• The Diary of Mattie Spenser

  • By: Sandra Dallas
  • Narrated by: Celeste Ciulla
  • Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (345 ratings)

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The Diary of Mattie Spenser  By  cover art

The Diary of Mattie Spenser

By: Sandra Dallas
Narrated by: Celeste Ciulla
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Publisher's summary

No one is more surprised than Mattie Spenser herself when Luke Spenser, considered the great catch of their small Iowa town, asks her to marry him. Less than a month later, they are off in a covered wagon to build a home on the Colorado frontier. Mattie's only company is a slightly mysterious husband and her private journal, where she records the joys and frustrations not just of frontier life, but also of a new marriage to a handsome, but distant stranger. As she and Luke make a life together on the harsh and beautiful plains, Mattie learns some bitter truths about her husband and the girl he left behind and finds love where she least expects it. Dramatic and suspenseful, this is an unforgettable story of hardship, friendship, and survival.

©1997 Sandra Dallas (P)2012 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“One of the bright new voices in historical fiction … Dallas's authentic period details, her colorful minor characters, and most of all Mattie herself lend charm and emotional truth to this appealing marital and pioneering adventure." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Diary of Mattie Spenser

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Performance
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Story
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book. Liked the lessons learned.

I liked this book. Even though at one point near the end you feel like you have been left hanging. It finally gives closure to the storyline. I really liked the way the author portrayed the main character through her journal and thoroughly enjoyed the writing and speaking style of Mattie. There are sad parts and hard times in the book but I like the feel overall and the message I take away is that you just have to keep going in life and look for the positive in your experiences and hopefully learn from your mistakes. I think it portrays true love and forgiveness rather well. I think there is nobility in being able to forgive and love again. (The part I didn't like about the book was how much Mattie talked about "the marital act," but I guess it was important to the storyline. Just seemed out of character for the time period.)

The narrator had a pleasant voice but there was not much feeling in her reading. No emotion portrayed at all. I felt that lack of emotion really took away from the story, but still enjoyed the story very much.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Harsh Western Frontier

I really love the Little House book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, as well as These is my Words, by Nancy E. Turner, so I was intrigued by this story. I was irritated, however, by the constant talk of "the marital bed", or how Luke like to caress her breasts from behind. While I understand that much of this was part of forwarding the plot, it wasn't my cup of tea. The narrator did a great job with keeping the flow of the story at a good pace with varied enough voices for different characters without sounding silly.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Great history

Enjoyed the history n this book
The narrator was great
Her voice variation gave each characters a personality
The story like so many stories today sex driven and harsh
Disappointed n store because of that

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mattie

What did you love best about The Diary of Mattie Spenser?

The first person account

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mattie. Strong lady

Which scene was your favorite?

The end

If you could take any character from The Diary of Mattie Spenser out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Mr Baunderant (spelling) sorry

Any additional comments?

Sandra Dallas is such a great writer if your are an occasional reader looking for ease of reading with full wonderful story

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Journey Back in Time

Would you listen to The Diary of Mattie Spenser again? Why?

No, I would not because I have too much reading to do for book club.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mattie

What does Celeste Ciulla bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

For me when I hear something it's easier for me to visualize the people, places, etc.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The book was moving throughout because Mattie constantly evaluated herself as a woman. Although she came from a somewhat coddled or protected upbringing, she was a strong women who didn't give up or in easily. She was even a good sport to live out on the prairie and suffer as she did w/ few words of complaint. Luke chose a sturdy women who didn't back down or "fade" easily.

Any additional comments?

It's a good read/listen. It moves slowly so it's probably not the book for everyone but everything moved slower back then w/o the communication like we have today or even 100 years ago.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing! Entwines one's heart!

Beautifully written & narrated. Allows the voice of the past to become your companion in the room. Will transport you in time to the point you will lose all sense of time.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Mediocre

Second book by this author and she attempts to support the killing of the unborn in numerous chapters. Same as in the only other book by this author that I read. It was just an okay read, difficult to muster feelings for any character in the entire book. It did not seem like a real journal from that kind of life, always baking cakes and pies. Not compelled to read this author again.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The hardships, joys and culture of the early homesteaders are captured beautifully in a first person journal narrative.

The descriptive language and first-person observations of the beauty and the hardships of the early homesteaders creates an engaging and memorable story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of Dallas’s Best

I love an author the you always enjoy coming back to. I certainly think that “Mattie Spenser” is one of her best. A perfect “listen” while riding my bike. I

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

GREAT STORY!!!!

Very unique story told through entries in a young bride's journal who is taken to the Colorado territory to homestead with her new unbeknownst to her, faithless husband. Love how she endures hardship but comes out on top in the end.

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