Thriving: 1920–1939

Understanding Ursula #2

by Corinne Jeffery

Thriving, book two of Corinne Jeffery’s Understanding Ursula series, continues the story of the challenges of the intriguing and contentious Werners, a family of German Lutheran homesteaders on the Saskatchewan prairie. Become reacquainted with their dynamic lives as they try to keep pace with the flourishing new decade and later discover innovative ways to endure the hardships of the Great Depression.

With the return of prosperity to the Canadian prairies, Gustav Werner resumes his insatiable quest to acquire more prime farmland. Still, no one is more surprised than he when his hand is forced and his future reshaped by increasing drama and secrets. He wonders why he is persistently entangled in compromising family relationships, and then tragedy, until he begins to doubt his faith. When Mother Nature, in which he has always found peace and solace, too becomes his enemy—sending drought, grasshoppers, hail, and fierce winds that lift the rich topsoil off his land—he starts to despair. Steadily, though, his sorrow and despondency give way to a deepening awareness of his inner strengths and a heightening of his resolve to push onward for all those who count on him.

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Corinne Jeffery is the author of the bestselling Canadian historical fiction trilogy Understanding Ursula with titles Arriving: 1909–1919 (2011) Thriving: 1920–1939 (2012) and Choosing: 1940–1989 (2013). She is also the author of Lords and Lepers (2018), an intriguing coming of age novel set in the Canadian prairies, and The Reluctant Author (2020), a fictionalized memoir. Since she learned to read, Jeffery has dreamed of writing a novel. She also took “the other path,” attaining a Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of Manitoba and becoming an educator with Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton. The Other Path is her sixth novel.

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire trilogy was a relaxing, enjoyable, entertaining read.

The family grows over the years. There are hard times, challenges, good times. In this book, the family is quite large. I lost track of all the grandkids, I've got to admit. But it didn't matter. This trilogy is about family, relationships, struggles and accomplishments.

I recommend the entire trilogy

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second instalment in the trilogy, covers the boom period and the Great Depression. While I enjoyed the story, it was not as compelling to me as the first book was. The dialogue did improve, flowing more easily it seemed than before. I think the characters seemed to stagnate, and there were so many new ones introduced that several from the first book just seemed to make cameo appearances here. Time marches on.
I have the final instalment all ready to go on my nightstand.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave a vivid picture of what life may have been like for my grandparents, who lived through the depression in small town Saskatchewan. It also made me connect to some of the characters, enough to want to read the third of the series.
It isn’t the most thrilling page turner, but it will make it through.

[Delilah Trenaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The continuation of the Understanding ursula series is also a very good read that takes you into the time of the great depression in Sask.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so captivated by the characters of this trilogy. Jumping right in to the next book.