Book Review: Reunion, A Search for Ancestors
by Ryan Littrell
Often, genealogy books fall into one of two categories:
how-to or historical fiction. While I
enjoy both, it was refreshing to find an author who was able to walk the reader
through the hunt for ancestors, sharing the trials and tribulations we all go
through as we chase our lines back through generations.
Mr. Littrell has a gift of merging words into sentences and
sentences into eloquently described feelings—feelings that mirror mine exactly
as I search for my own ancestors. “And
all around was the chance, like a ghost, that an ancestor has walked
there! This far west, this far north,
some MacDonalds must have lived. Maybe
right here…”
From beginning to end, the author walks the reader through his
proofs and disproofs of family legends, stories and records. As he found a new item, my heartbeat would
speed up, as if it were my own find about my own family. The writing of these parts was moving and I
enjoyed spending my time researching his family with him by reading his words.
If it were only this, I would have still loved this
book. But to elevate it to even a more
amazing level, every other chapter was devoted to telling the Gaelic story of
his MacDonald family in great detail, but written from that time. I was able to learn about Scottish clans and
old Scotland, by living it in the stories woven by the author. I thank him for lending me his grandfathers
before him and allowing them all to weave a tale for me that makes me imagine
my own Scottish grandfathers’ lives.
You can find this book on Ancestry in a paperback or Kindle
version.
Disclosure: Ryan Littrell sent the author of this article
two copies of this book to review—the Kindle version and a paperback
version. However, I will share that I
have purchased two paperback copies of my own to give as gifts. And I may order a third for another birthday
coming up!
It was an excellent book and I love your review of it too!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to bye both too i just this it has help me and my daughter to fine who all in our family and help to fine my son thank you so very much for the book Connie McCoy my email is cnanna7@yahoo.com thank so mcuh
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