Mary E. Trimble

Walk Me Home, a contemporary novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, is a poignant story of two sisters in search of family.

Carly, 16 and her little sister Jen, 11, can no longer live at home. Their mother’s string of boyfriends is just more than they can bear. Her previous boyfriend, Teddy, was good to them, but she kicked him out of the house. The current boyfriend is mean, even to their mother. When they learn their mother and her boyfriend are killed in an automobile accident, the girls leave before authorities can put them in foster care.

When they learn that Teddy, the closest thing they have to family, is now some place in Northern California they set out on a journey across the American Southwest. They start out riding their bicycles, then walking, eventually hitchhiking, then again walking. It’s tough going, their shoes wear out, they’re hungry, thirsty, and it’s unbearably hot.

The girls, desperate for food, come upon a run-down farm on a Native American reservation and attempt to steal eggs from a chicken shed. However, in order to get inside the shed they have to damage the fence surrounding it. The owner, an old cantankerous, nearly blind woman catches them, and the only way out is to work off their debt or be reported to the police. After a few days Carly is determined to travel on in search of Teddy, but Jen, content to stay where she is, stays behind. Alone, Carly walks, hitchhikes and even hops a train, in search of Teddy.

Walk Me Home is a story of determination and resilience. The girls suffer many hardships and heartaches, but the concern and kindness of others is at the core of this story. Trust is sometimes hard to find, and even harder to recognize. I have read several novels by Catherine Ryan Hyde and this is yet another excellent story.

Book Review: Beneath the Same Stars

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Mary

Beneath the Same Stars: A Novel of the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War by Phyllis Cole-Dai is a remarkable novel based on true facts. The story takes place in southwestern Minnesota.

The Dakota Sioux, desperate for food, have been betrayed by the whites. They’ve been promised food and provisions if they would stay on a reservation. But relief isn’t forthcoming, creating suffering, distrust and bitterness.

John and Sarah Wakefield have come to the reservation where John will work as a physician. On occasion Sarah has assisted her husband in medical treatment of the sick and wounded. Not all is bliss in the Wakefield household, however. John gets angry, even abusive, when Sarah points out the unkept promises of the American government toward the Indians. When an uprising is feared, John sends Sarah and their two young children to what he considers a safe place. However, their wagon is waylaid by two Dakota Sioux, and they are taken captive.

Ćaske, a Dakota Sioux warrior, stops a wagon carrying a woman and her two children. He takes them as captors to his village. As it happens, Sarah and Ćaske recognize each other from when she and her husband treated him for a head wound. He takes them to his mother’s tipi where Sarah and the children are treated well, although they are resented by some in the village. Sarah has learned some of the native language through working with her husband, and Ćaske knows a little English. Together they are able to communicate. An affection between them grows, but how can it possibly endure? When it becomes apparent that war is at hand, Ćaske urges Sarah to return to her people, but she is loathe to leave.

Beneath the Same Stars is a gripping story of two people struggling between worlds. Sarah Wakefield was a true character who was caught up in the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862, a conflict between the Dakota nation and American traders, settlers and troops in southwestern Minnesota. The conflict lasted only six weeks but resulted in more American casualties than any other Indian war. The author’s vivid descriptions of the Dakota village and its people are fascinating, as are her insights of the Dakota Sioux regarding how the white man lives and their dishonor in not keeping their word. The novel turns historical figures into realistic, living characters. I very much appreciated the author’s insights into the plight of Native Americans.

Book Review: The Color of Air

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Mary

The Color of Air by Gail Tsukima is a historical novel describing an impending volcanic eruption on Hawaii’s big island in 1935.

The story centers around four main characters, mostly second-generation Japanese, and flashes back in time to their youth. Most of the main characters’ parents were lured from Japan to work the sugar cane fields. They were given promises of wealth, but in fact were treated like slaves while owners of the sugar plantations became rich. Nevertheless, the people formed a close-knit community and cared for one another, centering their lives in Hilo.

