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Seeking Yesterday
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
Never Dull!
Never Dull! is a wild and heartfelt tribute to family, grit, and laughter, told through stories that feel more like tall tales around a campfire than your standard biography. At its heart, it’s a daughter’s loving homage to her vibrant parents—Marian and Nolan Sharp—and the larger-than-life characters that made up their world of rodeos, ranching, and rowdy good times. Through transcribed audio, photos, and personal anecdotes, Heather Sharp gives us a front-row seat to a life lived loud, full of joy, and never short on mischief.
Honestly, I didn’t expect to get as hooked as I did. The storytelling is casual and reads like someone pouring you a drink and pulling you into a story with a wink. The chapter “Live in the Moment” had me belly-laughing. A steer wrestler cuts off Marian’s ponytail in a bar as a joke, and her reaction? She rolls with it, gets a new haircut in the bar bathroom, and demands he buy drinks for life. That mix of sass and grace pretty much sums her up. And then there’s the moment where Nolan proposes after saving a cow with milk fever and roping it with a short rope. These stories aren’t just funny. They’re gritty, raw, and full of heart.
But it’s not all laughs. What caught me off guard was how emotionally honest the book is. There’s a recurring theme about living with purpose and keeping your word, especially in the chapter “The Guy in the Glass.” Nolan’s character comes through as humble, kind, and deeply grounded—a man who wasn’t of the cowboy world, but in it. His grandkids’ memories of him are gold. The chapter Come Fly With Me really tugged at my heart. I loved how it celebrated Marian’s late-in-life dream of becoming a flight attendant. At an age when most folks are slowing down, she was chasing the clouds, proving it’s never too late to go after what sets your soul on fire. The way Heather tells it—with humor, pride, and a little awe—made me want to cheer. It’s not just about flying; it’s about freedom, grit, and showing up for your dreams no matter how long they take.
Never Dull! is a rollercoaster of laughs, lessons, and lump-in-the-throat moments. It’s perfect for anyone who loves true stories that don’t shy away from messiness. If you like books with guts, grit, and a ton of charm—and especially if you’ve got a soft spot for cowboys or family tales—this one’s for you.
Pages: 330 | ASIN : B0C92KWNQQ
LITERARY TITAN 