In Minnesota in 1911, Nilda Carlson is torn between society life in the city of Blackduck and spending time with her family back home on the farm. Her employer, Mrs. Schoenleber, gives her more and more responsibility and experience, including recommending new opportunities for her philanthropy. Still new to America herself, Nilda focuses on the area’s immigrant community, but she’ll have to … fight to get her ideas accepted by the locals and donors alike.
In the meantime, one of her greatest joys is her weekly piano lesson with the handsome schoolteacher, Fritz. But just as Nilda is beginning to realize she has feelings for him, a stylish, affluent young woman moves to Blackduck and monopolizes Fritz’s attention. With her humble background, how can Nilda hope to compete with such a sophisticated beauty?
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A Song of Joy is the fourth novel in Under Northern Skies series. I recommend reading this series in order, though, the author does summarize what happened in the previous books. I thought A Song of Joy was well-written and it proceeds at a gentle pace. I would have liked a little peppier pace because I did feel the story dragged in places. We get to see what daily life is like for Nilda and for her family on the farm. While A Song of Joy focuses on Nilda, I like that we get to catch-up with the family. They are busy cutting trees, planting crops, taking care of the animals, and the numerous other daily chores on a farm. There are such wonderful, developed characters in the book, and I like the references to Ingeborg Bjorklund which has me looking forward to reading A Blessing to Cherish. The author captured the time period with the clothing, events, books and the new technology. Electricity, motorcars, and the typewriter are some of the new inventions mentioned in the book. Nilda also learns shorthand to help her take notes at the quarterly company meetings. I enjoyed watching Nilda grow over the course of the series and the ending left me happy. This is a clean Christian novel. We get to see how God plays into the lives of our characters. They pray for guidance to make the right decisions and have faith that God will lead them in the right direction. They are compassionate people who want to share their blessings. A Song of Joy is a heartwarming novel with rich characters.
A Song of Joy by Lauraine Snelling is a delightful story. Nilda Carlson, an immigrant from Norway, has for some months, worked as personal assistant to the wealthy Mrs. Schoenleber. She is grateful for all that she has learned and accomplished since being mentored by her generous employer. She has mastered English is learning the ropes in a large family corporation and fits in whether it is in the boardroom or on the family’s farm. She is remarkably bright and it is her wish to give back so others who are new to the country can have some of the opportunities she has had. When she shares her ideas to her philanthropic boss, she is met with surprising enthusiasm that eventually leads to a whole community’s involvement to help the newcomers.
I liked this book not just for the good story, but because it reminds me of how many of my ancestors came to America. Someone came first, checked out the opportunity and sent tickets home for others to follow either one by one or in a group. Some traveled by steerage and once they got to Minnesota, they settled together and worked hard. My father’s family spoke mostly German at home. He went to school until the eighth grade, like Nilda’s nephews did in A Song of Joy. I admire how hard these immigrants worked the land or in other industries to support their families while building a new life in our country. Their resilience, similar to the Carlson family, is what settled the midwest, and eventually, the western states. I wasn’t aware this was the fourth book in the Under the Northern Skies series but A Song of Joy can be read as a standalone. I recommend this book as the story is engaging with good old fashioned characters!
EXCELLENT as always!! She has yet to write a boring book!! All her books are great and I am definitely hooked!!! more please!!!! I would love to go back to Blessing and see how the families are coming along!!! Hint hint!! That series was my all time favorite,