The main character, Koji, mourns the death of Mariko, the woman he loved but who married another man. Mariko’s husband neglected her and their child, Daniel, and eventually abandoned the family. When Daniel, now a physician, returns to Hilo, he and Koji resume their close friendship and Daniel learns the true story about his father and the suffering he caused the family.

The author vividly describes Hawaii and its beauty–the smell of the ocean, the rushing sound of breaking waves, the fragrance of mangoes as they ripen on the tree. But she also describes the stench of the active volcano, Mauna Loa, which has erupted and is spewing hot lava across the land, bringing fear to its residents of losing their homes. She also describes the sugarcane industry, its back-breaking labor, the stench of the burning fields, and the unfair treatment of the laborers.

I enjoyed this story of Hawaii in its early days. I lived in Hawaii 1955-1957, before it was a state, and knew and worked with many second-generation Japanese on Oahu. We witnessed and smelled the burning of sugar cane fields, which they do just before harvest to reduce the volume of waste material for transport and processing. It didn’t occur to me at the time how difficult that was for the workers to inhale the smoke while enduring the hardship of harvest. I love Hawaii, its beauty and mystery, but now have an even deeper appreciation of its people.

Book Review: Leaving Cheyenne

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Mary

Leaving Cheyenne by Larry McMurtry (1936 – 2021) is the second of the “Thalia: A Texas Trilogy” series. The novel takes place in north Texas during the period 1920 to 1965.

Gideon Fry is a rancher who has his heart set on marrying pretty Molly Taylor. His father works him so hard he doesn’t get to see her as often as he would like. Gideon’s afraid his best friend, Johnny McCloud, the Fry’s ranch hand, is going to win her over before Gideon has a chance.

Johnny McCloud, a fun-loving, carefree ranch hand doesn’t take anything very seriously, but he does have fun with Molly Taylor, especially when her father isn’t around. Johnny isn’t really the marrying kind, which suits Molly just fine.

Molly Taylor lives on a farm with her mean widowed father. She’s a free spirit and sees no point in getting married, but she does love the attention of both Gideon and Johnny. As the years pass the three struggle with a love triangle, yet are loyal to one another.

Leaving Cheyenne reminded me of Larry McMurtry’s later novel, Lonesome Dove; not the story line, but the bantering between the two cowboys. The teasing between Gideon and Johnny is humorous and good natured. The novel is earthy, but realistic. Each of the three main characters narrate a segment of the book, allowing the reader to see their various viewpoints and bittersweet relationships. The novel does a wonderful job of following the time period, describing the Texas countryside and the attitudes of rural people as they struggle to make a living. Leaving Cheyenne was adapted for film as Lovin’ Molly. I enjoyed this book and admire Larry McMurtry’s masterful ability to tell a good story.

Book Review: Human Voices

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Mary

Human Voices, a novel by Penelope Fitzgerald (1916 – 2000), takes place in London, England during the early stages of World War II. A very interesting Introduction, written by Mark Damazer, beautifully sets the scene of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) as it was during the early 1940s.

Anne Asra, the daughter of a widowed piano tuner, lands a job at the prestigious BBC working for Sam Brooks, the head of Recorded Programs. Anne is dedicated and honest, sometimes brutally so. For instance, at one point her boss asks her what she thinks of him. Her answer: “There’s two ways to be selfish: You can think too much about yourself, or you can think too little about others. You’re selfish both ways.” Yet she falls in love with him, a seemingly hopeless love.

I found this book fascinating. The BBC played a vital role during the wars years in its effort to keep people informed, but also entertained in the midst of chaos. There were nightly blackouts and the thunder of exploding enemy bombs going on all around them, yet they carried on. Most of the book takes place inside BBC’s walls. Sometimes when it was deemed unsafe to return home after work, it was necessary for employees to spend the night. The BBC’s concert hall was converted for this purpose which set the stage for interesting after-hours activity. What went on inside the BBC walls was sometimes hilarious, though typical of the British, understated.

