Review: A Great Look Back
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 2, 2012
He Called Her Hat: That Tough Little Lady is a wonderful story about the life of the author's grandmother as she raised her family during times of economic hardship.  Long before cell phones and the internet, in a time when most people traveled by horse and buggy, Hat (the author's grandmother's nickname) managed to do just fine without our modern conveniences. The author gives a picture of what life was like to live back then by telling often humorous stories about the antics his grandmother got up to, as well as the other characters of her time including her husband, Frank. Each chapter is a different look into an occurrence from Hat's life, such as quilting bees both to provide for charity and for entertainment. They also made their own version of liquor or "home brew", much stronger than what any of us is used to today. I loved reading the amazing detail the author puts into each paragraph. It fascinated me how things were done back then and how much their way of life depended on each other. The chapter about his grandfather's first car in 1922 was my favorite. The description of what an outing in the vehicle was like and Hat's orders to Frank not to exceed twenty miles per hour was so vivid I could practically feel  the warmed stones on my feet used to keep them warm.This book is a lovely tribute to a woman who seemed to spin gold from otherwise trying times. It's a light, fun and informative read that both young and old readers will surely enjoy.