Mary E. Trimble

The Reluctant Pioneer, a novel by Julie McDonald Zander, is an inspiring story of faith and determination of a family who treks two thousand miles along the Oregon Trail.

Matilda Koontz loves her life. She and her husband Nicholas are the parents of four rambunctious boys ranging in ages from eight to three. They live on a Missouri farm, but Nicholas fears the land won’t be enough to sustain their sons when they grow up and have families of their own. Matilda balks when Nicholas suggests they sell their farm and trek two thousand miles west where they can claim free land. She eventually agrees and they sell their farm and say goodbye to their Missouri family. Matilda realizes she will probably never again see her beloved aging mother.

In the spring of 1847 the Koontzes join a wagon train and embark on their grueling journey westward bound for the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Their covered wagon, pulled by four oxen, is stuffed with essential tools, clothing and food. Rather than ride in the wagon as it bounces and jerks along on the rough trail, they walk. Matilda is just beginning to realize she is again pregnant, but she often carries their youngest son or at least holds his hand as they trudge along the hot dusty trail. They are sobered at the sight of fresh graves, people who have died along the way of disease or accidents. Matilda cooks their meals on an open fire. As their supplies dwindle, the men hunt, or sometimes the families are able to replenish at forts along the way. Their journey seems endless and fraught with danger.

When tragedy strikes, not once but twice, their dreams are shattered. How can they possibly continue? What happens next is a testament to faith and determination.

Although The Reluctant Pioneer is a work of fiction, it was inspired by a true story. Author Julie McDonald Zander has also written an award-winning non-fiction story of this brave woman: The Story of Matilda (Glover) Koontz Jackson. Both the novel and non-fiction books are inspirational and worthy accounts of this brave woman

Book Review: The Sea Runners

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Mary

The Sea Runners, a novel by Ivan Doig (1939 – 2015), is yet another excellent story told by an exceptional author. The story begins in 1853 in Russian-ruled New Archangel, which today is an independent city within Sitka, Alaska.

Four men, indentured Swedish servants, plan an escape in a stolen Tlingit canoe from a Russian Alaska work camp. Melander, the mastermind behind the escape, and Karlson, Wennberg and Braff gather maps and smuggle provisions.

The canoe, about twenty feet long by three feet wide, is a well-built craft, but small for the grueling journey ahead. Their destination is the Port of Astoria, Oregon, where they can start life anew as free men. They escape Christmas Eve while their captors celebrate the holiday.

As their harrowing 1,000 mile journey unfolds, the men suffer rough seas, freezing cold winds, sore arms and blistered hands from their constant rowing. At night they beach the canoe, make a fire, eat what scarce provisions they brought, then later what they gather along the beach. They encounter hostile Tlingit Indians, but their biggest struggles are mere survival, overcoming sea-sickness and fatigue, plus harboring doubt and distrust of one another. They long for a roof over their head, a square meal, and clean clothes, but they’re determined to keep on keeping on.

The Sea Runners is based on a true story. Ivan Doig was a masterful storyteller and the struggle with sea, wind, and the blending of different personalities are exquisitely portrayed in this novel. The rugged Pacific coast is vividly illustrated and the men’s struggle for survival starkly realistic. My husband and I crossed the Pacific on a forty-foot sailboat, and while it had its challenges, it was nothing but smooth sailing compared to what these men endured.

Book Review: Lights Out

Posted on September 2, 2024 by Mary

Lights Out (Kate Green Book 1) by Elise Hart Kipness is a fast-paced thriller that follows a TV sports reporter’s entanglement with loyalty, duty and deception. The story takes place in present-day Greenwich, Connecticut.

Kate Green, a divorced mother of teenage twins, is a former Olympic soccer athlete turned TV sports reporter. She’s been placed on temporary leave from her job because of an angry outburst she made to an NBA superstar.

Kate’s world drastically changes when her best friend’s husband, Kurt Robbins, is shot and killed. Robbins was a much loved NBA basketball superstar. His wife, Yvette, is the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. Although the Robbins’ marriage was far from stable, Kate knows her friend is incapable of murder. As Kate becomes entangled in the mysterious circumstances, her own life careens out of control.

