VIEWS OF A FARM BOY

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JULY 2026

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (ESV) (Hebrews 10: 23)                           

BOOK REVIEW

This month's opening page of VFB has taken on a different tone. I am featuring an "in my own words" summary of my 10 favorite books that I still have in my home library collection. I have enjoyed re-reading each of them and hope this blog may be of interest to some of you.

Book: The Worst Hard Time--The Great American Dust Bowl

Author: Timothy Egan

Quote: It took about an hour for the Black Sunday duster to travel from the border towns of Amarillo. At 7:20 pm the biggest city in the Texas panhandle went dark, and its 42,000 residents choked on the same thick mass that had begun its roll in the Dakotas, clawing the barron plains, charring the sky in five states, producing enough static electricity to power New York's fury that has never been duplicated.

My review: I was born during the Great Depression, but I never experienced anything remotely equivalent to the dust bowl that plagued the High Plains during the 1930's. But Tim Egan's book touched my heart as I read about trials and hardships of the dear people involved. Yet there is a note of hope in what seemed to be a hopeless situation. Even the darkest of times was overshadowed by the love of the land and the love for their families. Maybe that is what you call the American way of life!

My VFB is taking on a new focus this month. For the past 20 years my monthly blog has featured day trips, mission trips and other activities. I have been so blessed to have so many healthy years, but the past months have been a slow-down for me. I needed a new way to occupy my time during this slow time and then it came to me. I looked at the two shelves of books i have in my home library. I have given away most of my book collection, but saved some of my favorites. I decided to re-read what I considered my top picks.This is my first attempt at a book review. But who says, "You cant teach an old dog new tricks!"--so here goes.

Book: Seabiscuit--An American Legend

Author: Laura Hillenbrand

Quote: Long after the horses and their handlers had left the track, the din died away and the crowds trickled out. Workman crisscrossed the grounds. A lone fan stood at the east end of the grandstand .As the sun dropped in the winter sky, the man called out to an empty track, "Ha-Ray Seabiscuit! Hoo-Ray Seabiscuit!"

My Review: I say "Ha-Ray for Seabiscuit! Hoo-Ray for Seabiscuit and for Laura Hillenbrand'. This great book is a bright spot in the Great Depression era. In fact-it was a bright spot for me today!

Book: Triangle--The Fire that Changed America

Author: David Von Drehle

Quote: One hundred and forty-six people--all but twenty-three of them women--died that day or days immediately afterword from injuries sustained in the Triangle fire.

My review: This is a sad book, but I have read it three times.I think this is a well written and well documented story of the tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York's Greenwich Village in 1911. It makes me thankful for the fire regulations that help protect us from recurrence of events like this.

Book: The Greatest Generation

Author: Tom Brokaw

Quote: When the war ended more than twelve million men and women put their uniforms aside and returned to civilian life. ----They weren't widely known outside their families or their communities.For many, the war years were enough adventure to last a lifetime. They were proud of what they accomplished but rarely discussed their experiences, even with each other. They became once again ordinary people, the kind of men and women who always have been the foundation of the American way of life.

My review: This book is a really good people story. I chose this book becase it is a story and an era that I can look back to with pride, thankfulness, and even sadness. I consider my brother, Walter to be a poster child for the Greatest Generation. He joined the US Army at a very young age and was a combat fox hole infantry soldier during World War II where he was wounded in action. After the war he came home to the farm, got married and raised a wonderful family. During my farm boy years, he was my farming partner, my mentor, my best friend and definitely my HERO. His life story didn't have a happy ending, but, for me, his life lived was a perfect example of the Greatest Generation. That makes me proud!

Book:Unbroken--A World War II Story of survival, resilience and redemption

Author: Laura Hillenbrand--It may seem like I am double dipping! I started my review with a book (Seabiscuit) by Laura Hillenbrand and closed it with a book (Unbroken) by the same author. But each is on my favorite book list so here goes.

Quote: Louie dug out the Bible that had been issued to him by the air corps and mailed home to his mother when he was believed  dead. -------Resting in the shade and stillness, Louie felt profound peace. When he thought of his history, what resonated with him now was not all he had suffered but the devine love that he believed had intervened to save him. He was not a worthless, broken, forsaken man that the bird had striven to make him. In a single silent moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness had fallen away. That morning, he believed, he was a new creation.

My review: Unbroken is a true story of Louis Zamperini. Louis was a rebellious youth, Olympic runner, World War II war hero,  prisioner of war and later Christian minister and evangelist. Most of this great book was difficult for me to read the first time and difficult to recently re-read. But this time I knew it would have a happy ending.

Book: Into Thin Air--Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster

Author: Jon Krakauer

Quote: Reaching the top of Everest is supposed to trigger a surge of intense elation against long odds. After all, I had just attained the goal I'd coveted since childhood. But the summit was only the halfway point. Any impulse I might have felt toward self-congratulation was diminished by overwhelming apprehension about the long, dangerous decent that lay ahead.

My review: I hiked the Superstition Mountains many times during the six years we were two-month snowbirds in Arizona. So-when I  bought this book at Barnes and Noble I thought I could relate to it. My friends Jim and John were good guys and experienced hikers, but this book made our hikes seem like a walk in the park. Here is why! Author Jon Krakauer had already made himself known and loved by many through his work and words at Outside Magazine.Yet he took on the challenge to personally climb Mt. Everest in the winter of 1996. As it turned out--this was the deadliest season in the history of Mt. Everest. Eight people, including the guide, lost their lives in that adventure, but Krakauer returned safely. This is a well written book--I felt like I had put on my Gortex suit and my oxygen tank and was right there with them.  But you know--I am gladI to be right here in my warm house in my warm clothes re-reading this good book!                                                                   

Book: Nothing Like it in the World--Transcontinental Railroad

Author: Stephen E Ambrose

Quote: When he tapped the Golden Spike in, he would signal the waiting country.-------Across the nation bells pealed. Even the venerable Liberty Bell in Philadelphia was rung.Then came the boom of cannons, 220 of them in San Francisco at Fort Point. a hundred in Washington D.C, countless fired off elsewhere, ----------Everywhere there was a shriek of whistles, firecrackers and fireworks, singing and prayers in churches.

My review:  I think everyone likes train tales and Stephen E. Ambrose is a great teller of true stories. This book is a historical reenactment of the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. (1863-1869.) It is a detailed story of construction of this mighty rail system that had a powerful historical and economic impact on  our country as America moved forward. This ia almost like a story with two beginnings. The Central Pacific, with mostly Chinese workers, started from San Francisco on the west coast. The Union Pacific, heavy on Irish workers, launched their workforce at Omaha. Enough said! This Ambrose book covers a lot that happened in both directions. The two teams met  in 1969 and drove the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah.

Book: The Old Man and the Sea

Author: Ernest Hemmingway

Quote: But man is not made for defeat, a man can be destroyed, but not defeated.

My review: This is the only novel on my list. I Ilke Hemingway's  prose style writing and "The Old Man" is my most times re-read secular book. Here is why I like this book. This is my own interpretation of the story. The old fisherman had accomplished his long sought after goal by catching the biggest marlin of his lifetime. But here is where it turns sad. This big fish was totally devoured by sharks and when he reached shore nothing remained but the big fishes skeleten.The boy had not gone with him this time, but he was waiting on shore for the old man to return. The family like love of the old man and the boy (younger generation) far overshadows the difficulties and disappointments of the day as they picked up the pieces and moved on. Maybe next time?