Out of the Dust

by Joyce E. Patterson

Two of America’s worst economic disasters occurred during the same period. One was the crash of the Stock Market and the other was a 13-year drought which turned 100-million acres of the Great Plains into a Dust Bowl. With migration at its highest level, and everyone scrambling to find work, the times provide a history that shows the strength of the downtrodden that is inspirational, exciting, and often humorous. “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” “The Best Things in Life are Free,” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” are songs that describe the flavor of the times. Almost everyone who lived through this sobering era had their own story of desperation and struggle. This is a story of one such family and how each member faced and overcame their situation. It is also the love story of a young couple whose marriage was more a convenience than an inspiration. Love finally comes when they face their hardships together and realize the undeniable qualities that each of them has to offer in strengthening their relationship.

Genres: Historical Fiction

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2018

Reviews

[Cranky Commentary (Melinda)]

DNF at 50%.

This was a rather average story about average people, their trials, their romances, their travels, their everyday life. The setting was the Great Depression and the Dustbowl years. There were some good historical facts written in. I appreciated the author giving a bit of a history lesson as a backdrop for this group of people. This wasn’t for me. I just felt bored.

[Nana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of the Dust Bowl. It's difficult to believe the hardships of the times but as a nation we pulled through.Oh, for some of that unity and pride now.

[Dianne McMahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Satisfying Read About Life in the Thirties

Fantastic book,over 500 pages with great characters, obvious direction.Mostly was about one family who crawled out of the Dust Bowl,to try and live their lives.
Work was hard to come by,so people walked for miles to take on any job offered.
Some family members disappeared & tried to overcome adversity,but many simply failed.
After hard times in the thirties,the 2nd.WW came along & hit with another hard punch.
Women were left alone with their children & had to be both mother & father,but learned along the way,that they were very hardy souls & were very much needed to help fight the War effort.
All in all,just a well written book about the trials & tribulations of living each day in an uncertain world.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot of the book and its development deserve 5 stars. I took one star off because there are grammatical errors and typos. Petty, probably, but I admit to being a perfectionist in these areas.

The book explores the United States from right after the stock crash of 1929 to the ending of World War II. It explores the stories of members of the same family as they face the problems of a country desperately needing a change. At times I had to stop and think about how two characters being written about were related. If you are looking for a full novel about the era of the dust bowl, this isn't it. The beginnings of the book take you through the family's dust storm woes. It moves beyond that fairly quickly. Still, an engaging book that I would recommend if you enjoy historical fiction.

[Kenneth J. Olsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A complex story!

This book covered so many places with a plethora of characters.
And some of them where characters! In fact, this book was like several books in one. Found the history a good birds eye view of one of the most troubling periods in this countries history - the great depression and WWII. The characters and events during the depression phase was mind boggling. When the war broke out, the story line makes a major change for the better. Over all, it has both good and poor segments, and that puts it in the middle of the road.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read

I've read several fiction books concerning the Depression & WWII but this was quite different. I learned how people coped with their lives during these troubled times in
a different way. Most books I've read on these subjects were depressing. But this book while being gloomy was also entertaining. It might not be a "work of art" but I truly enjoyed it & I hope you do too!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable but ended rather abruptly

It was quite a long story, some of it seemed a bit disconnected or maybe it didn’t flow as well as it could have. I was grateful for a happy ending, but it did seem to end rather abruptly. I knew about the dust bowl but I didn’t realize that it was really so horrible. My grandfather lived through it, and I regret I’ll never have the opportunity to talk to him more about it.

M

[jeannette Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean38no

When I first picked this book I thought it would be like so many books I had read about the dust bowl . It’s not it’s more . You are swept up in the time of families on the move because of the dust bowl. The author really takes you past that time all the way through WWII. The main characters were like every day people. You felt their happiness their pain. Their joys and sorrows ! A good read!

[Janet Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. My mother was one of 16 children. They lived in that area of the country, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, etc. the hardships were unbelievable. She was a little girl and had untold chores to do. She never complained about it. She was very loyal to her family. It really gave me an insight into what those people endured, I’m sure my family suffered more because they were farmers too and at times had a little food. It was a good observation of that period of time.

