R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on 9/23/2018 + 1452 more book reviews

Living in a rural setting is quite different from living in an urban one. Consequently, I enjoyed this read about living in a small town in South Dakota. You see, I, too, live in rural SD. The author discusses the people who live in such an area and how different they are from the areas where she lived earlier in her life. Although she was born in Lemmon, SD, she lived in Hawaii and New York. Returning to Lemmon she encountered what might be termed a rural mentality. Readers seemed to be few and far between. I understand what she means and have encountered some of the same types of experiences which she discussed. Few rural residents even read newspapers outside the area. Perhaps some of this is due to the difficulty of surviving in such an area. Jobs are few unless you are a professional of which here are few in such areas. The teachers and the ministers seem to make up the bulk of that group. Or, you may rely on your livlihood by working the land. Yes, I have found long-term residents wary of those who move into the community. Even years later one is still a newbie. I grew up in a rural area but lived for many years in a city where, like the author, I took on those values.

The author embraced the solitude and peace of the area. That's what I find enticing, too. She found herself connecting to her Christian roots even though it was different from each of her grandmothers. One was quite fundamentalist in her thinking while the other was more understanding of the beliefs and lives of others. Searching inside herself the author turned to the Benedictine monks, getting to know them, participating in retreats and other activities. These friends anchored her heart and soul in western SD. It's a thought provoking read - probably one that anyone who returns to a rural life after time in cities far from such a life.

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