Milam McGraw PropstBesprekingen

In 1898, spirited nine-year-old Ociee Nash lives with her father and brother in rural Mississippi until her father sends her to live with her refined aunt in Asheville, North Carolina.

Ociee Nash is moving to Memphis, Tennessee! This charming book about the honest and adventurous young girl growing up at the turn of the century. In Memphis she will be reunited with her older brother, meet new family, make new friends, and develop her conscience as she reaches out to the forgotten in her new community. Brash and forthright, Ociee faces all her problems head on with courage and kindness.

It's not really my cup of tea but I can imagine a younger version of me being more interested. Not a page turner, but a comforting, familiar, and predictable read for a eight or nine year old.

I, too, received this as an e-book, and -- like others here -- am a little tardy in offering a review. The format offered by the publisher wasn't really conducive to reading online, and it took a while to find that the 'calibre' application could convert it to an epub format that could be read on a portable device. Like one of the other reviewers mentioned, I couldn't imagine reading the third book in a series without reading the first two, and that wasn't going to happen on a computer screen or a ream of printed 8 1/2 by 11 paper.

So I did read all three books in the Ociee Nash trilogy. I am understandably not the target audience (middle-aged male), but I enjoyed the stories. Out of the three, the first was the author's best work. The latter works suffered a bit from too many abrupt story line changes without much resolution to the conflicts generated by the story line changes. The prose is a little hard to read at times, which is the only thing stopping me from offering the books to my 8-year-old daughter. She is a ferocious reader, but I'm not sure she has the breadth of reading experience to follow the quick voice changes and the multitude of characters that come and go and then come back again.

If you are just starting out on the Ociee Nash series, I definitely recommend starting with the first book. There are plenty of unresolved plot lines for other books, so if the notion that you might not reach a satisfying conclusion at the end of the third book leaves you anxious, you might not want to pick up the series.

I received this book via Early Reviewers as an e-book. So I am very grateful and a little slow in reviewing

In truth I couldnt finish this book. I found the story quaint and whimsical - not really up my alley. I have offered the book to my wife who is a fan of tv shows like Anne of Green Gables so I expect she may enjoy the story more than I did.

I would recommend this book to kids & adults who enjoy classic books like:
Anne of Green Gables
Huck Finn / Tom Sawyer

Thanks to the author/publisher for the review copy

Received as an ebook. Have to say this was not my favorite of the Early Reader books I've received. A little too young for my liking.½

This book was received as an e-book following a request in 'Early Reviewers'. In my case this is a late review, despite a number of suggestions in Library Thing that I do something about it. I apologise for the delay, but it's been a struggle to read this book!
First of all, I should not have requested it, but there are such a small percentage of the total number of books, available for the UK that one does tend to request all of them in the hope that: a) I actually do receive one, and b) it's actually readable when I receive it. I don't really request them all, I do filter the small number available, before requesting.
This one fell through the net! If I'd realised it's style/content beforehand it certainly wouldn't have been on my list.
It's simply taken so long to respond due to the fact that it was an e-book - making reading rather difficult to say the least; and the content/style is more suited to a teenage girl, which I am certainly not!
I also understand that this book is part of a series, and whenever reading a series of books I always prefer to start at number one. If I had been able to start at number one, I don't think I'd have got very far, and wouldn't have asked for this one.
Sorry about this, I'm usually much better at writing reviews, but I just couldn't in this instance. I need a second chance, please. I hope that what I've written in this case will not bar me from future opportunities. JHB

When I applied for this book I did not realise that it was an e-book so I have procrastinated about reading it. I found it hard going and wonder how it would be on a Kindle - it has made me think about whether I should buy an e-book reader or stick to old fashioned print on paper. Readin on a laptop is not for me.

I imagine that the story of Ociee would appeal to my 9 year old grand-daughter who likes books with female protagonists and a sprinkling of adventure. I do not think that it is a great work of children's literature but it has appeal for young girls.

I received this as an eBook. I had a difficult time reading it, as staring at my computer screen for too long hurts my eyes. However, it was so cute that I really pushed myself to finish it. Ociee Nash is a spunky, fun girl who moves to Memphis with her family at the turn of the century. While I don't think I would seek out other books in this series, I can definitely see how young girls (probably in the 9-12 years old age group) would enjoy this book, as well as the others about Ociee and her adventures.

This great story about a cute tomboy girl is a great historical fiction that I will keep in my digital library for when my girls will be old enough to read it. Great story, and lovable characters. A good read.

Ociee on Her Own
by Milam McGraw Propst

Mercer University Press, Macon, Georgia (2003)

I received this free ebook from Milam McGraw Propst on Librarything's Member Giveaway.

The Adventures of Ociee Nash's second book (Ociee on Her Own) tells of the Ociee's return in the new father's home. A journey back, sometimes boring, with the same images of the first book, this time 'à rebours'. Kind of decadent literature.

Something new happens: Ociee finds a treasure ...

