The Birdhouse Chronicles: Making a New Life in the Country

Rating:
Summary: Tasting every word
Review: It's rare that I purposely slow myself down while reading a book, but Cathleen Miller's words deserve to be savored. Her vignettes are fascinating, but the way that they are rendered--with the written equivalent of full-color, 3-D images--is what sets it apart from just another great story.

Rating:
Summary: Stealth Humor
Review: My mother recommended this book to me - I am not normally a reader of back to the country memoirs - saying that she loved Miller's rich descriptions and her "stealth humor." I was raised in the country and appreciated Miller's perspectives - I'm sure I would turned up my mouth in wry amusement, much as her Pennsylvania neighbors did, watching this city girl trying her darndest to live up to the romantic visions of country life while living in landed poverty. Watching Miller making ends meet by gardening, canning, sewing and existing in the only way she could by doing everything herself the cheapest way, the hardest way, was a sometimes funny, sometimes sad, depiction of reality when our fondest dreams come true. A talented writer, Miller entertained me, too, with her stealth humor. It made me wish for a back-to-the-city sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Stealth Humor
Review: My mother recommended this book to me - I am not normally a reader of back to the country memoirs - saying that she loved Miller's rich descriptions and her "stealth humor." I was raised in the country and appreciated Miller's perspectives - I'm sure I would turned up my mouth in wry amusement, much as her Pennsylvania neighbors did, watching this city girl trying her darndest to live up to the romantic visions of country life while living in landed poverty. Watching Miller making ends meet by gardening, canning, sewing and existing in the only way she could by doing everything herself the cheapest way, the hardest way, was a sometimes funny, sometimes sad, depiction of reality when our fondest dreams come true. A talented writer, Miller entertained me, too, with her stealth humor. It made me wish for a back-to-the-city sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Stop the whining
Review: Though this book contains insights into the nature of life in the country, it still strikes me as primarily a book of whining. Outlining in detail the supposed hardships of lighting a fire or planting a garden or canning tomatoes demonstrates the shallow nature of this woman. I guess this is what America has become - a bunch of soft city slickers who can't be depended upon to bear even the slightest inconvenience. I am suprised that she did not develop any "predator rage" at the mink killing the rabbits or "weather rage" when it would snow(!) in the winter. I sure am glad that we do not have to depend on this woman to found Plymouth Colony or settle the West.