Linda K. Hubalek
Narrator: Ann M. Richardson
Butterfield Books Inc.
3 hours 5 minutes
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| Narrator: Ann M. Richardson |
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| Author: Linda K. Hubalek |
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| Planting Dreams by Linda Hubalek |
Dainty is perhaps an old fashioned word, but it is what comes to mind when I listen
to the very delicate and feminine voice of Ann M. Richardson. Ms. Richardson's voice
is very clear with nice intonations. Her reading is flawless, graceful and will captivate
your attention. I like her interpretation of the characters and the Swedish accent, which
is in no way over done. Ann Richardson uses her voice well, and makes good transitions.
She certainly did add a lot of pleasure to my listening of Planting Dreams. I highly recommend
listening to the audio book version to really pump up the reality factor.
In this very exciting series about a Swedish family that decides to immigrate from Sweden
to American in the 1800's, Linda Hubalek, has recreated her own ancestors story. Some
is derived from reality and some is from Ms. Hubalek's fertile imagination. She does such
a wonderful interpretation that you can easily forget that parts are made up, and the blend is so
smooth that you will not be able to easily detect between fact and fiction. Hubalek's, fiction is based in research and reality from genuine documentations of the times.
After much researching, sifting the true from the false, and frequent changes of mind, they make the decision to immigrate. Hubalek, perfectly exemplifies their feelings and thoughts after they've made their choice. What to take, what to leave, how to pack things, what needs to be easily accessible on the journey. Heart wrenching thoughts of never seeing loved ones again, and knowing it's likely you will never see your homeland except in your memories. Once underway, and on the train to the Port of Call where they will board the ship that will sail them away to a new life, is an adventure in itself.
Charlotta's, thoughts carry us from stage to stage of their transition to a new way of life and some very different ways of farming, eating and day to day living. I admire the fortitude of not only Charlotta and her family, but all immigrants that made their way to a new land. Their struggles to adapt and at the same time maintain some of their traditions, thus giving America it's unique character, variety of foods, and adding words and expressions to the English language.
It was thoughtful and kind, that the Lutheran minister's gave their time, money, aid and encouragement to the new arrivals. It seemed to me that their presence on the docks to meet the ships did much to comfort and help the new immigrants onto the next stage of their journey. For Charlotta and her family it was the church that aided them in finding a farm to rent for a year. This gave them time to adapt to new ways of farming, new crops to plant and much, much more, so when they moved on to their final destination they were more prepared knowing what to purchase, how to handle their money, and what they faced as homesteaders.
I highly recommend Planting Dreams and suggest you start the series with the first one, Planting Dreams, the second is Cultivating Hope followed by Harvesting Faith. This is just one of Linda Hubalek's series of historical books, she also has written The Trail of Thread series as well as some other extraordinary books. All are narrated by the very talented Ann M. Richardson, who gives a powerful voice to every story. You can visit Linda Hubalek at her website to enjoy her thoughts and peruse the many photographs of pioneers like the one below.
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| Pioneer life |
Cultivating Hope Book 2 of the Planting Dreams Series
Harvesting Faith Book 3 of the Planting Dreams Series
1 comment :
Thanks for reviewing my audio book, Planting Dreams. Ann M. Richardson was a "dream" to work with, and did a very good job on getting the feel and voices of the book just right.
Author Linda K. Hubalek
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