Photographs from the National Archives of Canada

[ClaudiaLuce]

A heartfelt thank you to both Shandi for sharing these photos and to Paul for posting them.  They really enhance the reading of the story so graphically told in Shandi's words.  These pictures are just what I had in mind when reading what Shandi had written!

Thanks again!

Claudia

[Anna_Louise]

Thank you Shandi for getting the pictures and Paul for posting them.  They really enhance the story with visuals by adding to the words.  What a hard life but think of how wonderful they felt in achieving their dreams!

[jclay26]

These are wonderful. It is nice to see the background of the book writing process. I like that we get to view the pictures and visualize was Shandi Mitchell was looking at as she wrote this book. It adds another element to reading the book.

[lauraly63]

These photographs are wonderful! Thank you for posting these!

Laura 

[mv5ocean]

I purposely avoided this thread as I was running behind on the reading.  I wanted to wait until I had read our scheduled chapters to see exactly the visuals I placed on the story just from the reading. 

Imagine my surprise this morning when I glimpsed these pictures and absolutely was taken aback by how well Shandi described the desolation this family started with.

That dust storm is exactly as I pictured it.

I am enjoying this book immensely!!!

[Zephyr_Marie]

Wow. The pictures really do add a whole new depth and meaning to the book. It's much easier to picture what was written about and gives you a whole new perspective as to what life was like back then.

[shelley727]

These pics are wonderful!  I can't even imagine living during that period.  It must have been something.  Course when you think about it, that's all they had ever known so they wouldn't think it was bad.

Thank you Ms. Mitchell for sharing.

Shelley

[gringorn]

I really am so frustrated here.  Have been trying for days now to see these pics.  What am I doing wrong?  It must be something simple, but I can't find them.  Thanks

[shelley727]

WOW!  These pics are amazing!  I am loving this book.  I can't put it down. 

Shelley

[Paul_Hochman]

Try using a different browser. maybe IE, Firefox, or Chrome.

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gringorn wrote:

I really am so frustrated here.  Have been trying for days now to see these pics.  What am I doing wrong?  It must be something simple, but I can't find them.  Thanks

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[AliceLee428]

The photographs really add to the text (too bad they couldn't have been included in the book somewhere).  I can see where some of Shandi's inspiration came from.

[HannibalCat]

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AliceLee428 wrote:
The photographs really add to the text (too bad they couldn't have been included in the book somewhere).  I can see where some of Shandi's inspiration came from.

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Wouldn't that be something if there were pictures for each of the parts of this book. I loved the way Shandi used the photograph description as her opening. It really set the mood for the scenes and the family. I was right there in that place with them.

[Sunltcloud]

If you watch Shandi Mitchell on YouTube you will see some of the same pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvV6eBkhq0

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gringorn wrote:

I really am so frustrated here.  Have been trying for days now to see these pics.  What am I doing wrong?  It must be something simple, but I can't find them.  Thanks

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[AIRKNITTER]

Thnak you for sharing this link...hearing the authors voice adds another dimension to the novel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvV6eBkhq0

[ponie]

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Sunltcloud wrote:

If you watch Shandi Mitchell on YouTube you will see some of the same pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvV6eBkhq0

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gringorn wrote:

I really am so frustrated here.  Have been trying for days now to see these pics.  What am I doing wrong?  It must be something simple, but I can't find them.  Thanks

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This youtube clip is a must see!  Thanks Sunltcloud!  It's one thing to have a personal note from an author...and the pictures are amazing...but to hear the author speak about her own book and process, well, that's the best!!! 

The whole clip is well worth the watch - here are a few things Shandi says: 

...the landscape is a living breathing character...the silent witness...

[people] survive unspeakable atrocities and somehow they persist...

[Anna_Louise]

I totally agree!  Thanks for sharing the clip, Suntlcloud!  What a wonderful thing to find for the First Look Group and I loved watching the pictures and hearing Shandi talk about the book!

Anna

[lizard2000]

Thank you for sharing this link!  The pictures are amazing and a testament to the life of farmers in the early 1900's.  In fact, the one of the family outside of their house is one that is very similar to one I have of my grandmother standing outside of their dirt floor, one room house during the Depression.  To be sitting in my warm home, typing on my computer, enjoying pancakes for breakfast...makes me extremely grateful.  It makes me sad to think that I never asked for the stories from my family about farming and what it meant to start a family here after coming from Norway, Ireland or Germany.  Thank you Shandi for giving those of us who never asked the question, a little history on life from generations passed!

[scuddednimbus]

I also want to add my thanks to Paul and Shandi for sharing these photos. These add so much to the story.

[cchotlanta]

A great big thanks from me as well to Sunltcloud for the link to YouTube.  As others have commented, with just this brief video the book takes on a new dimension after hearing Shandi's voice and adding it to visuals with the photos.

This First Look experience has been the best of all!  ~Carol~ 

[Coral50]

Shandi Mitchell gave insight to how and why she wrote this book, along with pictures. Kind of like a look see into her mind.

Thank you SunItcloud for the heads up about the You Tube. 

Cora

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Sunltcloud wrote:

If you watch Shandi Mitchell on YouTube you will see some of the same pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyvV6eBkhq0