The author of Human Voices, Penelope Fitzgerald worked at the BBC during the wars years, making the story authentic, believable, and above all, funny.

I have great respect for the BBC. When we served with the Peace Corps in The Gambia, Africa, we relied on them for our world news. We were fortunate enough to buy a combination AM/FM/Shortwave radio from an outgoing volunteer. It was particularly interesting to hear American news from a British viewpoint. In fact, it was on the BBC that we first heard about the Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption taking place in our own home state of Washington.

I very much enjoyed Human Voices. It’s a fun read but also emphasizes the dedication to truth and information the BBC has always stood for.

Book Review: Renewed Hope

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Mary

Renewed Hope, a novel by Carmen Peone, is the third book of the “Seven Tine Ranch Romance” series. The contemporary story mostly takes place in Montana.

Sophie Cayes has exceptional talent as a wildlife artist, specializing in wild animals in their natural setting. Her budding future is shattered when her abusive ex-husband threatens to sue for full custody of their four year-old son, Basin. Sophie learns of a guest ranch that keeps a room open for women in need. She and her son leave their home on the Flathead Reservation in Northwest Montana and drive to the Seven Tine Guest Ranch on the Colville Reservation in Eastern Washington, hoping to find a solution to her greatest fear, losing custody of her son.

Chad Davis loves his job at the Seven Tine Guest Ranch. His specialty is starting colts, but of course he performs other ranch chores as well. One of those chores involves helping out when guests arrive. Later, at dinner, Chad is asked to show little Basin around while his mother talks to another woman. When the unthinkable happens—Basin goes missing—Chad feels responsible to do everything in his power to return the little boy to his mother.

Chad, Sophie and a tribal policeman head back to Montana, feeling certain that Basin’s father must have followed Sophie to the ranch and had taken the little boy. Just when you think things can’t get worse, they do. A gut-wrenching race is on to find her son before her ex-husband and his new wife illegally flee with Basin.

Renewed Hope is about faith in the face of raw fear. Unfortunately, abuse of women is common among indigenous people. That abuse is often directed toward children, making this situation even more desperate. The novel is suspenseful, yet realistic. Carmen Peone has written a worthy sequel to the first two books in the “Seven Tine Ranch Romance” series.

Book Review: Looking for Jazz

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Mary

Looking for Jazz: A Memoir about the Black College and Southern Town That Changed My Life by Anna R. Hathaway is written by a white woman from the mid-west who accepts a teaching job at a black college in a small Georgia town. The book covers the turbulent, changing times, especially in the South, of 1968–1972.

Anna Mitchell, 23, with a Masters in English from the University of Wisconsin, accepts the position of instructor in the English department at Fort Valley State College in Georgia. Meanwhile, her husband begins advanced training 100 miles away at Fort Benning, and would soon join the elite Special Forces as a Green Beret, eventually serving in Vietnam.

During the first four years of Anna’s career, she saw many social changes: Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated, The National Organization for Women (NOW) protested for women’s rights, the Supreme Court mandated public school desegregation, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a sit-in at Harvard, and a man landed on the moon. Meanwhile, the Vietnam “Conflict” raged on.

Anna was well received, although not all her classes were of particular interest to the students. She found the students and staff respectful, but at times she observed black and white communities segregated in restaurants, stores, hotels, and many churches. Even doctor’s offices had waiting rooms designated by signs reading “White Side” and “Colored Side.” Anna found striking differences between midwestern humor and southern humor, and especially black humor. She took it all in and strove to adjust to the various situations.

I enjoyed reading about Anna’s observations and personal twists on life as a white professor and wife in the South. Some of her experiences were unpleasant, some joyous, and through it all, I admired her open-mindedness and determination to make a difference. But did she find jazz? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Book Review: Romeo and Emilia

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Mary

Romeo and Emilia: How one brave girl rose up from a wheelchair onto the back of a horse by Roni McFadden is a unique true story that will warm the hearts of all who read it.