Lights Out is a highly suspenseful mystery. I admire the author’s ability to put the reader into the thick of things. She does a good job of describing teenage angst, an adult’s reaction to an estranged parent, and the lives and attitudes of highly successful sport stars. I enjoyed this glimpse into the world of glitter while trying to second-guess the murderer of a superstar.

Book Review: The Dutch House

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Mary

“The only way to really understand what money means is to have been poor.”
From The Dutch House

Ann Patchett has written another powerful, moving novel. The Dutch House takes place in Philadelphia and surrounding areas beginning in the mid-1900’s.

The first-person story is told by Danny Conroy, the younger brother of Maeve, his competent, fiercely loving older sister.

At the end of World War II, Cyril Conroy began building an enormous real estate empire, buying apartment and commercial buildings. As a surprise to his wife and small children, Cyril bought the Dutch House, a lavish three-story home in the Philadelphia suburbs. At the beginning of the story, Cyril’s wife has left the family, and Danny and Maeve are cared for by their housekeeper and cook.

A few years after his wife left him, Cyril marries Andrea. Almost immediately, Andrea takes over the household, giving her two daughters the choice bedrooms. When Cyril dies four years after their marriage, Andrea exiles Maeve and Danny from the home, leaving the young adults financially struggling, but permanently binding them together for the rest of their lives.

Maeve remains single, but Danny, after graduating from medical school, marries and eventually has a son and daughter. He and Maeve remain closely bonded. Much of their time together is spent reminiscing their past, even driving to the Dutch House, parking across the street, and rehashing their bitter feelings toward Andrea.

Over the course of five decades, the story delves into the lives of these two siblings and their feelings of deep resentment, despite personal success.

The Dutch House is an amazing story of depth, of love and of forgiveness. It’s also a tribute to deep friendships, whether between siblings or of those who have touched our lives. I have read several books by Anne Patchette and have loved them all. She has an uncanny ability to show depth of character, whether it be a person or a house. I read this book on my Kindle, but it is also an audio book narrated by Tom Hanks. I can only imagine how wonderful that would be. Either way, The Dutch House is a memorable story.

Book Review: Comanche Moon

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Mary

Comanche Moon a novel by Larry McMurtry, Book Four of the “Lonesome Dove” series, takes place beginning in the 1850s, Texas. Texas Rangers August (Gus) McCrae and Woodrow F. Call, shown in their younger to middle years, are devoted to the Rangers’ dedication to protecting an advancing Western frontier against the defiant Comanche.

Most of the beloved characters we knew in Lonesome Dove play their roles in this epic novel. Besides August McCrae and Woodrow F. Call, Deets, Pea Eye, and Jake Spoon are Rangers. Also, the boy Newt, the unclaimed son of Woodrow Call, is in the story.

The Texas Rangers pursue Bufffalo Hump, the great Comanche war chief and later his son, Blue Duck. McCrae and Call receive field promotions to captain, a position that they share in leading the troops on their various missions. The two men, though friends and loyal to each other, are widely different. Gus McCrae is a romantic, witty, a deep thinker, and has no patience with rules. Woodrow Call takes life seriously, is often perplexed by Gus’s humor, lives by rules, and is dedicated to carrying out his tasks with honor.

Comanche Moon is a sweeping adventure, sometimes sweet and funny, unflinchingly realistic, at times vivid with descriptions of cruelty, but always showing the Rangers with a dedication to defend Texas and their way of life. I loved this novel and its descriptions of the time period. I both read the book and watched the TV mini-series Lonesome Dove before reading Comanche Moon and it was as though I renewed old friendships. I thoroughly enjoyed McMurtry’s cast of characters as they enact a fascinating period of time in Texas history.

Book Review: The Book Woman’s Daughter

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Mary

The Book Woman’s Daughter, a novel by Kim Michele Richardson and sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, is a well-written, stark reminder of the deep prejudices of the 1950s, Kentucky.

