Accidental Cowgirl: Six Cows, No Horse and No Clue

Mary Lynn Archibald

 In 1990, we heard the wilderness call to us, and, God help us, we answered. Of course, we had no business trying to run a full-time ranch with no experience. People tried to tell us that The Simple Life wasn't so simple, but we weren't listening. If you're over 50, or in a job rut, or looking for adventure (or all of the above), and you yearn for a tranquil country hideaway, please read this cautionary tale first.

My Take:

Have you ever had something really awful happen to you, or you made a terrible decision, and your only consolation at the time is that you know you'll be able to laugh about it in the future?  Well, Mary Lynn Archibald must have felt something similar, because after her wild foray into ranching she has penned this absolutely hilarious memoir.  She speaks honestly and openly about the craziness that was this particular period in her life.  The writing is great, it flows well and is extremely engaging throughout.  I blew through this book so fast because I couldn't get enough of the ease of the storytelling and the humor.  If you are looking to leave the big city and get out into the country, I'd recommend this read.  Although it is a "cautionary tale", the humor of this memoir just may endear you to the great outdoors and might even inspire you to get out there, take a giant leap and make mistakes.   This books shows you so even if you end up falling flat on your face, at least you'll be able to laugh about it later!  I rate this book a 2, Borders with a Coupon, I'm not the biggest fan of memoirs, but this one really won me over.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If you are interested in purchasing this book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!  .

True North

Elliot Merrick

While many people dream of abandoning civilization and heading into the wilderness, few manage to actually do it.  One exception was twenty-four-year-old Elliot Merrick, who in 1929 left his advertising job in New Jersey and moved to Labrador, one of Canada's most remote regions.  First published by Schribner's in 1933, True North tells the captivating story of one of the high points of Merrick's years there: a hunting trip he and his wife, Kay, made with trapper John Michelin in 1930.  Covering 300 miles over a harsh winter, they experienced an unexplored realm of nature at its most intense and faced numerous challenges.  Merrick accidentally shot himself in the thigh and almost cut off his toe. Freezing cold and hunger were constant.  Nonetheless the group found beauty and even magic in the stark landscape.  The couple and the trappers bonded with each other and their environment through such surprisingly daunting tasks as fabricating sunglasses to avoid snow blindness and learning to wash underwear without it freezing.  Merrick's intimate style, rich with narrative detail, brings readers into a dramatic story of survival and shares the lesson the Merrick's leaned: that the greatest satisfaction in life can come from the simplest things.

My Take:

True North is a wonderful memoir, recounting the author's travels in the wild and wonderful Canadian wilderness,  I was riveted throughout the book.  Whether the author was, quite seriously, discussing methods of underwear washing (hilarious) or describing the instances when everyone wanted to break camp but wouldn't admit to it, you are kept thoroughly entertained.  One of my favorite aspects of True North was the author's wife, Kay.  She was an absolute rock.  She wasn't a woman obnoxiously having to point out and prove that she can hack it along side the men, but neither was she some complaining damsel in distress.  She was just a solid travelling companion, working hard and pulling her weight.  Of course, no wilderness book would be complete with out the requisite discussing of the tough times with a backdrop of the magical and majestic wilderness in contrast.  True North does not disappoint in this area.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, filled with beautiful narrative.  Here is a tiny little excerpt, from page 296:

"We lay our fingers in the water and dig our bare feet deeper into the sand to be closer to the earth's heart, we love it so.  And a feeling of gladness and sorrow comes over the water to us like a wave: gladness that the earth is so free and wide and life-giving and generous; sorrow that so many millions of men are unhappy, neither knowing nor caring for these things."

Being an outdoorsy person myself, I rate this book a 2, Borders with a Coupon, if you are not outdoorsy, I'd give this book a slightly lower rating, still enjoyable, but not to the same extent.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie, it would likely be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing True North, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thanks!

Return to Eden

Tucker Smallwood

 RETURN TO EDEN is an exploration of one man's and one country's journey from the devastation of war through recovery to healing. Tucker Smallwood served in the U.S. Army Infantry, Airborne from 1967-1970. He commanded a Mobile Advisory Team during the Vietnam War and was severely wounded in action. After recovering from his injuries, Smallwood moved to New York to study acting, establishing a career as a performer on Broadway (Mahalia), in film (Contact, The Cotton Club) and on television (The X-Files, Space: Above and Beyond). Smallwood's essays reflecting upon his military experience have appeared in magazines, but this is the first published collection. There are more than fifty photographs, many from his tour of duty and from his return in 2004.

