Letters of a Woman Homesteader

In general I love historical fiction, except that too often it isn't well researched and has too many modern nuances. This is not fiction and therefore the real deal. Gives you a glimpse into the thoughts and life of an amazing woman, plus insights to life at the time and how she achieved her dream.

This would give anyone a picture of homesteading, it includes dangers, boredom, weather struggles, dependency of women at the time, and a woman who took a chance on her future and had a husband who was willing to let her develop her own future somewhat while providing support.
These people worked so hard every day, we know nothing of this in our lifetimes. The smallest happenings gave her a spirit-lifting inspiration, and it comes across through her letters.

Stewart wrote a very interesting book and made you feel that the author lived through all the hardships of the Woman Homesteader! With our society and all the conveniences that we enjoy, it's difficult to imagine such a strong women and her determination to make a home on the prairie. I highly recommend this book. It will keep you turning pages.

Dear fellow Book-lovers:
I found this little gem at the local library today and I can't put it down. It is so good--easy to read (perfect for a busy Mom of 5 like me), inspiring, wholesome, funny, and informative. I am fascinated with this woman: her love for people, her giving heart, and her passion for fun and for life. I'm only on page 81 (out of 282) but I can already sit here and tell you to buy this book and enjoy it! I'm buying myself a copy and also one for my best friend. Christmas is coming!

I love history and especially the history when revealed in personal letters. There is nothing better. You get a real view of just how the people were. They were a strong, brave, hard working, faithful & resourceful people who faced the difficult life circumstances with strength and could also enjoy themselves and relax once in awhile too.

I was pleasantly surprised at the author's humor. The humor was unexpected as I didn't know anything about the author before I obtained this book. I bought the book because I especially enjoy Epistolary novels. I also am intrigued with the life of independent women especially in situations where life is hard work.

in case you are interested, today I discovered there is a website devoted to the author: [...]

I really enjoyed this Kindle freebie! Elinore (author of the letters) had a terrific sense of humor, a great attitude and a knack for storytelling! I liked her descriptions of the landscapes, nature, and of the people she met. I got a little insight about land I will never visit and a period in time lost to us all. She was a brave woman who succeeded in her dream of homesteading with a positive attitude and determination.

I adore this collection of Elinore's writings. There is something enthralling about reading these sometimes mundane descriptions of events that actually happened and people that actually lived. Elinore is an excellent writer (if a bit of a chronic apologizer) and she brings situations to life. A treasured snapshot of pioneer life in the early 1900s.

This was just an interesting read for me. Nothing terribly exciting about it other than the fact that she was literally a woman homesteader with all the trials that might have. It is written in the format of letters. Quick to read. Basically, a journal.

I have just finished reading this book on my kindle as a free read.
I don't know what I can say that has not already been said, except it was one of the most enjoyable reads I've read in awhile! It took me away from the fast paced and materialistic society we now live in to when life was hard earned and the land was most respected. The appreciation and respect Elinore Rupert Stewart had for life, people and the land is something we could all learn from.

The audio version of this book is so well read -- it is well worth the cost. You cannot help feeling cheerful and energized about your own life, as you hear it. I gave the paperback version to a couple of discouraged women friends who prefer to read rather than listen to books. Both women loved it, and were inspired to face their own hardships more buoyantly. The very gifted author has blessed us with a wonderful history and narrative!

I really loved this story for its wonderful descriptions of the mountains and plains in southwestern Wyoming. I've always loved Louis L'Amour stories for his descriptions of the areas his characters traveled through. This book was written from a woman's viewpoint and written about such things that women do in everyday life. With the mountains as a background it made a lovely story.

This was required reading for a course I am auditing and I'm so glad this was recommended or I would have missed a very good book. The style it is written in makes it a very easy to read. I would have liked to have read some of the letters that Elinore received - not just those that she wrote. You can decide for yourself whether it was all true or she embellished some things.

This is a great book for anyone who is interested in knowing how pioneer women really lived. This woman was amazing. Her letters are written with such down to earth common sense, they are amazing. The things she went through and just accepted and continued on are unbelievable, but I know they are true. Wonderful read, highly recommended.

This story showed that a strong woman could succeed as a homesteader. Although my ancestors lived 30 years prior to the 1910's, it gave me a feel for the lives of those who lived out on the frontier, I enjoyed the word pictures written by MS. Stewart. It was an enjoyable read for me because it brought me closer to my ancestors and how they lived!

I love historical novels and found this to be very interesting and well written. The descriptions of the scenery and other things are phenomenal. I wonder if people in those days all wrote and spoke this way. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in how people lived on the frontier 100 years ago.

