Hannah Coulter

Jill and Holly urged me to read Wendell Berry's book, Hannah Coulter. I said I would, then forgot about it and read other books. But both of them gently (and separately, since neither knows the other) reminded me that I should read it. Because Jill and Holly are two good reading friends who read a lot and often recommend books I enjoy, I finally sat down and read Mr. Berry's book. It's a very peaceful story of a place and a time as seen and experienced by one woman, Hannah Coulter.

And I liked it. A lot. Enough to read it through without stopping until I finished it. I don't intend to summarize it - Valerie Sayers wrote a very good review of it for The Washington Post and it's on Amazon's page - but I will tell what books it was like.

As I read the story I was reminded of Bess Streeter Aldrich's books, especially A Lantern in Her Hand. I also thought of the novels by Agnes Sligh Turnbull, particularly The Richlands.

Now I'm hoping someone will recommend another Wendell Berry book that is a "must-read."