My Take:

I have to say that Return to Eden was a very interested compilation of essays.  The author's voice was strong and honest, drawing the reader in.  The essays are not presented in chronological order, and the OCD in me is driven crazy by that fact, while the artsy-fartsy lovin' side of me appreciates the value of things a little out of order.  Some of the essays are more powerful, interesting, or entertaining than others, but overall they send a clear message and create a strong appeal.  The essays are very casual, which also draws the reader in; the author's use of words such as "gonna" and "waaaay" feel very colloquial and inviting.  Tucker Smallwood's account of his experiences in Vietnam and beyond are very honest.  He discusses his battle with "survivors guilt" and gives an honest glimpse of what it's like to be one of those "familiar" actors.  You know the ones, you know the face but can never remember the name.  I myself recognized him from Star Trek :)  Another positive aspect of Return to Eden was the amount of pictures contained within it's pages.  It was fun putting faces to the names and seeing pictures of the men water skiing in Vietnam.  The pictures allowed the collection to be even more relatable.  The writing of this book is solid, I think it really just comes down to your interest in the subject matter itself.  While I believe PTSD and other themes discussed in this book are extremely important, they aren't necessarily my favorite to read about.  I really enjoyed this book, but it isn't 100% my cup of tea, I think if you are a veteran, you will especially love it.  3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Return to Eden were a movie, it would likely be rated R for strong language and war themed depictions of violence

A Few words with the author, Tucker Smallwood:

The Book Buff: When and did you begin writing?

Tucker Smallwood: I struggled with PTSD for several years in the mid - 80's and was persuaded to re-enter therapy in 1988.  My therapist strongly encouraged me to write down as many memories as possible from my time as a military adviser in Vietnam.

TBB: Sometimes, an author’s writing style is a unique as a fingerprint, do you have a specific writing style?

TS: I think so.  It's necessarily unique but my voice is irreverent, casual and informed by the eclecticism of my work and travels.  I write essays, exclusively.  I admire fine fiction but do not believe that I write it well.  I'm more comfortable with describing what I've encountered; my life path has been unusual and rather colorful.

TBB: How did you come up with the title, Return to Eden?

TS: I'd always regarded Vietnam as the most beautiful country I'd ever visited...and I had traveled extensively by that time.  Noticing the absence of bunkers, barbed wire and sandbags, the landscape suggested a return to an idyllic time before the barbarism of war.

TBB: Is there a message in Return to Eden that you want readers to grasp?

TS: War alters its participants.  Not all in an identical way but we are changed.  Each veteran must find a path to wellness and those around us, our friends and families would be served by a wider understanding of the insidious and pernicious effects of PTSD in our interpersonal relationships.

TBB: If you had to choose one book to read the rest of your life, and nothing else, what book would it be?

TS: I could never choose.  If confronted with the reality that only one book existed, at this point, I guess I'd become intimately familiar with that book.

TBB: If you could mirror the career of any other author, who would it be?

TS: I like my arc.  I'm in no hurry.

TBB: What is the interview question you always dread being asked? 

TS: Why don't you write fiction?  "Because I suck at writing fiction"  :)

To learn more about Tucker Smallwood and his book, Return to Eden, check him out at http://tuckersmallwood.com/

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Return to Eden, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thanks!

Death on the Barrens

George James Grinnell

In 1955, six young men set off with Art Moffatt, an experienced wilderness canoeist, on a daring canoe expedition through the remote Arctic region of Northern Canada.  With youthful energy and a naive sense of adventure, the group was not prepared for what they would encounter in this forbidden landscape.  When the crew is swept over a waterfall, Moffatt is killed and most of the gear and emergency food supplies destroyed.  Facing freezing conditions and starvation, the remaining crew barely manages to make it out of the Barrens alive.  Grinnell present an insightful, personal account of the harrowing voyage that changed his life and chronicles his lifelong struggle to find meaning in the midst of tragedy and despair.

My Take:  

Death on the Barrens is not a light read by any means.  It is wrought with sadness, frustration, and despair.  Although strangely enough, despite all of the obstacles in the book, the absolute honesty of the author shines through providing a tiny little ray of hope in his bleak world.  We follow him on his ill fated trip in the Canadian far north, and through his ill fated life afterward.  As we follow him on these journeys, we are given a glimpse into the life of a man who may not be the most likable person, but certainly relatable.  His absolute honesty struck me so hard.  He wasn't afraid to tell it like it was, about himself, and his expedition mates.  As a rebellious, and self righteous youth, he figured this expedition would bring him fame, and bring out the best of him.  As the going got tough, he was 100% honest about his failed courage.  Here is an excerpt from Death on the Barrens, which I think properly illustrates the author's insight.

"The heroic acts of courage we had imagined were not proving to be the reality.  Instead, we discovered clouds of black flies on the portages, irritation with one another, and pettiness in ourselves.  This was not the stuff of epic poems to be sung through the ages, celebrating our everlasting glory.  Better to write nothing at all than to tell the truth about this expedition."

Aside from the appeal of the brutal honestly contained within the pages, the book was filled with beautiful watercolors, and vivid descriptions of the haunting beauty of the barrens.  Death on the Barrens is beautifully written, and aside from a few places which I felt dragged a bit, this book will keep you interested until the very end.  Because of this, I rate this book a 2, Borders with a Coupon.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for brief but relatively strong language throughout.

**FTC Disclosure: The publisher of Death on the Barrens provided me with a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.  No other compensation was given, all opinions are my own**

If you are interested in purchasing Death on the Barrens, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!