The introduction, written by Roni McFadden, tells how the story came about. The author and Emilia Maureen Pauling, eleven, were new neighbors in Willits, California. When McFadden met Emilia the little girl told her she loved horses, that one of her favorite things to do was to play horse video games. Well, this was her lucky day! McFadden owns a horse that lived just down the road. Emilia was beside herself with joy when told she would actually meet and ride Romeo, a Leopard Appaloosa.

Emilia was born with a genetic abnormality, bilaeral microphthalmia (small eyes) and is legally blind. She also has hyper- and hypotonia in her legs. When Emilia was four she started walking with a walker, but now wearing leg braces, can walk and run, using a wheelchair only for long distances.

This charming children’s book tells the story of Emilia and Romeo’s adventures. Romeo, snow white with black spots, gave Emilia a gentle ride. At first the little girl was nervous, but soon learned the horse’s rhythm and was able to just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Romeo and Emilia carries a valuable message to both children and adults. Many children, especially girls, have a deep love of horses, a relationship both physical and emotional. When a child has special needs, the experience is even more valuable. The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs of Emilia’s experience with Romeo. I recommend this book for all children, and especially for adults to read to or with children.

Book Review: The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Mary

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, is a worthy sequel to his bestseller, The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Annie, eight, lost her left hand in a horrific accident at the Ruby Pier amusement park. Although the hand was surgically reattached, she still bore the scars both physically and mentally. She doesn’t remember the tragic accident, nor does she remember Eddie, the amusement park mechanic who saved her life.

Life is a struggle for Annie. She has no self-confidence and finds it difficult to achieve acceptance. One person who befriends her stands out in her young life, Paulo, but he moves to Italy with his family. Later, as an adult, he returns, they reunite and marry. Annie finally finds true happiness. But their bliss is short lived when a hot-air balloon falls from the sky.

Annie is suddenly transported into her heavenly journey where she reunites with Eddie, the amusement park mechanic. With Eddie’s guidance, she learns how her life on earth affected others. We are reminded once again how endings are really beginnings, how our lives profoundly affect others, and that every life matters.

I enjoyed The Next Person You Meet in Heaven as much as its prequel. Albom writes with heart. None of us knows what heaven is like, but it’s easy to believe that the imaginative heaven that Albom creates is plausible.

Book Review: All the Little Hopes

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Mary

All the Little Hopes, a novel by Leah Weiss, is a coming-of-age story about two teenage girls who embark on solving the curious disappearance of three men. The novel takes place in North Carolina during the stressful World War II years.

Thirteen-year-old Lucy Brown is a precocious girl who, like her heroine Nancy Drew, loves to solve mysteries. Her father grows tobacco and raises bees for honey. Lucy’s is a close-knit, strongly Christian family.

Also thirteen, Allie Bert Tucker has a questionable past. After her mother dies in childbirth, Allie Bert’s father gives her a one-way bus ticket to stay with her aunt who is expecting a baby. After a long bus journey to the other side of the state, Allie Bert is not welcomed at her aunt’s, and is unceremoniously locked out of the house.

The two girls meet and form an immediate friendship, and Lucy’s parents welcome Allie Bert into their family. The two of them set out to solve some of the town’s most puzzling mysteries. Together, they help one another survive the awkward early-teen years.

All the Little Hopes is a remarkable story. World War II demanded sacrifice from everyone. Lucy’s older brother and brother-in-law are both fighting in Europe. Extra work is demanded of the family when the Army needs honey-bee wax to lubricate ammunition, tools, and cables. A Nazi prisoner-of-war camp is built nearby, which adds anxiety in the community.

I enjoyed watching these two girls develop. Teenage years are often riddled with confusion and feelings of inadequacy, and both Lucy and Allie Bert are no exception. The United States was very much affected by a war raging across the seas with combat both in Europe and the Pacific. The war demanded many sacrifices for the common good. Although the novel is fictional, it is peppered with historical facts, such as bees wax being used for the war effort. All the Little Hopes would be of interest to both teens and adults.