An Untamed Land
Written by Lauraine Snelling
Narrated by Callie Beaulieu
4/5
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About this audiobook
As they join the throngs of countless immigrants passing through Castle Garden, the Bjorklunds soon discover that nothing is as they had envisioned it. Appalled by the horrid stories of fellow immigrants forced to live in squalid living conditions, they continue their long journey by train as far as Grand Forks. From there a covered wagon takes them into Dakota Territory, where they settle on the banks of the Red River. But there was no way for them to foresee the price they will have to pay to wrest a living from the indomitable land. The virgin prairie refuses to yield its treasure without a struggle. Will they be strong enough to overcome the hardships of that first winter?
Lauraine Snelling
Lauraine Snelling has been writing and publishing books across all genres and for all reading levels since 1980. She received a Career Achievement Award for inspirational fiction from RT Books Reviews and has consistently appeared on the Christina Booksellers Association's bestseller lists. She has written over sixty-five books, and a hallmark of her style is writing about real issues within a compelling story. She and her husband, Wayne, reside in California and have two grown sons.
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Reviews for An Untamed Land
99 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What an incredible story telling of enduring hardship, love, family & forgiveness.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a sweet, heart wrenching story. I don’t know how I just found Untamed Land but I am so thankful I did. What a beautiful reminder to turn to and trust God completely.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I enjoyed this story immensely! From the moment the story starts and they are discussing coming over from Norway to North Dakota by ship, I found the story so interesting as it unfolded. I thought the author's description of the ship and the voyage was done so well. As the journey continued across the country on a covered wagon, I actually felt I was there and could feel their excitement but also the tremendous hardship of the trip.I loved all of the characters and reading how they began to build their homes and their trials and tribulations in living in a new country.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I have been reading another series by this author ("Daughters of Blessing"), which I am really enjoying. I discovered that this series, "Red River of the North" is the first series written about how the Bjorklund family came to America from Norway. So, I decided to go back to the beginning and I am so glad I did. This story fills in many of the things and people mentioned in the "Daughters of Blessing" series.This story starts out in Norway and takes you on the passage over to America and the extreme difficulties two families shared as they tried to make a home for themselves in the Dakota Territory. They were strong people, who endured great losses, but who were able to continue on and discover a land that would provide a home for future generations. The author did a good job of letting you imagine what it would have been like to experiece the blizzards of Winter in the 1880s in the Dakota territory. I am so glad I went back and started this family saga from the beginning.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I absolutely adore this book! So amazing! I love all the characters; they are so rich and deep. You connect instantly with each one. It is a bit tragic near the end, but ends well. This had crocodile tears running down my face at times. One of my favorite series. I would say appropriate for ages 13 , and it is more of a girls book.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Life is too short to read books I don't like. This is a book that I got for free from Barnes & Noble and didn't even make it half way through. I was going to try and push through, but every time I went to read it, I got a feeling of dread in my bones. So, I decided that I would put it down and read something else. There are too many good books out there to spend time on one that does not interest me, and causes me mental strife.
**Spoilers**
The Bjorklunds are a Norwegian family and have been dreaming of life in America for years now. And the time has come to make those dreams a reality. The prologue begins in 1877 with the family discussing plans to start saving and send two of their sons and their families to America. When Chapter One begins, it is a different year which is not mentioned, and I was extremely confused. In the prologue Roald's wife's name is Anna, and then all of a sudden it's Chapter One and Ingeborg is introduced. I had to flip back and forth a few times trying to make sense of everything. It turns out that Anna died and Roald remarried a few years later to Ingeborg. However, my main reason for disliking this book is Roald. He treats his wife with contempt and obviously withholds any affections he has towards her. I get a bad taste in my mouth every time I think about the way Roald treats Ingeborg. I understand a lot of it is cultural and the era. But I do not enjoy it. He rules his house with an iron fist. Ingeborg is afraid to even let a sigh out accidentally for fear of her husband.
I read a couple other reviews and found that the book does not have a happy ending. This was one of the determaning factors I used when I decided to set it down. I did not want to push through a book I did not enjoy to have it leaving me feeling miserable. I may pick this back up in the future, but it is being shelved for now. I have not given up on Lauraine Snelling either. This was the first book I have read by her and am interested to see what other books she writes.
Bethany House Publishers - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I found this book particularly interesting as I am directly descended from those that settled early in the Dakotas. Very well written but gut-wrenching. It will make cry in parts but more than will make you rejoice with the victories. Didn't particularly care for the ending but it definitely keeps you hooked for the next installment. Some loose ends that I didn't quite understand but I'm sure will be tied together later in the series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I enjoyed this book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was given to me as a Christmas gift a few years back and has since changed my life. It is the first book of an amazing series, which I am sad to say I am about to read the final book. More than that it introduced me to the genre of historical fiction, Bethany House in particular, and I have fell in love and have begun to collect many many books. The lady who gave me this book as well as her three daughters and my mom all talk about Ingeborg, the star of this story and her family as if they are a part of our own. I feel like I am cheating this book by only giving it five stars because it is truly the book that transitioned me into the reader, maybe even the person I am today.