Daughter of the Cimarron by Samuel Hall

Daughter of the Cimarron Reviews

• 
  Caitlin

  They say that blood is thicker than water, but clearly, Claire had other ideas on the matter. At least when it came to her in-laws.
  
  Daughter of the Cimarron is the story of Claire, a young woman with enough spirit to spare and a propensity for getting falling in love with men who are just as headstrong as she is. Her story across the Dust Bowl unfolds with twists and turns, scrapes and close calls, the kind of story that can only be true. In many ways, it's the story of a generation trying to make do with what they have and yet always dreaming of more.
  
  Claire's story is a memoir of sorts, the writings of a son telling the story of his blood without sugar-coating the unsavory bits. Married to a traveling salesman with a silver tongue and a wandering eye at a young age, life didn't turn out the way that Claire had thought it would. All she ever wanted to do was settle down and raise a family. Instead, she got heartache and a divorce that she never thought would happen to her.
  
  Sam Hall tells the story of his family; the drifters, the businessmen, the holier-than-thous, and Claire Devoe, the beautifully flawed woman in the middle who learned quite a bit about herself and God in the middle of one of the most difficult times in American history. The writing is strong and the characters are ones that you won't soon forget. You can hear the desperation in their voices as hunger pangs set in, taste the panic of being separated in a dust storm, and the heady rush of falling in love.
  
  Just be warned, once you pick up this book, you'll find yourself coming back to it until the last page and then wishing for more.
  
  Legal disclaimer:
  I received a free copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for a review.
• 
  Donald

  
  Daughter of the Cimarron, by Samuel Hall, skillfully drew me into the depression-era world of Midwest dust farmers, door to door sales gypsies, and seedy jazz-age dance halls. The characters are well-drawn, the setting has an authenticity about it, and the backstory rings true with everything we know about the era.
  
  There are no two-dimensional characters in this book. They are all thoroughly clad in flesh and blood, and readers will likely recognize their own friends and family in this novel. Though raised neck-deep in the decidedly conservative Midwestern values of the early 1900s, Claire is a young woman who refuses to be a victim of her circumstances. Her strengths and vulnerabilities are clearly seen and they are what drive this enticing narrative.
  
  Though Christian faith is in the bedrock of this story, you will find no pat and shallow answers to the real-life challenges of Claire and her family. Readers will relate to her struggles, doubts, and her difficult decisions. She is a young woman who is torn between what she wants, what she needs, and what is expected of her by family and her conservative upbringing.
  
  A story like this can only be told by one intimately acquainted with the characters, giving them honesty in their humanity and depth in their spiritual journey. I have a feeling I’m going to remember Claire for a very long time.
  
  I received an advance copy for review, and I am happy to recommend this book.
• 
  Sarah

  This was a good read. Daughter of the Cimarron is the fictionalized story of the author's mother Claire. She survives heartache and divorce to find a fresh start with a new love at the beginning of the Great Depression. Challenged by the stresses of a career change, financial hardship, messy family dynamics, and an uncommunicative husband, Claire struggles to find the happy ending she always expected.
  
  In some ways this is a familiar story of everyday struggle, but Hall's characters are rich and compelling. I found myself rooting for Claire, struck by both her strengths and her imperfections. I often avoid books shelved as Christian fiction because the call to salvation that characterizes them tends to strike me as contrived. That's not the case in this book. Claire wrestles with a faith that seems just beyond her reach, but her day-to-day struggle is more human than spiritual. Claire is not particularly glorified, but is simply drawn as a woman on a journey. By the end of the novel, that journey looks promising, but also realistically incomplete.
• 
  John Avery

  Sam Hall’s Daughter of the Cimmaron is a study in family relationships. The circumstances of the Depression and Dust Bowl years put pressure on the main characters in the book. That pressure brings out the good and the bad and contributes to Claire’s maturing. A somewhat dysfunction family begins to find healing. The ending left me wondering if there will be a sequel; the story begs continuation.
  
  Sam does best with dialogue. We hear not only the words of the cast but their feelings too. Sam’s style of short paragraphs and almost continuous conversation keeps the story moving along. Personally, I prefer a breather from time to time. Descriptions of places and people would provide some welcome variety. Aside from my tastes, Sam has done a great job.
  
• 
  Tauna

  Daughter of the Cimarron is a fascinating story that I rather enjoyed. The book is a historical fiction/memoir that the author based on his mother. It starts by introducing the reader to Claire, a young lady who divorces her cheating husband and has to face a disapproving mother. Claire falls in love again, but her family doesn’t think she should remarry. The author swaps views between Claire and her new husband, Elmer, which gives an interesting perspective. Her life story goes through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression.
  
  Claire came to know many struggles throughout her life. Her new husband’s family, who is invasive and lazy, keeps showing up, and her husband ignores Claire and her protests. Claire struggles with her faith in God and marries an unbeliever. She makes new friends and works hard, but (spoiler alert!) she’s now a mother and has a family to look after.
  
