The Ride of Her Life
by Elizabeth Letts
“This engaging folk-hero biography, which follows Wilkins throughout her grand adventure, also touches on the cultural history of mid-twentieth-century America. As Letts delves into the postwar prosperity that transformed the U.S. into a land of cars and endless highways, she celebrates the dying tradition of the “American tramp or hobo” that Wilkins, the self-christened “last of the saddle tramps,” represented. . . . A heartwarming and nostalgic book to appeal to horse lovers and fans of the author’s previous books.”—Kirkus Reviews
JENA’S REVIEW
The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*** I will post about this book on my blog www.jenabooks.com on June 1, 2021.***
Meet Annie Wilkins, her horses Tarzan and Rex, and her lively doggie Depeche Toi (“Hurry Up) as they band together to fulfill Annie’s big dream. “The Ride of her Life” will inspire and comfort you and leave you with the desire to turn your heart west to California.
The year is 1954, when Annie of Mincot, Maine decides that she has worked her entire life, her health is failing, and she is ready to fulfill her big dream of seeing the Pacific Ocean. After growing her last cucumber crop on her struggling stony-ground farm, she puts her plan in motion. You or I might buy a car or a train or bus ticket. Annie buys a horse. In the late fall she loads up some blankets and canned goods and she and Tarzan and her doggie head south on a country road.
The story shines with the sunshine of her epic quest. Annie captures the hearts of everyone she meets-and she meets people every day. People who smile and wave,who read about her in their local newspaper, who offer her food, lodging and a stall for her horse. Snow, mountains, and highways with trucks don’t deter her and she willingly participates in the community parades and luncheons.
1954 was a year that divided the quiet, country small-town past of America from the emerging land of cities and suburbs, factories and businesses, and 4 lane modern highways. Annie connected people with their past, to the “good old days” of the “real” Mayberry America. Before television and car travel changed the heart and soul of America.
This book is fascinating from the viewpoint of getting to know Annie, and also getting to know the America of the past. If you love horses, and personal quests, you will want to read and reread this endearing book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
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