Lauraine Snelling’s novel, The Reapers’ Song, the fourth book of the “Red River of the North” series, takes place in Dakota Territory and covers the period 1885 – 1886.
Blessings, Dakota Territory, is beginning to prosper from the hard work of the Norwegian homesteaders. The railroad helps bring business to the little town, and the surrounding farms are producing crops and livestock.
Ingeborg and Haakan, their children and neighbors, many of whom are relatives, work long, hard hours. Some still live in sod houses; others are fortunate to have wood-framed homes. The stock and harvest must come first, and it is a steady grind to eke out their living.
Haakan and neighboring farmers have managed to acquire a steam engine with a separator to harvest wheat. A team of men take the separator on the road, threshing for other homesteaders in return for a portion of their grain. While the men are gone, their fields remain idle, and Ingeborg worries about all the work to be done before the harsh winter sets in. She decides to take over some of the field work in her husband’s absence. But her plan backfires and causes unimagined pain.
The Blessing community is grounded in deep faith. Without thinking of their own inconvenience, they help neighbors, welcome strangers into their homes, and do whatever is necessary for the good of all.
The author paints vivid pictures of the vast Dakota prairie, the dinginess of a house built of sod, the blessing of a church with a pastor, and the treasure of a school. She skillfully describes clothes, equipment, and attitudes of the period, and shows how faith and dedication help the immigrants thrive. I am enjoying the “Red River of the North” series and look forward to the two remaining books.
Your review of the Reaper’s Song acquainted me with a series of books reminding me of my long ago childhood days. While visiting an aunt in Minnesota she showed me the sod house, still standing, where she once lived before moving into a “modern” wooden bungalow. The “Red River of the North” series is now on my “books to read” list, assured that these stories will be welcome reminders.
Gloria, one good thing about the sod house–it remained cooler in the summer heat. Otherwise, I can’t imagine how they could keep it clean.
Your review of the Reaper’s Song acquainted me with a series of books reminding me of my long ago childhood days. While visiting an aunt in Minnesota she showed me the sod house, still standing, where she once lived before moving into a “modern” wooden bungalow. The “Red River of the North” series is now on my “books to read” list, assured that the stories will be welcome reminders.
Your review of the Reaper’s Song acquainted me with a series of books reminding me of my long ago childhood days. While visiting an aunt in Minnesota she showed me a sod house, still standing, where she had lived before moving into a “modern” wooden bungalow. The “Red River of the North” series is now on my “books to read” list, assured that the stories will awaken welcome memories.
We’ve enjoyed many of Lauraine’s books. I’m eager to read this because my grandfather had a similar experience with a shared threshing machine when he first moved to ND. He went broke and never recovered financially.
How interesting, Joan. Life in those days was hard. Laurine Snelling is a really good author. She sure did her research!