  Some themes the reader might notice are friendship, marriage, the Great Depression, struggling faith, courage, and understanding each other. The reader, like Claire, will struggle with some of the characters. I personally didn’t like Elmer's mother because she was kind of demanding. I also didn’t really like Gar. This book has a similar feel to other novels I have read and enjoyed.
  
  Overall, I loved the book and look forward to a sequel. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to study the times of the Roaring Twenties or the Great Depression.
• 
  Julie

  Daughter of the Cimarron is a fictional story based on the life of the author's mother. The story takes place around the start of the Great Depression and the author does a great job of painting a picture of life during that time. Claire makes the brave decision to leave her sleazy husband Harold and get a divorce, something that is not all that common during this time and not at all in line with her strict religious upbringing.
  
  She has a complicated relationship with her mother, a woman who seems to disapprove of everything Claire does. As Claire struggles to find happiness, her mother's words, actions and perceived disapproval hover over Claire's head like a gray storm cloud.
  
  She has a wonderful relationship with her father and he is painted as a warm, caring, patient and kind man - a man who loves his wife and his children and is walking the tightrope between them, trying to keep everyone happy.
  
  At times Claire appears young and a bit spoiled, unaware of the struggles others might be going through because she is so focused on her own. However, there is no doubt that this woman is a brave and strong individual who realizes that her future, and the future of her family, depends on having the courage to make difficult and life-changing decisions.
  
  I enjoyed this book, especially the way the author created "written snapshots" of life as a woman during this time. It was interesting and thought-provoking.
  
  I received this book from the publisher for review.
  
  
• 
  kerrycat

  Readers who find themselves wrestling for control over what needs to be left in God’s hands will see themselves in Claire. The ending leaves too much unanswered, and readers may wonder how Claire and Elmer will manage ongoing challenges.
  
  The Great Depression is tough for everyone, but Claire’s gambling, cheating husband Harold makes her life miserable. Divorce is a sin she is loath to commit, but with her family’s support, she moves on to make a new life with Elmer. She wants to be a mother more than anything, but will Elmer ever find steady work? (ASHBERRY LANE, Apr., 308 pp., $14.99)
  Reviewed by:
  Kerry Sutherland
  - See more at:
  http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-rev...
• 
  Ollie

  This book is based upon the story of the authors parents and how they survived during the depression era.
  I loved watching the characters and their marriage grow throughout the book. At times whilst reading I felt so frustrated and angry at Elmer as a husband, but what was special was when the author switched from telling the story from Claire's side to Elmer's and you could read and feel the love that he had for Claire. It was so admirable, as was Claire's character as she struggled along.
  Thank you for writing this story Samual Hall. I really enjoyed it.
  
  Please note I received a free copy of this book for review and am happy to recommend this book.
• 
  Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews

  This book is based on the life of the author's parents during the depression. Reading this made me appreciate not having to live during that time, not only for the poverty but also for the way women were treated.
  
  The story does have some good points - that you have to stand up for yourself (you teach people how to treat you by your actions) and that having faith will get you through most situations.
  
  The story is very real and I felt like I was there in the story by the way the author described towns, situations, etc.
  
  While I enjoyed the story it did take me longer than normal to read the book. It didn't grab me like other books have in the past but I still enjoyed the book.
• 
  Andi Tubbs

  This book is based on the author's parents during the time of the Great Depression. It is a very interesting read, slow in places, and it ended abruptly, however it shows how women were treated at that time, and how difficult it had to have been in the position Claire was, with a cheating husband, and divorcing. My grandmother divorced her first husband because he was abusive and married my grandfather in the 1930's. I heard about what my grandmother went through, I couldn't imagine living it.
  
  
  Recommended!
• 
  Tammy Bowers

  I loved Daughter of the Cimarron, and really got caught up on the life adventure of Clair and Elmer. The writing was smart and excellent! I get bored easily, and don't often finish books. But this one I read quickly to the very end. Loved it!!!!
• 
  Alyssa

  Rating 3.5 stars.
• 
  Andrea Cox

  Lovely memoir-type fiction about the author's mother. Very detailed and entertaining.
• 
  Geni J. White

  A Daughter of the Cimarron
  © 2015 Samuel Hall
  Ashberry Lane Publisher
  ISBN 978-1-941720-08-0
  299 pp. ppbk
  
  Samuel Hall writes a gripping story to honor his parents, Claire and Elmer. He depicts their struggles and courage during the Great Depression and Midwest Dust bowl.
  Claire especially overcomes discouraging judgments from those she loves and eventually she understands the reality of God in her life. She learns how to show true love and godliness to Elmer, not the nagging condemnation he expects from so-called Christians.
  The author shows both Elmer and Claire learning important truths that can challenge readers to also change.
  A well-written, informative story of life in earlier times as well as depictions of real life characters. This story can teach readers about survival during an important part of US history and also how we grow as humans.