Honey Lovett, sixteen, is devastated and frightened when her parents are arrested. Both Honey and her mother suffer from a genetic trait, a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia, causing the skin to appear blue. In those days, as recently as the 1950s, particularly in the hills of Kentucky, people with this affliction were considered “colored” and suffered the same stigma given to Blacks. It is forbidden for a white man to marry a Blue, and when Honey was just a baby, her father was arrested and sent to prison for this “crime.” After his release, the family managed to stay hidden for the past few years. But now, as this story opens, her parents are both arrested and sent to prison for the crime of interracial marriage.

At sixteen, Honey is left on her own, which by Kentucky law, means she was subject to being sent to a work prison until she turns twenty-one. The unfairness of this ruling is appalling, and Honey is determined to live on her own.

Well educated by her mother, Honey turns to her mother’s former occupation as a packhorse librarian. She applies, and is given the job. As her mother did before her, Honey fills a need among the hill people. However, not everyone approves of her job, and some even resent her. But Honey needs this work to prove she can be independent, and be allowed to remain free.

This novel, as its prequel, is a factual accounting of this medical anomaly. People with this blood disorder were shunned and ridiculed. Also true is the accounting of the packhorse librarians who served in the hills of Kentucky. I was fascinated by this novel—the author did an outstanding job of both explaining the medical condition and its ramifications, and also describing life in the rugged and sometimes treacherous hills of Kentucky in the 1950s. Both teens and adults would enjoy this novel.

Book Review: The Teachings of Shirelle

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Mary

The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Devine Knucklehead by Douglas Green is a poignant memoir about the author’s relationship with his dog, Shirelle, with an interesting and enlightening forward by an award-willing veterinarian, Dr. Barrie M. Sands. The story takes place in the early 2000’s, California.

Douglas Green grew up with dogs and, as an adult, felt something was missing in his life. An author, psychotherapist, plus director and writer of film and theater, he sought a canine companion from an area dog shelter. What he found and adopted was a high-energy, orange and white supermutt he named Shirelle.

At first Shirelle was typical puppy, destroying property and clothes. But as she developed, still full of energy, she found her way into the hearts of all who knew her. She made a profound impact on Doug’s well-being and mental health. Although from time to time Doug had girlfriends, he remained single, so Shirelle became his “everything.” Loved and cherished, Shirelle taught Doug how to live life to the fullest, to cherish the moment. She was a valuable addition to his psychotherapy sessions, and made deep connections with many clients.

I’ve had dogs most of my life and appreciate their value to our sense of well-being. The Teachings of Shirelle emphasis the worth of a loyal dog and the comfort a dog can bring into a home. While Douglas kept Shirelle safe, fed, healthy and sheltered, she gave him love, security, and many laughs. I recommend this memoir to anyone who loves dogs or who is thinking about adopting a dog. This book is a guide, not in animal training, but in living life.

Book Review: The Art of Intelligence

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Mary

“The essence of espionage is access.”
Allen Dulles, The Craft of Intelligence

The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, a memoir by Henry A. Crumpton, is a riveting account of how the CIA and other intelligence and espionage groups operate to defend our country.

Henry (Hank) A. Crumptom’s story begins with the 9/11 attacks. America’s intelligence, the ability to reason and apply knowledge to the information about an enemy or area, sorely needed updating. The horror of 9/11 was an intelligence failure, resulting in an explosion of organizations aimed toward shedding light on issues of espionage. Crumpton’s profession changed from the Clandestine Service to many roles in counterterrorism, from spy to diplomat.

As Crumptom’s responsibilities and achievements grew, the demand for his services increased as he was given critical leadership roles. He spent years in Africa, later in Afghanistan, pioneering new programs, and heading up clandestine operations. Over the years he worked with CIA and FBI. His specialty proved to be recruiting foreign agents.

One of Crumpton’s biggest challenges was to convince CIA leaders that al-Qaeda posed a serious threat. It was hard to believe that Afghanistan, where only six percent of the people had electricity, posed a real threat to the world’s sole superpower. The United States had Afghan allies–many Afghans hated al-Qaeda and had suffered under its brutal regime. But it’s a vast country and the logistics of operations are daunting. Still, the horrific attacks on 9/11, the USS Cole and the American embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, demanded action.

