S. Buck.
I enjoyed this book about Hannah Fowler who like myself came from Pennsylvania.
Her Father and Her travelled the Ohio River and they got off on the Kentucky River while the rest went to the Falls of the Ohio. The cities there today are Jeffersonville, IN and Louisville, KY.
The Winter of 1779-1780 reminds me of "The Long Winter" w/Laura Ingells Wilder and "The Forgotten...more
Recommended by a friend when I was one week overdue with my first baby, just dragging through the hours and days of waiting...and it was wonderful! Couldn't put it down, and suddenly being hugely pregnant with nothing but time on my hands wasn't so bad after all!
An excellent historical fiction novel draws me in and this one did, so much so that I read the two sequels. I feel like I traveled in time. Giles use of setting, characterization and historical context is remarkable.
This book takes you back to the excitement of unsettled America, and the story of how Tice and Hannah get together is different and sweet. Hannah is sooo tough, you'll love her. Clean! Wonderful!
Dec 26, 2009
Anna
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Anna by:
My mother, she recommended so many of my favorites!
ONe of my favorites from childhood, I grew to love and admire those women that came before me to settle this great land of America. I bet I have read it at least once a year since the first time!
Another book my Mom gave me to read. I have read this one several times too. It is about a frontier woman and all the hardships she had to endure. It was great.
I really enjoyed this book... which isn't that surprising, since I love historical pioneer type novels. I really liked Hannah, and admired her strength and courage.
Best book I know to explain the feelings/thinking of Appalachian people.
I first read this book many years ago and again in 2012.
I first read this book many years ago and again in 2012.
This is my favorite book about the pioneer spirit! I first read this book when I was a teenager. Every few years I pick it up again.
Maybe a bit on the young reader side,but good wholesome American adventure.Strong female character and down home farm setting.
I loved this book. I have always enjoyed stories of the pioneers, and this is one of the best. Hannah is a character who stays with you long after the last page is read.
What a great book! I enjoyed the authenticity and simplicity of this story. Definitely one that I will read again.
It's a shame that Janice Holt Giles isn't a more well known author. I enjoyed her novel The Kentuckians very much, but Hannah Fowler is a step above. I am amazed at her ability to write in dialect and have it come off not as annoying, but endearing. The relationship between Hannah and Tice is so down to earth and genuine, it hits you right in the heart. I guess it is the difference between honest love that grows out of real life, vs. sentimental romance... And as she does in The Kentuckians, JHG...more
One of my all time favorite books!! I found this book at a used book store. I love reading historical fiction and this is one of the best!
It was one my Great Aunt read when she was younger and liked. she gave it to me to read and I liked it a lot.
My mother read and re-read this book throughout out my childhood - when she was sad or ill. I sit by her bedside in her last days, watching her sleep, and pick up the large print version I tracked down for her a few years ago. I may have read it in high school. I don't remember. I read it now to try to see what gave her such comfort so long ago.
Interesting read- written in the 1950's about Kentucky
Really good story about a pioneer woman.
An Amazing story, of true love and sacrifice.
I wanted to love this one. With all of the reviews I read, I was thinking it would be up there with These Is My Words, but I didn't LOVE it like I thought I would.
I did really enjoy it, though. The characters were great, and the love story of it was more real to me than most love stories I've read. It wasn't very detailed, but she did a great job of making their love comfortable and sweet to read about.
I have a feeling that a lot of people I know would love it, and it would make for a good book...more
I did really enjoy it, though. The characters were great, and the love story of it was more real to me than most love stories I've read. It wasn't very detailed, but she did a great job of making their love comfortable and sweet to read about.
I have a feeling that a lot of people I know would love it, and it would make for a good book...more
Oct 18, 2012
Carole
added it
One of my all-time favorites.
excellent
I found an old copy of Hannah Fowler by Janice Holt Giles, which has been hanging around my parents’ house for years. I think I may have read a little bit of it when I was young because the beginning felt familiar. I can see why I gave it up, though I enjoyed it tremendously this time around; it’s sort of like a Laura Ingalls Wilder book for grown-ups.
Jun 05, 2008
Mike
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Those who like excellent character description and development.
Recommended to Mike by:
82 year old Mother
Excellent writing with period language and great storytelling...one of those I cannot put down. A deep insight into the difficulty of surviving backwoods life in the 18th century, and a testimonial to the American spirit of independence during those times. No matter your situation, you cannot read this book and help but say to yourself "I have had it made living in this era."
Feb 13, 2010
Peggy McClanahan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Peggy by:
Jen
Shelves:
historical-fiction
I have to admit that I had this 2 or 3 times from the library before I actually read it because it's such an ugly book. But I really enjoyed reading about Southern 'pioneers' but the love story is so sweet and gentle. It's not a fast paced book but the slower pace follows the time period.
In the Kentucky wilderness 1778, Hannah and her father are moving west. The father is badly injured by a slip of his ax. A few days later another man comes upon them. This a tale of survival and starting life in the wilderness. Written in the 1950s.
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Feb 14, 2010 04:37pm