Books on Monday: Norwegian immigrant stories
Here are some books that might interest you
Westward We Came: A Norwegian Immigrant’s Story, 1866-1898
West We Came is a memoir of Harold B. Kildahl, Sr. and his family pulling up roots in Norway and immigrating to the United States in 1866. It is a vivid description of their travels and settlement in southern Minnesota. Westward We Came is an authentic depiction of difficult pioneer life-true Americana, including the hardships as well as the joys of that time and place.
Reader’s comments:
-” The author points out the obvious hardships to be expected, but the love of family prevail”
-“This interesting narrative takes the reader to a time when even the simple things in life were all but unattainable“
I paid all my debts: A Norwegian-American Immigrant Saga of Life on the Prairie of North Dakota
The prospect of 160 acres of free land enticed thousands of Norwegians to immigrate to America, with high hopes for a better, more prosperous life. Those who settled in North Dakota never expected they would need several times that amount of land, nor did they imagine the high costs involved in meeting the homestead requirements. This is a story of two families for whom the promise of America miscarried. As they reached a point of borrowing money to move their dream forward the depression hit, as did a drought on the prairie. But the family spirits never died, and the immigrants never wished to be elsewhere.
Reader’s comments:
-“Reading it was like listening to my dad telling his story”
-“This is not merely the story of one family, it is America’s story “
