A review by crafalsk264
Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman, Nancy Freedman

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have a weakness for books that are based on real life people and events. I would classify this book as narrative nonfiction (a book about real people, events, and includes significant facts within a story). I am planning to try and read at least one classic read per week for the next year. When I ran across the latest publication of the novel, “Mrs. Mike” by Nancy and Benedict Freedman (spouse authors) I also learned that there was a real Katherine Mary O'Fallon and Mike Flannigan who lived in the Canadian Northeast. The book includes many facts and true events but there are other parts that are fictionalized to illustrate concepts and advance the narrative so it is a true blend of the two genre.

The story follows Kathy who goes to live with her uncle for her health and to try to shake off a lingering case of pleurisy, and at 16 meets and has a whirlwind romance with a Canadian Mountie, Mike Flannigan. They are married after a brief courtship (5 meetings) because Mike is to be posted to a wilderness region of Canada. They become pillars of the community as an off shoot of his position as the only law enforcement officer in a remote village . Dealing with indigenous people, trappers, traders, prospectors and other individuals who have chosen to live unconventional lives. They withstand extreme weather, loneliness, epidemics and violence—domestic and otherwise. Their two children are victims of a diphtheria outbreak that ravages their community. Kathy descends into a deep depression and flees from Canada back to her home and family in Boston. However, she finds that she doesn’t there anymore and reconciles with Mike. They find themselves adoptive parents for three children whose family has been devastated by the disease.

This book tells the story of two extraordinary people who dared to believe that a different—perhaps better—life was possible and who braved challenges, dangers, and conflicts with courage, grace and love for each other and for their community. The book was initially published in 1947 and it is surprising how well it has weathered the years, particularly in the cases of racial prejudice against the indigenous population and in the cases of domestic violence. The grief and loss of the children was a heartfelt element. It also highlights the talents of the husband and wife author team of this book. They had their own love story and difficult circumstances to overcome. I found a wealth of information about them and their partnership with Kathy to tell this story. In an interview later in life, Nancy Freedman summed up the essence of the book’s message in the following statement. 

 “I don't think it's a moment of bravery when you have a rush of adrenaline. Courage is something level, a kind of force that sustains you. And that's what it takes to face difficult things, to make it through life successfully." Nancy Freedman, co-author of “Mrs. Mike. “ in “The Story of My Life”