I recently read a book that I enjoyed so much that I wanted to share it with others. Kenneth Goetz offers us his memoir titled A Streak of Dakota Dust which details his boyhood on in small towns in South Dakota. Born in 1932 Goetz d3raws a vivid picture of the Depression years and on to the years of WWII.
The oldest of four children, Kenny as he was called, grew up in poverty with the family moving from town to town whenever his father found work. Kenny tells us about his hardworking mother and his gambling, drinking father, always looking for a job that would help feed the family. Small towns in South Dakota during this period of those difficult years didn't offer much. Yet, Kenny found many ways to amuse himself, some of which brought him a lesson learned, an occasional injury, and a love of his surroundings.
He was always looking for ways to earn a little cash. Selling the pelts for cash pushed him into skunk hunting. His adventures inlc;uded watching a strip show at a carnival when he and two other boys sneaked in. One wonders how he can recall so much of his childhood and teen years, but something that impresses us often stays a vivid memory.
We watch as Kenny drives a truck at a tender age, tries cigarettes, and survives injuries when no doctor was nearby.
We're treated to his school years where he was a good student but often became, especially in his years of higher education., a slacker
The reader grieves when he Kenny loses his mother after his three younger siblings joined the family but has different emotions when his wandering, drinking father dies a few years later. The children moved in with grandparents during those difficult years.
There is much more about Kenny's early life which influenced hies successful life as an adult. Plus, the reader gets a good picture on what life was like during the poverty stricken years of the Depression and the WWII years. Those who lived during that period of our history will be able to relate and bring back memories of their own. Younger readers will learn about4 a slice of history which happened long before their time. This memoir brings back memories and teaches a bit of history, as well.
It was a delightful read which kept me turning pages to see what more of Kenny's life awaited.
The book is sold at Amazon. Barnes and Noble and Books a Million.