I found this book riveting. I now view CIA, domestic and foreign intelligence, and international terrorism in a more enlightened way. I admire the author’s ability to describe his co-workers appearance, personalities, and achievements, making their contributions a part of his story. Crumptom and the people he worked with transformed the way America wages war. He was instrumental in making changes that allowed the CIA to successfully fight the war on terrorism.

I would have liked a glossary on the many acronyms used. The author always identified the first use of an acronym, but, unfamiliar with some of them, it was sometimes daunting to remember CTC, AQ, UBL, SIOC, EIJ, DOD, NR, etc.

But this one complaint aside, I found The Art of Intelligence an eye-opener, enlightening, and sometimes even humorous. It’s not light reading, but it is gripping, engrossing and informative.

Book Review: The Lost Cowboy

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Mary

The Lost Cowboy by J. B. Zielke is an awe-inspiring true story of the author’s quest for knowledge about modern-day cowboying around the world. Zielke, in his twenties, traveled to six continents, working on ranches and learning the hard way the life of the cowboy, often in untamed land.

Zielke, an experienced horseman and rodeo competitor, began his quest in Australia where cowboys are called “ringers.” When he first arrived he was met by two rough, dusty looking men, shoeless, wearing button-up shirts with no sleeves and very dirty shorts. Zielke worked with these men catching wild bulls. His time in Australia was spent working for and with some of the roughest, toughest people he had ever met.

Next on his quest was Argentina, thrust into a Spanish-speaking world where he worked at a guest ranch, then later worked round-up on a cattle ranch. Much of ranching was different than Zielke expected—even the saddles were constructed differently than either American or English.

Sweden, he found, was one of the most unique places to raise cattle in the world. The Swedish government is very much involved, enforcing strict rules, restrictions and regulations. A couple of examples: It is illegal to rope any animal, and all stock must be sheltered in a four-sided structure in winter. Still, as in most places, Zielke made the most of his stay and made a significant contribution to the work force.

In South Africa, Zielke, through his contacts with Future Farmers Foundation, helped mentor and work with students, some of whom were just getting started working with agriculture, and some who were running massive multimillion-dollar farms. Overall, Zielke found that Africa was like seeing the world as it really was.

In Mexico, Zielke worked on a large farm, mostly harvesting corn, then later worked on a ranch. He was constantly impressed with Mexican ingenuity and their ability to make broken-down machinery work.

Asia, specifically Mongolia, was Zielke’s final destination. One of his aims in Mongolia was to visit the last people on earth who still ride reindeer. He found the Tsaatan, people who live in northern Mongolia, the last semi-nomadic people who depend on reindeer for transportation.

The Lost Cowboy is a story of a man who sought his adventure the hard way. He endured hardships most people would not be willing to suffer. He wasn’t a rich man, but he labored to earn enough money to experience the riches and hardships of cowboys the world over. This review only touches on the highlights of what is a thoroughly entertaining, in-depth, and educational story of one man’s attempt to experience the cowboy life in different cultures.

Book Review: Lila’s Journey

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Mary

“I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear….”
Walt Whitman

Lila’s Journey by Jane Coletti Perry is an engrossing historical novel that takes place in 1860s, Kansas.

Lila Bonner, sixteen, must leave her widowed father out of fear and desperation. She travels by stage coach along the Santa Fe Trail. In Council Grove, Kansas, she manages to find a job at a boarding house which gives her a place to sleep and eat.

John Reynolds has accepted a position as teacher in a new schoolhouse in Council Grove. Lila and John first met in her home town and happen to travel on the same stage to Council Grove. John is enchanted with Lila, but his life becomes complicated when a young woman from his past appears unannounced.

Lila faces many challenges in her new environment, but is determined to make her own way. She bravely deals with mere survival, barely earning enough money to meet basic needs. Life in Council Grove is not easy with Indian unrest and an epidemic, but Lila becomes a part of the community, makes friends, and is thrilled with a promising romance. Her blossoming life is suddenly threatened by an evil betrayal. Will she have the strength to fight this challenge, and does she have to face this fear alone?

Lila’s Journey is a realistic novel of depth. The author’s vivid descriptions of the attitudes and mindset of the times makes the story come to life. I thought Lila’s situation believable—a young woman, sixteen, having to make life-changing decisions. This novel would be of interest to teens and adults.