My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
A Sweetness to the Soul (Dreamcatcher)
Based on historical characters and events, A Sweetness to the Soul recounts the captivating story of young, spirited Oregon pioneer Jane Herbert who at the age of twelve faces a tragedy that begins a life-long search for forgiveness and love. In the years that follow, young Jane finds herself involved in an unusual and touching romance with a dreamer sixteen years her seni...more
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
September 16th 2008
by Multnomah
(first published June 12th 1995)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
413)
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is a book to read slowly to appreciate and absorb its wisdom and characters.
Nuggets of truth gleaned from this book:
"It's funny, the pleasures we deprive ourselves of rather than face our fears." P. 14
"But then, it is rarely the event but our reaction to it that change our lives I've found." p. 57
"I noticed something more: the eagle soared not only by his own efforts but by the strength of something else, by the stren...more
Nuggets of truth gleaned from this book:
"It's funny, the pleasures we deprive ourselves of rather than face our fears." P. 14
"But then, it is rarely the event but our reaction to it that change our lives I've found." p. 57
"I noticed something more: the eagle soared not only by his own efforts but by the strength of something else, by the stren...more
I'm trying to decide if Kirkpatrick is serious competition to Nancy Turner (These Is My Words and sequels) and think not quite. This book, also based on real people's real lives, was much slower-moving and was quite lengthy. It probably contains more actual personal and historical events than the Turner story, and that may account for the pace. It took me awhile to decide I liked it as much as I do. I was not as familiar with the Oregon setting as much as I would have liked, but now I want to vi...more
This is the first of Jane Kirkpatrick's books I read, and now she is one of my favorite authors. Such a coincidence how I found this book: We had been to a weekend trip in central Oregon and visited Sherar's Falls while there. The day after we got home, my daughter wanted to go to the Christian bookstore to get a book. While I was waiting for her to shop, I looked through the books and found "A Sweetness to the Soul", which looked good to me. When I got home and looked at the book more...more
This book could be a 3.5 rating and possibly even a 4 star rating if it wasn't so long. Long books don't bother me but I felt like this one just kept going on and on and on with small stories in Jane and Joseph's lives. Stories that I think could have been left out or shortened to not make you feel like the novel was going to end but yet something else happened. This is the second book I've read by Kirkpatrick because I liked the first so well (A Mending at the Edge). I did enjoy the historical ...more
Malbadeen
rated it
Recommends it for:
wranglers, people that can't have kids and lovers of tidy stories
Shelves:
read-out-of-a-sense-of-obligation
(August) It's a book full of lessons well learned, hurt healed with time, perfect marriages and gracious acceptance of loss - in other words, not a book I could readily relate to.
Come to think of it I did learn a lesson from this book - don't borrow books from acquaintances, because then you feel obligated to read them.
That being said...yee-ha for me because, I did it! I'm meeting with the person that lent me this book 3 months ago in exactly 1 and a half hours and I ca...more
Come to think of it I did learn a lesson from this book - don't borrow books from acquaintances, because then you feel obligated to read them.
That being said...yee-ha for me because, I did it! I'm meeting with the person that lent me this book 3 months ago in exactly 1 and a half hours and I ca...more
The title says it all. Even if you are not a western fan, this is really worth your time. I felt enriched by the words. I often reflected that this was a book of friendship and realtionships and was comforted by the people I met through the pages. The prose was beautiful, but not pulling punches. The characters were well defined, and the added element of the main characters being factual only makes it sweeter. Really an exceptional book.
