Dancing the Cows Home

Book excerpt: Sara, the cautious, quietly observant twin, narrates this reminiscence of sisters whose dreams were intermittently encouraged or dashed by their ambitious, stout-hearted Norwegian-American mother and their alternatively abusive and loving Danish-American father, who felt enslaved by his land and cattle. The twins' emotionally fragile older sister, mischevious younger brother, and sturdy baby sister each found ways to cope. This is a personal portrayal of parents, siblings, family and neighbours who painted the rural landscape in sombre tones of duty and self-sacrifice, yet touched it with hope and grace.