Quinney writes a charming, whimsical memoir of growing up in Ketchum, Idaho. She haunted the hills and roamed the valleys endlessly as a child in the 1940s-1950s. Her parents interacted with Ernest Hemingway and movie stars often visited the area on location. I enjoyed reading about her seemingly idyllic childhood. My favorite chapter is the one where the public library opened and she is allowed to help unpack the books. I can relate to that because my small town’s library fed my voracious appetite for reading for years, way before inter library loans. One thing did puzzle me, she has a younger sister, but did not mention any kind of a relationship with her, which I thought was odd. She describes a good relationship with her parents and grandparents, but is silent about her sister.

This was a beautiful read. It brought so many memories back to me, and to others I spoke to about this book. It was heartwarming and so descriptive. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to net galley for giving me access to the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is not a bad book, it's just not a great one either. It is about the author's discovery of the natural world from the time she was four. She talks lyrically of all the treasures she found in nature which was great but there were two things that put me off. First why are all the other girls she plays with such horrible brats? after the second one appeared when the author is 5, I really started hating this book. The other thing that put me off is when the author attributes all of her adult thoughts and feelings about things to her toddler self. At 5, I can pretty much guarantee that she didn't think a house looked lonely because no people lived in it. And even if she did think that at 5, why should I believe that she remembers that child's thoughts when she is 75? I got very bored after awhile.

Nature is my life

Dana grew up in the small town of Kimberly, Idaho. Surrounded by mountains, hills, rivers, ponds and the occasional mine. She loved nature and thus never fit in with the in crowd because she was different. She spent her time collecting wild flowers, reading, and riding her horse.

Dana tells the story of her life growing up in short little stories which are interesting and many times humorous. I loved them all, each and every one. I think my favorite was the story of her pet turtle Crusader.

The descriptions are vivid enough you can see them while reading, the family life and her closeness with her father in the wilds hunting, fishing, prospecting and just looking at the stars is heartwarming.

Dana had a good life and she spent her life among the flowers, the lands and the small creatures she so loved.

I enjoyed reading this book, and I would recommend

Thanks to Dana Stewart Quinney, Hidden Shelf Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy for an honest review.

WILDFLOWER GIRL
by Dana Stewart Quinney
2 stars

This book is not at all what I expected. I did not like it at all. I wish it had lived up to its hype.