The Shumways and Caleb's Crossing

 I know it's not nice to flaunt something that few others will have access to but here I go. (I'll work on the nice part and keep you posted.) 

Norm and Luana Shumway, pictured above, are serving in our congregation as missionaries. This is their 5th mission, I believe. They have also served as mission presidents in Japan, the head of hosting for our church out of SLC and at the United Nations in NYC. He used to be a Congressman from California. He is the first person I've ever met who is in Wikipedia.

He wrote his biography and recently let me read it. Fabulous. What a life! If I could, I'd have these people over to dinner every third day because they have great stories to tell (funny AND inspiring) and are what I call "salt of the earth". They have contributed so much to our lives and to our ward, it's incredible. So, if you happen to see a copy of "The Life and Times of Norman D. Shumway" - grab it. You'll be glad you did. 

Geraldine Brooks is a favorite author of mine. (I really loved Year of Wonders.) 

But I don't feel worthy to call myself a total fan because I had NO idea that she had a new book out. 

(New = this year.) 

I grabbed it, devoured it, loved it. 

It's the amazing story of a Bethia who lived on Martha's vineyard and how these pilgrims came in contact with the Native Americans there. Her father was trying to convert them but had limited success. He did, however, take two of their youth under his wing and teach them. They were so intelligent that they ended up going to Harvard College (which sounds like a DREADFUL place back then). 

It's a fascinating look at the history of the Pilgrims (appropriate for this time of year?), the interactions between those already here and those determined to run them over, the extreme piousness of these people, the deplorable view of women's status. All of that leads me to be very grateful that I was born when I was. It is based on a letter the author found of a Native America who did go to Harvard College and so most of the rest of it is historical fiction but I still learned so much.

Really great story - great characters, great setting.