Carla Kelly is one of my favorite authors and I have read nearly all of her books. “Borrowed Light” is a historical fiction novel that takes place about 1910, centering in Salt Lake City and the wilds of Wyoming. The main character, Boston Fanny Farmer Cooking School grad Julia Darling, decides to break her engagement to a young man that she really doesn’t love or respect. On a fluke she answers an ad for a cook to a Wyoming Rancher. Paul Otto sends her train tickets and welcomes her to his remote ranch where she sets out to cook and care for a few ranch hands, an orphaned boy, and of course, Paul. It is not easy for sweet Julia, a Mormon from Salt Lake City to adjust to life in the remote Wyoming surroundings. She’s made of tough stuff and shows Mr. Otto that she is willing, but a bit reluctant to fulfill her one-year commitment in his employ.Once again, Carla Kelly has thoroughly engaged my attention by her story telling woven with intricate historical details of the early west. I didn’t want to put it down! I was very comfortable with the religious flow of the story because I am Mormon and much of what I read is very familiar to me. (If you as a reader are not ok with that feel of the story, then it’s probably not a good choice for you.)However, the thread that runs throughout the story is of great importance to us all. Paul carries a tiny remainder from his mother, a scrap of paper with a simple scriptural message: “For behold, are we all not beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all substance which we have?” Non-religious Paul feels the importance of the words – even though he can’t find it in the Bible. To his credit, he holds this message dear: page 314 (Julia to Paul) “…But doesn’t it strike you as strange that I’m the one who should know more, considering my advantages, but you’re the one who actually lives it? You read a scripture - heavens, the scrap of a scripture – and you govern your actions by it.” That’s pretty awesome!Even though the story is predictable, it is beautifully written as each character learns, grows, serves, loves…and survives. 4 1/2 stars from this LDS reader. On to book #2, “Enduring Light”. An added note here – Chapter 19 was one powerful chapter! In two days we leave CA to drive to SLC, and then on to Wyoming to visit friends who are serving a trek mission for the LDS Church. We will experience the Wyoming frontier in person and think of those brave pioneers heading west. Its even more personal - one was my ancestor. This book had a lot going for it according to my tastes. It takes place in the early 1900's with Julia who ends her engagement to a man she doesn't love and answers an ad in her Salt Lake City newspaper for a wanted cook at a cattle ranch in very rural Wyoming. She takes the train to Wyoming and goes to work on the ranch making meals for a bunch of ranchers. Julia's boss, Paul, and Julia have a bumpy start. Julia is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Paul is not. Julia was raised in the church and loves it but realizes she doesn't really have a testimony when Paul starts asking her questions about the church. It was a sweet story with a lot of LDS references. I really enjoyed the beginning but the middle and ending didn't leave me as interested.
What do You think about Borrowed Light (2011)?
LOVED THIS BOOK. I LOVE HOW THE AUTHOR DEVELOPS HER CHARACTERS AND STORY LINE.
—meetali
What a great book. I really liked this one.
—nikkile
