Cynthia Thayer

Let me start by saying Cynthia Thayer is such a talented writer. I tiptoed into this story not really knowing what to expect outside of the info on the back cover. What a treat! It's like walking into someone else's town and community and being welcomed from the start. The story of Cynthia and "Farmer Bill" (as he is known around town) meeting, moving to Maine and making their home in Gouldsboro where they start a farm and become a part of the fabric of the community is so uplifting and heartening. Even through their darkest days after Bill's accident the community rallies around them to encourage them, feed them and finally to help bring Bill home.
Reading this during winter felt like a warm hug and was such a cozy treat.… (meer)

I read through this book in one day. She alternated chapters of the events surrounding her husband's last days with memories of their life together. They demonstrated a deep love, commitment, and respect for each other's quirks, needs, and strengths. I could relate to her diving into a homesteading lifestyle, tho the time compression of her account had me wondering how this couple was able to make a living selling their produce and crafts when they had never lived in the country before.
Since my mother recently died, I could also relate to the way many people worked together to make a good funeral. It really sounded like they held a deeply meaningful wake and funeral, in line with their 'alternative' lifestyle.
She closes with her philosophizing about the rhythmic cycles of life and death, and an acceptance of this as part of life.
Some of the sentences repeated from one chapter into another, as she goes back to a memory from a different angle. The repetition was noticeable, but since I was reading an Early Reader copy, this may have been smoothed out in the final book.… (meer)

Received as part of the Early Readers Giveaway program. This memoir is very heartfelt story about the author's life with her husband who, unfortunately, passed away after an accident on their Maine farm. This book is told in both flashbacks and present day. It is easy to figure out which timeframe is being discussed since each chapter is either done in flashback or present day. The love that the author and her husband had for each other and their farm is very clear and readers will feel that love jump off the pages. Overall, a very feeling memoir and made this reader start following the farm on social media.… (meer)