[henry smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. Poor American people trying to survive during depression and hardships that were heartbreaking. Families starving. Struggling to find work. Living in squalor and poverty. When things get better life drags them back down. One travesty after another but in the end some do survive and life gets better then WW2. Women take on the roles of the men so their families can survive. It was a hard time but Americans did what they always did. They survived.

[Joan mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

like hearing one of my Mothers stories

My mom was born in 1914. She was a young woman during the Great Depression. While she lived in Southeast Missouri, they were farmers who experienced the dust bowl. They lived through rationing and WW11. I loved this story and the author is great.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

out of the dirt came something good.

It was hard times. No work for the men. Everything had dried up so very little food and no end in sight. But, the human spirit is a determined one and always looking to make life better, these families are able to make their lives better in spite of the dust bowl and depression.

[Ron Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard times

I the Dust Bowl changed so many live! Was devastating as so many lost everything and tried to make it it in another place and watched their families go hungry. Some found hope but mist didn't. And then came world war 2 and women had to go to work as this husbands went t war and came home changed forever. Made me proud of my own heritage.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected but still good

I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but it wasn't this. My grandfather came to the southern California desert just before the dust bowl hit bad, so we grew up with a lot of stories about what it did to family left behind. I guess I was disappointed with the way so many of the people acted in this book!

[Katherine Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great historical fiction accounting of events.

I enjoyed the style of writing. I felt like I was present during the horrible Dust Bowl. I can’t even imagine the hardships those people endured. Cap that with a depression and World War! Those were such brave men and women.

[Sharlyne Agostine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading about the history of the dust bowl and the Great Depression. Was a different way of seeing how different families coped with such hardships. The book didn’t flow well and the ending was very abrupt.

[Loretta Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story of life during a very hard time in our country.

The author has done a great job of telling a story of life and the hardships that faced everyone in our country during the 20’s, 30,s and early 40,s. Enjoyable and entertaining reading.

[Jill M. Micheau · Rating 1 out of 5]

disappointing

Writing is very amateurish. There’s not really a plot, just a diary-like telling of the lives of a couple during tumultuous times. There’s no real heart to the book, and none of the characters are very likable — or even hateable…

[carolynpuckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I enjoyed this book so much, was had to put down.It kept me guessing at what would happen next. I thought Harold would not make it home. He did and Kenny finally changed. It was sad how he died.

[Judy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

Well written and heartfelt story of American perseverance from tragedy!!
Self survival was common and necessary to stay alive!! This book is a good example of our American spirit!

[Missy Hammack · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!

This book was a great telling of a family sticking together despite the many trials they encountered. I love reading historical fiction and seeing how people overcome adversity when times are hard because of war and tough economic conditions.

[Sheila Kegley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, it was a pretty good read. It started with the struggles of the dust bowl, but changed midstream and ended with WWI, so it was kind of 2 stories in one. I would have rather read an entire book about the dust bowl and how they survived.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book set in 30’s and 40’s. A time when my parents would have been growing up. In my opinion, the servicemen and women, as well as the civilians back at home, really were the greatest generation.

[Janetkelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining

This book is a realistic and entertaining story of two families from the dust bowl through WWII. The characters are believable and the storyline interesting enough to keep my attention. I enjoyed it very much!

[JENNIFER BLANCHARD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

It's an amazing book and story. Loved it. The characters I got so attached to. Did not want this story to end.

[joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eazy

I love to read. And this book was a easy read. With some history,and personal feelings. I enjoyed it. thanks

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

The historical parts of the story were good. The rest is bed hopping, wife swapping and stuff idk why is even there.

[Sharon Dailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay; kind of a slog to get through and wasn't really what I expected. Was kind of like a bit of a soap opera and the ending just seemed very abrupt.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written book! I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Odette Driver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

I love this book From the 1st page To the last page. This lady Really knows how to write a story. Thank you Joyce For entertaining me Few days !!