Everything She Didn't Say

The gorgeous cover art of Everything She Didn’t Say already pulled me in, but the setting lulled me in as well, but the memoir-style writing kept me from becoming fully immersed.

I’m glad times have changed since the days of the dust bowl. The primary roles in marriage are much the same, but the preparation going into matrimony has grown.

Overall, I enjoyed this stand-by-your-man story, and experienced a host of emotions as I read it. I rooted for Carrie, sympathized with her struggles, and admired her growth and perseverance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

This book is based on the life of Carrie Adell Strahorn, called at the time "Mother of the West" and "Queen of the Pioneers". Her husband worked for the Union Pacific Railroad, exploring towns and sites for destinations for the railroad as it moved into the west. The book includes a map of their travels and the narrative gives a good description of the hardships, especially for a woman, traveling to remote cities and encampments.
What really fascinated me was the relationship between Carrie and her husband. Carrie was very well educated for her time and had her own ideas about what she wanted from marriage, a loving relationship between them and, especially, children. They had a discussion early on about how they would be partners, show more making decisions together. It was interesting to see how this collapsed.
The problem was that Robert was so caught up in his work that he didn't really pay much attention to her and Carrie never told him the truth. When he would ask for her opinion, she told him what she thought he wanted to hear. The author highlights this by beginning each chapter with her private diary, then included her cleaned up opinions as she wrote to her family. At first I hated the way Robert treated her, until I realized he couldn't read her mind and she was from the culture that described wives as a helper to her husband and supportive to his desires. Of course, much has changed but I did wonder how many women still have that idea ingrained in the back of their mind.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a page turner for me. show less

A very public physical journey at the time (1870's), a very private emotional journey for Carrie.

Maybe because we were full time rvers for four years, I think this is of particular interest to that group of travelers. This is another story where Jane Kirkpatrick does what she does best, teaching about women, life lessons, pondering our lives and living with others.

I'm grateful that we were able to go to Colorado and see Colorado Springs and the Garden Of The Gods, having personally seen some of the areas that she wrote of in this book. A regret we have is that we hadn't gotten to see Yellowstone. It must have been awesome to see these areas before they were populated as they are now. The very real dangers of weather and wildlife were show more more of an issue then with the mode of travel, often on foot, with miles of wilderness surrounding them. Still people wanted to travel to a better life, and looked where they could for accurate information.

Carrie Strahan's husband wrote books and pamphlets designed to lure pioneers into the West. He worked for the UP Railroad, who wanted "settled" towns before bringing their trains through. This was still a time when women were frowned on for travelling to outlying areas and having occupations other than making a home for family and children. Carrie insisted that she travel with her husband on his necessary forays into the frontier, gaining experience she never would have had, but also giving up a life that other women had. As time goes by she wonders about her contribution to the immigrant movement across America, and is constantly berated for doing it. We are all shaped by the paths that we cross.

I highly recommend this book, especially to women of all ages. There's no doubt that you'll find something you can learn, and gain an insight and perspective of your own life as well as Carrie's.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” show less

I always enjoy good historical fiction, especially when the story includes on or more main characters who are actual persons rather than just historical events. I found Carrie Adell Strahan and extremely interesting individual, and I enjoyed the excerpts from her own memoirs as an added bonus. Kirkpatrick cleverly weaves her story by using Strahan's own thoughts, feelings, and experiences as documented and adding what she thinks might have happened, been said, or been felt. Strahan was truly a pioneering figure, not only as a woman, but also by the fact that she was able to accomplish so much in her lifetime. The book explores how she was for equality for women before that was every really a consideration. Strahan took full control of show more her life, and blamed no one and nothing if things did not always go as she expected. Using Kirkpatrick's interpretations, I can read between the lines to see where she may have had some regrets and disappoints in her life and in her husband, but at the end of the day, there must have been great love and respect to accomplish as much as they did. I found it especially helpful and insightful that the author's note and acknowledgements fleshed out what Kirkpatrick gleaned from her research on their relationship and life together. The fact that in her own husband's unpublished memoir relegated her to only three lines speaks volumes. Based on this novel, Strahan clearly accomplished what she set out to do, serving as a pillar of history without fame and fortune. Kirkpatrick beautifully captures the spirit and nature of this woman throughout the thorough, well-written text. show less

The author made me feel like I was sitting in the same room with Carrie/Dell, and I was traveling and experiencing amazing new frontiers, traveling by stage and being in Indian War country.
Carrie became a friend and loved that the whole book is mainly fact, wow, makes everything so very real, and I felt the pain that she was never really given her heart’s desire.
While Carrie stayed by choice in her husband’s shadow, she sure accomplished a lot on her own, and helping build her church seemed to be one of her cherished achievements.
A really compelling read, filled with history and strong pioneers who helped build the western part of this country. The author did a great job of telling Carrie Strahorn’s story!

I received this book show more through Revell Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review. show less

I love that Jane Kirkpatrick highlights the lives of historical women and the stories they could tell. In Everything She Didn’t Say, she features pioneer woman Carrie Strahorn, and the depiction of her life proves eye-opening.

Carrie spends years traveling with her husband Robert, a writer working with the railroad to encourage people to move to the West, and it is no easy, leisurely life. She faces a number of challenges, including simply being a woman in the West and dealing with unfulfilled desires. Her story fluctuates between joys, woes, and the lessons she learns amidst them and comes alive with Kirkpatrick’s skilled writing.

Everything She Didn’t Say is a well-researched, intriguing peek into life in the West. It held me show more fascinated from beginning to end, and I enjoyed it—and I’m sure that other fans of historical fiction will, too.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a complimentary copy of Everything She Didn’t Say and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. show less

I received this book for free from the publisher (Revell Books) in exchange for an honest review.

This book provided a fascinating glimpse into the real life of Carrie Strahorn, a famous pioneer woman. Prior to reading this book, I had never even heard of her.

I loved how the book focused on the things Carrie didn’t say in her memoir. It gave a nuanced portrayal of the actuality and hardships of being a pioneer, as well as just being a woman during her time. I also liked how it explored her complicated relationship with her husband. It showed both the ups and downs of their marriage.

The author did a tremendous amount of research and it really showed throughout the book. The book is rich in details and in facts. There is even an show more author’s note at the end, explaining what was fact and what was fiction.

This book is published by a Christian publisher so there is a Christian element to it, but it’s very subtle and well done.

My one critique is that the story dragged a bit in the middle since it was just Carrie and her husband constantly traveling. I got a little lost in it. Once they got settled down in a town the book picked up again.

Overall, I really enjoyed learning about Carrie and the author did an amazing job portraying her life. show less