I am always up to read about life on a farm. I thank Caitlin Hamilton Summie for sending me a copy of Lost Without a River: A Memoir by Barbara Hoffbeck Scoblic at no charge for my honest review.
About Lost Without a River: A Memoir
Barbara Hoffbeck never quite felt she fit into the small farming community of Big Stone City, South Dakota―and as the youngest of seven growing up during the post-Depression era, she struggled to find her place within her large Catholic family. Barbara defied expectations at every turn, determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated time and place, whether it be by joining a “no girls allowed” hunting trip with her brothers, racing to help save her family’s burning barn, or moving across the United States to New York City to pursue a career in publishing. Barbara took her experiences in stride, grounding herself in the beauty of her surroundings―an appreciation stemming from her Dakota roots. Lost Without the River is the story of a girl who grows up, leaves home, and eventually discovers an appreciation for the farm she left behind. It demonstrates the emotional power that even the smallest place can exert, and the gravitational pull that calls a person back home.
About the Author:
Barbara Hoffbeck never quite felt she fit into the small farming community of Big Stone City, South Dakota―and as the youngest of seven growing up during the post-Depression era, she struggled to find her place within her large Catholic family. Barbara defied expectations at every turn, determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated time and place, whether it be by joining a “no girls allowed” hunting trip with her brothers, racing to help save her family’s burning barn, or moving across the United States to New York City to pursue a career in publishing. Barbara took her experiences in stride, grounding herself in the beauty of her surroundings―an appreciation stemming from her Dakota roots. Lost Without the River is the story of a girl who grows up, leaves home, and eventually discovers an appreciation for the farm she left behind. It demonstrates the emotional power that even the smallest place can exert, and the gravitational pull that calls a person back home.
My Opinion:
Lost Without the River is more a collection of short stories or really essays. Ms. Scoblic is sharing her childhood and family with her readers. She invites us into her life to experience her adolescence on a small farm in South Dakota with a passel of siblings.
Each chapter is a different tale and each one offers a new insight into (very) small town life in a time very different from today. The author shares her family and their successes and failures with honesty and emotion as she tries to find herself along the way. She knows that this rural life is not for her but can she leave her family?
Once I figured out that the book wasn’t telling a linear story I started reading it in bursts rather than straight through like I would a novel. I found it to be a perfect way to relax before bed or to fill some time here or there. Ms. Scoblic has a wonderful writing style that brings her world alive. I’m keeping the book on my nightstand so that I can pick it up when I have a few minutes here or there as these stories are worth re-reading.
Rating:
4
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