The Homesman

I bought this book at a thrift shop,had no idea what it was. As I began reading I thought I knew where it was going, and almost stopped reading. But it intrigued me, and it fooled me, and after three years it still enters my mind at times. It is a wonderful story of a quiet part of our American history, and illustrates perfectly just how heroic the women of that great western migration were. This should absolutely be made into a movie. And please, no 'Star Power' touch-ups. The book jacket said it was soon to be made into a movie--wonder who passed on that deal?

The forgoten part of the western story, that of women children and families, is portrayed in this very human story. If life was hard for men settling the west, it was even harder for their women. Many reached the limits of their endurance and lost their minds as a result. Small comunities at these times engaged a 'Homesman' to escort the unfortunate women back to the eastern states. Mary Bee Cuddy, school teacher, 'plain as an old tin pail', independent means, is the 'Homesman' for her small community. For help on her jouney she engages a 'lowlife army deserter' she manages to rescue from hanging. The story becomes an multi strand tale of the hardship of the trail and the personal harships of loneliness and isolation. For Mary Bee the issues of her life as a woman overwhelm her with unfortunate outcomes. Not a grand novel, it doesn't have the scope of 'Lonsome Dove' nor is deft and complex like the work of Peter Mattiessen ('Lost Man River', 'Bone by Bone'). Never the less, a well crafted piece of work, very touching and very readable. Worth finding secondhand, probably worth a reprint........why hasn't anyone made it into a film over there?