Since I first read "A Sweetness to the Soul" many years ago, I have considered it to be my favorite fiction book. Over the years, I told many people that. Recently, I reread it "just to see if it is as good as I remember." Sure is. Wonderful as ever. Still my favorite. I regularly purchase this book for gifts. I have read everyone of Jane Kirkpatrick's book. J. Noden
Before there was Nancy E. Turner ("These Is My Words"), there was Jane Kirkpatrick who seems to find these sweet, obscure stories from the Westward Expansion of the 1800s and ripens them. In this book, Kirkpatrick brings to life a beautifully constructed historical novel about a madly-in-love couple who were instrumental in the urbanization of wilderness Oregon during the Westward Migration. There is a depth and spirit in our leading lady that is both universal and inspiring. I think...more
I really liked this book but oddly enough, the first half was just so much better than the second. Some of the characters just stopped developing and some of them developed in a way I didn't like. Sunmiet had so much potential to be a strong female especially given the time and setting. It is based on a true story so perhaps I just want too much?
Best quote: It'll take you nowhere but to misery to blame another for things the way they are."
This book tells the story of a young, spirited, pioneer Jane Herbert. It is "filled with insight and glimpses of real-life pain and offers a pwerful testimony to themiracle of God's healing power" without being "churchy".
This book tells the story of a young, spirited, pioneer Jane Herbert. It is "filled with insight and glimpses of real-life pain and offers a pwerful testimony to themiracle of God's healing power" without being "churchy".
This story touched me. It rang a familiar tune in my own life. I have read many of Jane K's books, most all of them out of order and it just doesn't seem to matter. If it weren’t below freezing outside, I would take a drive to the area in this story, but I guess it will have to wait until Spring.
Another great Jane Kirkpatrick book. She bases a lot of her books on historical characters and this one is Jane Sherar. Jane marries a much older man, becomes best friends with an Indian girl, and makes a life for herself in Oregon. The love story between her and her husband is really sweet.
I liked the fact that it is based on Oregon history, and paints a good picture of the early settlement of Oregon. The writing was not always fluid, and some characters were better developed than others. ON the whole, an easy and enjoyable read.
I listened to this book and really enjoyed it. The story is based on real people and events in the settlement of Oregon. I like the fact that author Jane Kirpatrick does indepth research for each of her historical novels. This one is exceptional.
This is a great, historical fiction book. The story is taken from true facts. The book takes place from 1860 - 1890 in Oregon. A girl marries and never has kids. She loves her husband, builds bridges and paves the way to the west.
I loved this book. Her prose is so lyrical. I also enjoyed learning a bit about Oregon's early history. I've read multiple books by her, but this was definitely my favorite.
Recommended by Ruth Hasnedl. Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Oregon Territory. 1861. "It's funny, the pleasures we deprive ourselves of rather than face our fears." page 14.
Jane Kirkpatrick
added it
I wrote this book. It was just named by the Oregon State Library as one of 150 Books celebrating Oregon's 150th anniversary as a state.
I like Jane Kirkpatrick as an author. She always has strong women characters. This was a good book, but I was glad to get to the end. The end seemed to last too long.
I listened to this in the car and REALLY enjoyed it. I particularly liked that it is set in eastern Oregon.
view 1 comment
I read this book several years ago for book club, and it is still one of my all-time favorites.
Can you ever go wrong with Jane Kirkpatrick? Of course, no! Yet another sure-fire winner from her.
This is the first Jane Kirkpatrick book I have read. I really liked it.
I had never heard of this author or this book, but I picked it up because I had nothing to read. To my surprise, I loved it. A great story with great life lessons intertwined.
Vivid depiction of White settlers among the Indians in Oregon.
I am really glad I read this book. I learned about pioneer life in Oregon and the Indians that lived here. And, because it was about places I have been to, I could picture them in my mind as I read: The Dalles, The Warm Springs Indian Reservation, the Columbia River, Portland, & Astoria. Also, the characters in the story were based upon real people who lived at that time.
Finally, it was a touching love story, and was about a woman overcoming life's trials through love!
(The only t...more
Finally, it was a touching love story, and was about a woman overcoming life's trials through love!
(The only t...more
One of my favorite books of all time.
Catherine
added it
Beautiful book; loved it.
I loved their honeymoon night! So sweet!
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers Also Enjoyed
Kirkpatrick brings us a story of one woman's restoration from personal grief to the meaning of community."
More about Jane Kirkpatrick...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
