Title: Chronicling a Family History
Dobyns Chronicles by Shirley
McLain
Reviewed by S. Davis
March 13, 2015
6:00 p.m.
Dobyns Chronicles by Shirley
McLain was one of the most inspiring books I have ever read in my life.
Charley’s story seemed almost too perfectly thought out for me to think that it
was anything but fiction. However, within the last few pages, the author
provides the reader with the information that Charley’s story was true. This
story was passed down through the generations in McLain’s family until the
author felt compelled enough to write it down and share Charley’s story with
others. And I’m so glad she did.
The book itself tells the story of Charley Dobbins, who was a real
person forced to take care of his two younger siblings when their parents die
of yellow fever. The reader walks through Charley’s life with him as he moves
from place to place with his siblings before finally marrying and settling
down. When Charley suffers a loss or goes through a happy time, the reader
does, too.
The author did a wonderful job of recreating his life in a way that was
believable for the reader. Charley was such a well-rounded character that,
looking back, it makes sense to me now that he was a real person. The majority
of the characters came to life very nicely, but Charley was the most developed
and my favorite, by far.
McLain’s novel is appealing to all kinds of readers because there are
many different elements from many different genres all rolled into one, such as
romance, action, and adventure. Charley’s story comes full-circle in a way that
leaves the reader feeling satisfied and sad that his story must end. It speaks
directly to the soul, which can be difficult for a book to accomplish.
I would definitely give Dobyns Chronicles 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!
Cheers!
S. Davis
www.mcwpub.blogspot.com
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