CLICK HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES »

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

A Handful of Time...

There's always been something I've really liked about the story, A Handful of Time. The main character, Patricia, is only twelve, but re-reading this story again now, it still doesn't seem too child-ish or far out there.

It's one of those "fairy" stories you just have to love--mixed in with a good bit of lazy, old-fashioned summer--about something that just couldn't happen, but is believable when it does.

Maybe I always liked it so much because it dealt with a girl who travels back in time--something I always longed to do. Here's an excerpt:

Patricia ran her hands rapidly over the tufted pattern of the chenille bedspread. She couldn't believe that she was back here so suddenly...that the vivid dream was over. She rubbed her forehead, trying to wake up fully.

Her hair was damp.

She pulled her fingers through it and started to tremble. Her hair was damp because an hour ago she had stuck her head under icy water that had seemed surprisingly real.

Had it been real? She had been just as wide awake then as she was now. She had known it all along in some part of her. Pretending it was a dream had cushioned the shock of what had happened-- that, somehow, she had been spirited back thirty-five years to her mother's childhood and now, just as mysteriously, had returned to the present...

...She curled up and pondered every detail of the adventure. Her grandparents, Pat and Andrew. (Why not Wilfred?) Her uncles, Gordon and Rodney. Her aunt, Ginnie. And especially Ruth, her mother. Ruth's anger and isolation and unhappiness. And old cars and wood stoves and pumps and the canoe and the strange call of a bird...Patricia closed her eyes.

A Handful of Time
By Kit Pearson

4 comments:

Emma Pearl said...

Oh it sounds thrilling!! I'm adding it to my list of must-reads.:)

Emma

P.S. I love your book reviews.:D

emme said...

Thanks, Emma!

I love your book reviews, too!

*giggle*
Emily

Anonymous said...

Oh my, it sounds like a good book!

Maybe I should read it when I get older.

I love your blog. The pics you post on it thrill me so much.

Grace Ramsey (Emma and Johanna's sister)

emme said...

Thank you so much, Grace! I really have a lot of fun "hunting" for the old-time photos I love...☺

It was so nice to hear from you! You are a beautiful young lady just like your two big sisters. (And your new summer dress is *utterly* scrumptious!)

~Emily