Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus by Joyce Magnin

Aging and recent widow Harriet Beamer insists she’s getting along fine with her dog Humphrey in Philadelphia … until she falls for the fourth time, injuring her ankle, and causing her son and daughter-in-law to cry foul. Insisting Harriet move in with them in California, they make a bet that her ankle is broken, and she foolishly promises to move if they’re right. Four x-rays later, Harriet’s ankle---and her heart---are broken. She packs up, ships her huge salt and pepper collection to California, and prepares to move away from the only life she knows. The only catch? She’s doing it her way. Just wait till her daughter-in-law hears Harriet will travel cross country only by public transportation and alternate means. What follows is a hilarious, heartwarming journey by train, metro bus, ferry, and motorcycle. Along the way, Harriet discovers that although her family thinks it’s time for her to be put out to pasture---God has a different plan.

My review:
When I was offered this book to review, I almost passed on it, as it didn't sound like something I typically read, and it isn't something I typically read, but I really enjoyed the book. Even though the main character is an elderly woman, the book is extremely interesting, entertaining, and amusing.

This was a completely new author to me, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. The books I normally have a hard time putting down are suspense/mystery, but this book had me hooked early on and I didn't want to put it down to go to work, but I had to, but I finished it when I got home from work.

There is a wide variety of characters and places in the book, and by the time I was halfway through the book, I was wishing that I could take a trip like Harriet. This is a book I'd recommend to anybody.

About the author:Joyce Magnin is the author of five novels, including the popular and quirky Bright’s Pond Series and the middle grade novel Carrying Mason. She is a frequent conference speaker and writing instructor. Joyce lives in Pennsylvania with her son, Adam, and their crazy cat, Mango, who likes to eat nachos.



Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus is available from Zondervan Publishing.

Thanks to Shelton Interactive for the review copy.