Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus by Joyce Magnin

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310333555
• ISBN-13: 978-0310333555

In this new contemporary novel, middle-aged Harriet Beamer is forced to leave her home in Philadelphia and move to Grass Valley California because her children decide it's time. But Harriet doesn't take the change lightly and seizes the opportunity to make the journey of her life as she travels from town to town, city to city all the way across the country using nothing but local buses, trains, ferries, trolleys and the occasional hot air balloon, a motorcycle and an Amish buggy. But it is on this journey that Harriet learns that although her family thinks it's time for her to be put out to pasture, God has a different plan.

My take on this book:

When seventy-two year old Harriet Beamer falls off of a kitchen chair, she bets her daughter-in-law that her ankle isn't broken. The bet is that if the ankle is broken she will sell her home in PA and that she and her dog Humphrey will move to California to live with them, and if it isn't broken she gets to keep her home. Well turns out she looses the bet and must move to California. While packing her things she realizes that she has only taken one trip in her life and decides that  instead of flying she is going to travel cross county by bus ( or public transportation) so that she can do a bit of sight seeing. So she puts Humphrey on a plane and decides to embark on her journey cross country. What will Harriet learn as she travels cross country? Read this wonderful book and find out!

I loved Harriet Beamer! She was such a great character who was very together and knew what she wanted to do. While it pained her to sell the home that she shared with her husband she moves on with grace. She was such an easy to relate to person.The journey that she decides to take allows her to connect with people she would never have normally encountered. As we travel along with Harriet we also get glimpses of what's going on in California with her son Henry and his wife Prudence, who are taking care of Humphrey. Overall, while I knew the ultimate destination that Harriet plans to reach, its the many stops along the way that make this book such a worthwhile read.I always enjoy when pets are a part of any story and with this one we have Humphrey, Harriet's Basset Hound and Sandra Day her daughter-in-laws cat. I loved my trip cross country with Harriet and would love to see more from this character. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a few laughs but also a few serious moments as well!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.