And the Desert Shall Blossom By Phyllis Barber Signature Books, 1993. Paperback: 281 pages. ISBN: 1-56085-036-1 Suggested retail price: $14.95 (US) Audience: Adults (Most of this book covers adult material that young people may not be ready to address.)
Reviewed by: Bob Harris

The story starts in 1931 when a family moves from living with her parents in Southern Utah to Boulder City, NV. This story depicits the life and times of people involved in building the Boulder dam (Hoover Dam). Although not the same quality there was a likeness here to John Stienbeck's Grapes of Wrath, I felt the same feeling in both books. The absolute emptyness when a person has nothing. The mother does all she can to keep the family together and in the end every thing falls apart to a point where she has to be commented to a state hospital. The husband finds another women the children marry outside of the church..none of the family members will support her in her church activities. The mother loses it all. There are multiple story lines and a decent history of the building of the Hoover dam. A good Book. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Just as a side question: This is the second book I've read in 2 months that has had the mother up in the state hospital. Are we as a "Church" putting to big a demand on the wifes and mothers of our childern? Do we (Priesthood Holders) demand to much. ie Mothering, spritial leaders in the home, house keepers, taxi drives for the kids, chef for our dinners sometime I think we forget How important that our helpmets are to us. Im sure this is the wrong fourm for this type of question however do think about it.

Bob Harris