Review of Granny's Stories

[Erin Dydek]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Granny's Stories" by Margaret Henderson.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Margaret Henderson has lived a life of exciting encounters with celebrities, dignitaries, and everyday people. In her journeys throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, she has brought her love of languages to the students in her classes, the welcoming neighbors in each new place of residence, and her traveling companions abroad. Discover the anecdotes of a life well lived in Granny’s Stories by Margaret Henderson.

I loved that Henderson wrote this little collection of stories to inspire her granddaughters. By passing on her collected knowledge and memories of the people she met throughout her travels, Margaret leaves her legacy for anyone ready to discover it. It was exciting to read about the wonderful people she encountered, including Dora Russell (women’s rights activist), Soong Ching Ling (Vice President of China), Chou En-li (Prime Minister of China), Odette Roux (the first woman to be elected mayor in France), and many more! I also loved the connections that the author made with other travelers. It was fascinating to see lonely people drawn to each other and how some became lifelong friends of the author.

I also loved learning about the places where Margaret lived and some of the arduous journeys it took to get to them. One particularly riveting story involved a trek from Mombasa to Zanzibar. The unexpected delays, lack of food, and sparse overnight accommodations faced by the author made me admire how hearty and tenacious she was. From these stories, the reader can glean that she always made the best of her situation and embraced the people who crossed her path with kindness and respect.

The book was well-edited and easy to read. The only thing I disliked was how short some of the stories were. I felt like I was getting into the tale, excited to learn more about the person in the chapter, only for it to end abruptly. I also wished there was an introduction or author’s note at the beginning to give the reader some context before being dropped into the first story. This addition would have made the book feel more interconnected and personal instead of like individual stand-alone chapters. Therefore, I give Granny’s Stories four out of five stars.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories of people, places, and travel. The 148 pages contain beautiful stories of connecting with other travelers, overcoming limitations, and enduring difficulties and were well worth reading. There are a couple of instances of non-borderline swearing, as quoted by people she encountered, but the book is still suitable for general audiences.

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Granny's Stories
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[Samuel Falle]

This review appreciated the book and applauded the author for doing a great job in creating it. Based on the pleasant impression the author's writing created, the reviewer also did well in making me want to include the book on my bookshelf.

[Samuel Falle]

This review appreciated the book and applauded the author for doing a great job in creating it. Based on the pleasant impression the author's writing created, the reviewer also did well in making me want to include the book on my bookshelf.

[Aaron Joseph Maupin]

The review is helpful as it provides a detailed overview of the book, including the author's experiences, the people she encountered, and the overall feel of the stories. It points out strengths such as the author's ability to connect with others and make the best of her situation. However, the review also mentions some limitations, such as the short length of some stories and the lack of an introduction or author's note. Overall, the review appears sufficient and could motivate readers interested in people, places, and travel to consider adding the book to their library.