Seeking Yesterday tells the story of a family’s journey into the past, sparked by the discovery of a 1922 land claim in the California desert. Richardson traces the lives of her grandparents Ralph and Emma, who dared to homestead on 160 acres of harsh desert terrain, while weaving in broader history from the Homestead Act to World War I, the rise of Palm Desert, and the fading dreams of pioneers. The book unfolds as both a personal quest and a sweeping historical account, blending memoir, genealogy, and local history into one. It is at once intimate and expansive, grounded in dusty documents and vivid imagination, pulling the reader into the struggles and resilience of people who shaped not just one family but part of the American West.

I felt the writing had a quiet warmth. Author Lis Richardson doesn’t hide her own longing to connect with the people who came before her, and that vulnerability made the book feel human. At times, the detail was immense, but I appreciated the effort to bring texture to landscapes and lives that could otherwise slip away into silence. The desert, especially, comes alive here.

What struck me most was the honesty in confronting both pride and pain. The book doesn’t gloss over the failures, the heartbreak, or the reality that the “empty” land was once home to Indigenous peoples. I admired that acknowledgment, and it deepened the story beyond one family’s nostalgia. Some sections leaned heavily on research and read more like a history text than a personal reflection. The strongest passages were the ones where her personal yearning met the historical record.

I’d recommend Seeking Yesterday to readers who enjoy family memoirs, regional histories, or stories of resilience in unforgiving places. It’s a book for those who’ve wondered about the lives hidden behind old photographs or land deeds. If you like the mix of memory and history, with a bit of grit and dust clinging to the edges, this one is worth your time.

Pages: 351 | ASIN : B0FMJQV8GQ