Very impressive and sad the last pages with Ociee and Ben, her brother, before the gravestone of their mother.

In Ociee on Her Own we find out Ociee's reflexive side, now she is grown up and, as a journey backwards, Ociee and Elizabeth (her best friend) "hope .. never get older and complicated" p. X (10). And this hope is sealed by an oath: "to stay uncomplicated forever and ever and ever!" p. X (10)

A final quote: "The time's passing like old honey on a cold biscuit" p. XLVII (47)

What a delightful book! If I had young children, this would be a book I would share with them. It's sweetly innocent with story lines that keep it interesting. Ociee isn't a perfect little girl; she gets in her share of trouble, but she always learns from her mistakes. Her brother Ben tries her patience and her father's too, but that makes the story more interesting. I especially enjoyed the story line about the "witch" - there is indeed a good lesson there that we all need to learn.

Ociee Nash is the main character in this work of historical fiction that is aimed towards the age level of 12 year olds (or perhaps a bit younger). I found that this book, that takes place in the early 1900's, is a delightful "romp" of historical fiction and that the main character is fun and appealing (a bit like a female Tom Sawyer). However, in some ways the book may be regarded as a bit too cutsy. Furthermore, I received this book as an ebook, and while I have never read an ebook before, I decided to give this a shot. I found that I may be a bit outdated -- but I will stick to my paper editions -- reading and critiquing work on a computer is very difficult. Still, even though I did not read the first two books in this series, I can see why younger children would be interested in this series.

I received The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash for review from this site as an E-book. I find it too difficult to read on my computer so a friend sent me her copy (and the others in the series)

My daughters and I enjoyed the book. It has the feel of the Little House books, though not as nicely written. We liked reading the books together (they are 8 and 11).

I would recommend the books.

Early Reviewers Program! A great opportunity to reads outside your comfort zone :)

Young adult, set in America in the late 1890's featuring an adorable tomboy called Ociee. I hear this is based on the true life of Propst's grandmother in Asheville, North Carolina and it's a lovely slice of historical life. Ociee has a loving Papa and two brothers, her Mama died of measles and she has a vast extended family captured by her gift for making friends. This has a bit of a Huck Finn / Anne of Green Gables feel to it and the books follow Ociee over three years starting from the family farm, the her aunt's house in Asheville (to become a lady) and on to Abbeville, Mississippi. I'm charmed by her adventures, the deep love her family shares for one another and by the writing style itself.

I received this as an ebook, which I have found difficult to read, since I neither like to sit in front of the computer all day nor read on my phone screen for a long time. What I read of it though, was not terrible, as far as the plot itself is concerned. It read more like a screenplay than a book, though, which I didn't care for. It seemed to lack a certain depth to the writing and the storytelling, and was generally awkward.

A delightful story about a young girl who chooses to meet the trials of life with constant hope, a determined courage and an adventurous spirit. I believe Ociee Nash is a role model for younger children because her character is caring, charming, amiable and willing to be a friend to everyone she comes across. This series (I have read all three books) is suitable for a young audience, preschool children who like bedtime stories, and story time at the library, older readers may find the writing basic and the story too simplistic to hold their attention.

I received this book through "Library Thing Early Reviewers."
It is the Captivating story of young Ociee Nash - a tomboy on the verge of becoming young lady. The novel is based on the life and character of the author’s grandmother. Ociee’s love for adventure, along with her tender heart get her into some interesting scrapes, including the time she sought to befriend an elderly recluse whom the children had called ‘The Witch.’
The writing style is delightful, with much gentle humor and unexpected turns of phrase. Here is a brief quote:
“Ociee, please don’t wear the hat,” said Papa. “It’s filthy with road dust.”
“But this is my traveling hat. It gives me courage.”
I looked in the mirror. Papa was right. My dress looked like it belonged to a princess, but with my hat on, I was a princess who was going catfishing.

I enjoyed this book so much that I had to also read the other two books in the Ociee series:
Book One: A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street
Book Two: Ociee on Her Own

THE ADVENTURES OF OCIEE NASH SERIES
BY MILAM MCGRAW PROPST
Published by Bell Bridge Books

Review by Debra Louise Scott

It is an endearing idea to write a book based on the memory of an ancestor’s tales and I love that Propst wanted to recapture the stories she must have heard at her grandmother’s knee. As I read, I could imagine Grandma Ociee laughing about all her adventure’s, embroidering and revising to suit the ears of her young grandchildren. And that is what the book sounds like: a long string of disconnected stories of far more interest to someone in the family than to today’s hyper multi-tasking youths.

The “Adventures” read like a young girl’s diary, with no sense of plot or purpose, Even in a setting that seems taken from Little House on the Prairie there should be more than sweet sugar days and blueberry pie dinners.

The writing is uneven, switching inexplicably from folksy to static; “For a time, our brother clean forgot how to have any fun. At the same time, his passion for trains intensified” or the sudden change in Ociee’s speech to include the colloquial “yawl” halfway through.