Wonderfull stories actually written by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. The woman was a tireless worker with a special kindness to her fellow man. You can picture in your mind just what she lived. Her descriptions are as good as they can be. Her kindness will melt your heart. She makes me wish I had lived in the area at the same time. It's such a world of difference from todays progression. I'm not so sure we have progressed to a better life. Even though it was a hard life and a short one I think it may have been a slice of heaven back in old Wyoming. She will tug at your heart at times and make you smile at others.
A great easy enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
Steve from Boulder Creek, Ca.

Good read for Utahns--native or transplanted--who appreciate the rugged, unforgiving landscape and weather, and the beautiful wilderness. A reminder of the industry, labor, and strong work ethic in the veins of western people, and of the magnitude of grace, grit, and kindred spirit in the women of Utah.

This was a fascinating book about one woman's experience on the frontier as shown through her letters. At first I thought it might be a compilation of letters of a number of people as the first letters seemed very stilted. However as I went on I could tell the letters were authentic. I also looked up information on Elinore Pruitt Stewart and she is a real woman whose life was the basis for a movie. I thought it was a bit unfortunate that there wasn't any biographical or background information in this edition of the book. to authenticate the letters and give the reader more information. It was a book well worth reading!!

I obtained this book as a free kindle book download. It was worth every penny and more. No seriously it was a fascinating look at life in the early 20th century in rural mid USA. Written as a series of letters it was very easy to read as well .It was a bit like a more modern Little House on the Prairie. I would actually highly recommend this. The frustrations were the letters only covered a few short years of Elinore's life and you did not get to read her correspondents letters to Elinore which may have provided more context. These are only small gripes though as the book was thoroughly enjoyable.

I really love American History and the homesteading era is especially fascinating to me. This book gives a glimpse into real life. Actually I had the hard copy and had read it a long time ago - so was excited to find it for my Kindle and read it again. It's a great book!

I love history in general, and this book is fantastic! These letters are so descriptive about her surroundings that you feel like you're there. And you get a good look at what was happening at the time by the topics she discusses in her letters. This is one of the best books I've read in a while.

Ordered this book because it was free. I thought well, it's free and if it is not good, I can delete it. It was wonderful. I read it on a Sunday afternoon and was sorry that it wasn't longer! Today, we have so many conveniences that we don't realize how the hard the homesteaders had it. Book was enjoyable because it was from a womens view.

I must say, the female homesteader who wrote these letters to her good friend missed her calling. While she mentioned several times in her letters that she "kept house" for various people before deciding to homestead, my first impression was that she was a professional writer or perhaps a schoolteacher. Her wonderful use of adjectives, adverbs, and picturesque comparisons kept me interested, if not enthralled, in this short memoir.

This is a great series of letters by an amazingly independent woman who has the courage to take her 2-yr-old daughter in a sleigh on a weekend camping trip in the mountains of Wyoming when the night's accommodations might be with some old salt in his cabin in a canyon. I'd also recommend, Army Letters from an Officer's Wife, 1871-1888, also free on Kindle.

Stewart does a remarkable job in painting a vivid picture of what life was like for homesteaders. The characters are realistic and she had a natural storytelling ability. Upbeat and positive, she made her life in the West a great adventure. I recommend this book for all ages.

SFBaker

This is a great series of letters by an amazingly independent woman who has the courage to take her 2-yr-old daughter in a sleigh on a weekend camping trip in the mountains of Wyoming when the night's accommodations might be with some old salt in his cabin in a canyon. I'd also recommend, Army Letters from an Officer's Wife, 1871-1888, also free on Kindle.

Stewart does a remarkable job in painting a vivid picture of what life was like for homesteaders. The characters are realistic and she had a natural storytelling ability. Upbeat and positive, she made her life in the West a great adventure. I recommend this book for all ages.

SFBaker

This book should be required reading for every young girl, and for any woman who thinks there's something she cannot do. The people who settled the west were tough, hard-working and fearless; and this woman set out to prove she could successfully homestead a land parcel in Wyoming. This collection of letters to her friend recounts her ups and downs, the many hardships she endured and the joy she experienced along the way. She's a lady after my own heart!

Since this book comes with no introduction, I did not realize initially that these were authentic letters and not a fiction writer's convention. The letters are well-written, humorous and filled with colorful characters that Elinore Stewart met in her new life as a woman homesteader. Very entertaining!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I thought, - wow, her life is way more interesting than mine and she knows many more interesting people. Very well written - read late into the night. She can paint a picture in your mind.

This was a rare find that gives an authentic look at a single woman who lived in the development of the West. Most stories give an accurate view of a woman who is a wife and the man of the house does a lot of the labor with her.

I loved her upbeat, can-do attitude.
You will hear a great deal about the Mormons and, unfortunately, the "N"word is used.
She was a southerner.
In spite of this, I would really recommend this book.

I truly enjoyed this book. The vivid way the author described the country and changes of the seasons, were so descriptive I could almost be there. I love the western states, love reading of struggling settlers. I recommend this book to anyone else who enjoys such.