At the June meeting, the morning book club members discussed A Small Part of History by Peggy Elliot. This tale of survival sees the Springer family embark on the treacherous Oregon trail during 1845, some of the first people to do so. Along the way, they encounter a variety of obstacles and many of the pioneers split into groups – each believing their way will hold the promise of a new life. Tragic losses are suffered on the journey and the novel succeeds in portraying the enormity of such a risk-taking venture.
The novel focuses on the female characters and the roles they played in helping the group survive. While men are generally attributed the achievements (they drove the oxen, chopped wood for firing and hunted for food) – the women’s manual work of cooking, cleaning, caring for the sick and scrubbing is rarely acknowledged though equally important. It is a testament to the brave women who embarked on these ventures and toiled tirelessly to ensure they reached their destination. The relationship between Rebecca and her stepdaughter Sarah is of particular interest and we see their relationship grow throughout from one of apathy to solidarity.
The book club readers thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to others. They felt it was a heartbreaking but uplifting read and the ending left them wanting more.

NB: The morning book club are on summer break for July and August. Meetings will resume in September. We look forward to meeting you then and hearing about your summer reading!