Book Blog #125: These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

Title: These Is My Words
Author: Nancy E. Turner
# of Pages: 384 (paperback)
Genre: Adult Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction
Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis: A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author's own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier. Scrupulously recording her steps down the path Providence has set her upon—from child to determined young adult to loving mother—she shares the turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that molded her, and recalls the enduring love with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot that gave her strength and purpose.
Review: This book had a terrible first impression on me.

The title worried me; I was anticipating a very long and boring read. I am also not very fond of reading books in diary format, especially after having the displeasure of reading Anne Frank's (I did not enjoy reading her diary, if you couldn't tell). The first fifty pages seemed to fall right into my expectations, which is why it took me over a week to get through them.

But after that, the romance hit.

I wouldn't have even known that it was a romance if it weren't for the synopsis. I usually try not to read the synopsis because most of the time, it contains spoilers. But I read a short synopsis in a review, and I realized a lot of people liked it for the romance.

And I am one of them.

I loved the relationship Sarah and Jack had! There relationship was unique, however, they did remind of two couples in two popular YA books; Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars. Spoilers for these two books ahead!

Just like Hazel and Gux's Okay? Okay, Jack and Sarah say to each other "Don't ever leave me" and "Not ever." Just like Hazel and Gus, and Issac and Monica, that was there promise to each other. And it's adorable.

Tris and Four are not only in love with each other, but they trust each other when they're stuck in a undesirable situation. Tris and Sarah are both able to use a gun, and they are both as capable to fight as their men. Sarah and Tris are not your typically damsel in distress, and neither pair are your typical fairy tale couple.

And what links all three of them together? One of each pair, (Gus, Tris, and Jack), die early. Which kinda sucks.

Despite how much I loved this book, I do not plan to read the sequel in the future. Most of what I wanted to know about the characters was covered in the first book of this series, so I do not feel the need to read more about Sarah's life (and I would be incredibly sad to read about her without Jack).

True, the book still read like a soap opera, but I was finally able to submerge myself in the book! I was hit by many emotions through Sarah Prine; I felt her joy, her fear, her anguish! It was an amazing experience. There is a bit of graphic content, so this book is not for everyone (after all, it's classified as adult fiction). Otherwise, recommended!