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jmb1951's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I love this woman! All adventurers, all horse women, all animal lovers, all students of recent U.S. social history should read this book.
karrama's review
4.0
Told through her own journals and the accounts of locals, this biography doesn't romanticize the situation that caused a woman over 60 to get on a horse and cross American in 1954. Annie Wilkins was alone after illness, living on a farm that was worth far less than was owed on it thanks to the Great Depression.
Annie overcame her illness and didn't have much time left. She tried to make enough planting pickles after she got out of the hospital. Neighbors stepped in to help her out, but living along, Annie didn't see much future for herself on the farm. She hatched a plan to see the Pacific Ocean before she died. She found a Morgan horse and set off.
The majority of the story tells about the foibles of crossing a motor-driving America as an older lady on horseback, and it's a great one.
Annie overcame her illness and didn't have much time left. She tried to make enough planting pickles after she got out of the hospital. Neighbors stepped in to help her out, but living along, Annie didn't see much future for herself on the farm. She hatched a plan to see the Pacific Ocean before she died. She found a Morgan horse and set off.
The majority of the story tells about the foibles of crossing a motor-driving America as an older lady on horseback, and it's a great one.
ngallion's review
4.0
Enjoyable book about a unique woman. This book is exceptionally easy to read and is largely enjoyable. The only real strike against it is that there’s only so much that can be done with a woman riding her horse across the country. Though there are a number of interesting and memorable anecdotes, it does start to feel a little samey after a while. Despite that, I’d recommend this to anyone who has even a mild interest in the subject matter. Others may occasionally find themselves a bit antsy for the next memorable episode.
appaloosa05's review against another edition
I really enjoyed this story of one adventurous woman's trek across the U.S. on horseback.
missyjohnson's review
3.0
Interesting story about Annie Wilkins from Minot, Maine. She decides after a diagnosis of lung disease and 2 to 4 years of life remaining, at age 65, to ride a horse across the US to California. the year is 1955. Annie has no money and has recently lost her grandfather's homestead to back taxes. She has never traveled much out of her area but is determined to ride to the Pacific Ocean. I am not really a fan of an author trying to write an account of another based solely on partial diaries, postcards sent to others, and fading memories of acquaintances. There is a good bit of history of the time added due to limited information of actual knowledge of Annie's actions. Overall it was a nice story. She became a minor celebrity in the papers and along the way. Folks showed her kindness and hospitality and actually saved her or her horses lives on a couple of occasions. She had only a sixth grade education and when you think of her limited knowledge of geography and lack of maps for the most part, she accomplished quite a feat.
pam2375's review
4.0
This sure was a different type of book than what I normally would pick up. I'm so glad that I did!
The story takes place in 1954 where we meet 63 year old Annie Wilkins after getting a terminal diagnosis. Annie buys a horse and sets out to travel from Maine to California with her horse, Tarzan and dog Depeche Toi. She travels on horseback! Can you just imagine?
This book made me incredibly sad and incredibly happy all at the same time. During her travels we get to meet a lot of real life characters along the way we get to watch and experience what Annie, Tarzan and Depeche Toi did. It is a wonderful book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for this advanced readers copy. This book released on June 1, 2021.
The story takes place in 1954 where we meet 63 year old Annie Wilkins after getting a terminal diagnosis. Annie buys a horse and sets out to travel from Maine to California with her horse, Tarzan and dog Depeche Toi. She travels on horseback! Can you just imagine?
This book made me incredibly sad and incredibly happy all at the same time. During her travels we get to meet a lot of real life characters along the way we get to watch and experience what Annie, Tarzan and Depeche Toi did. It is a wonderful book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for this advanced readers copy. This book released on June 1, 2021.
ashleymariereads's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0