Some passages are left hanging, without explanation; “I was sniffling. Ben was hollering. Papa stood up with his hands held high over his head. I thought about the picture of Moses in my Sunday school book, the one where Moses parts the Red Sea.” The chapter ends with no further detail as to why Papa was holding his hands up like that.

Nevertheless, there are some very nice passages, such as, “For us Nashes, our lives either dragged slow as cold honey or fast as lightening flashes. Reading my journal, I saw that during the past two years we’d turned from honey people into a thunderbolt family.”

The “witch woman” episode had at least some suspense in its development, and a bit of sibling discord. Sweet Ociee, of course, almost immediately discerning the person from the stereotype which put her at odds with her older brother.

I imagine that this would appeal to families who choose to shelter their children away from the dangers of things like public school and television. It presents an ideal vision of childhood, precocious, mischievous but nearly always obedient and a sweet interpretation of adults, always helpful, always wise, and always good.

Sweet and charming. Other reviewers have compared it to Anne of Green Gables and Pollyanna - I'd agree more with the Pollyanna. As an adult, I found it a bit simplistic and, well, almost shallow, so while I think it would be excellent for younger children, it doesn't hold up as well for adults.½

Although I am not in the usual target age for similar books, I enjoyed this one. I don't think I'll be reading it again, but it was interesting and quite folksy. Different from my usual tastes, but maybe I'll break it out when my niece is visiting for reading aloud.

I fear I’m too old to really have enjoyed this, but this book was charming and uplifting. I can definitely see the appeal from a child’s perspective, and I’d definitely recommend this to family and friends with children. Ociee Nash was a lovable, strong character but again, this wasn’t directed to my age group and I can’t fully appreciate it.

The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash is a terrific ending to the trilogy by Milam McGraw Propst. The characters grow under the direction of Propst, and any reader, whether they are picking up this individual book, or are continuing the series, can fall for these characters and grow to enjoy their adventures. It is a real treat to have not just this book, but the whole collection of Propst’s works in my library, and cannot wait for a new book, should there be one.

I have not read the other books in this series, but after reading this one to my kid I have decided to read them all.

I like the way the author used different styles of speech, or slang, but didn't over do it. Really helps set the mood and location. I think the characters are believable and lovable.

At first I was worried about not having read the other books first, but it holds well on it's own. I'd definitely recommend it to any parents who like to read out loud to their children. I'm sure the whole series is good! Thanks to the author for a new classic!

Eleven-year-old Ociee Nash was born and raised on a farm in Abbeville, Mississippi in the late 19th century. A year after her mother died, when Ociee was only 9, she headed to Asheville, North Carolina to live with her Aunt Mamie. Her adventures there are recorded in "A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street". Ociee came back home in "Ociee on Her Own" for her brother, Fred's wedding and now she's moving, with her father and her other brother Ben, to Memphis, Tennessee where Fred and his wife live.

Ociee Nash, like Pollyanna and Anne Shirley, has a knack for making people love her. Early in life Ociee learned that a person's appearance has nothing to do with their inner beauty and in her third book of adventures, she once again proves that a caring heart and a willingness to look beyond a person's outside, can break down walls and create friends.

The author has based these books on the life of her grandmother, the real Ociee Nash. Knowing that the books are a fictionalization of a real person's life brings added depths to the major events and lessons in Ociee's life. Though they're intended for an audience much younger than I, I thoroughly enjoyed reading them and would highly recommend them for children between the ages of 8 and 11. If I had a little girl, I know I'd encourage her to find Ociee Nash.

Disclosure: This book was received from application to the Early Reviewers Program.

Third of a series, this book is written at the middle grade level, and follows the life of Ociee Nash and her family starting in 1900. The family moves from Abbeville, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee. The story is told in a first person account from Ociee.

The book is well suited to the grade levels for which it is written, and it is very nice to have a young, strong female character to read about. In some ways, Ociee is similar to Pollyanna as a character: she’s very friendly, a bit boisterous, a tomboy, brave, and smart. Additionally, from the author’s notes, it is known that Ociee Nash was a real person (the author’s grandmother), and these are extrapolated adventures from her childhood.

The book does have some drawbacks. Overall, it has a too-smooth, too-positive feel, and even the more harrowing adventures and sad parts are slickly sugary, or are compensated for with a redeeming component. Disappointment seems to be the strongest negative emotion that can be conjured, and the constant upbeat writing style can become a bit tiring--at least for an adult to read, perhaps it would not be so for the correct age group for which the book is aimed. Secondly, the dialogue can be a bit stilted. In general, most of it doesn’t sound like how real people would talk, but more like an idealized version of what real people might say. The relentless cheerfulness is embedded in the narrative, the dialogue, and in the story arc.

I received this book as an e-book, and the publisher generously included the other two Ociee Nash books along with the one for which I am doing the review. After reading the third one, I did not feel compelled to read the other two.