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Harriet Beamer #1
Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus: A Novel
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.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
99 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Magnin
28 books172 followersUm, I like cross stitch, baseball, my children and grandkids, but not elevators or laundry. I've been known to run from mayonnaise and I play RPG video games. I don't have a favorite author although I read a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
November 5, 2021
A cute story of an older woman taking a trip across the USA by bus -- and helicopter, motorcycle, limousine, etc., etc. She has many experiences before she finally makes it to her son's home.
July 11, 2023
Harriet Beamer is moving across the country to live with her son and daughter-in-law at their “request”. However, Harriet decides to make the trip on her own terms, ensuring she will see the country before resigning herself to life in California.
Tagging along on Harriet’s journey was great fun. Things didn’t always go as expected, and were sometimes downright awful, but the trip was almost as rewarding for me as the reader as it was for Harriet herself!
Tagging along on Harriet’s journey was great fun. Things didn’t always go as expected, and were sometimes downright awful, but the trip was almost as rewarding for me as the reader as it was for Harriet herself!
January 18, 2023
This one was recommended by a friend--and I was completely delighted by it. It's not a deep work of literature, but I was more than ready for something a little lighter. Harriet Beamer is a woman with spunk and verve. May we all be able to say that about ourselves when we enter our 70s! She's determined to live her senior years on her own terms, and starts out with a cross-country trip by bus, train, motorcycle, and helicopter. She meets some interesting people, gets into a little trouble, and experiences a few things she never imagined. And seems to end each day with a smile and a thankful heart. This book is a work of Christian fiction--but not the kind that proselytizes or tries to force too much theology on the reader. It's just about a woman who believes in God and tries to walk in faith through every hill and valley of life. It was a neat story and I'm glad for the recommendation!
June 7, 2012
'Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus' by Joyce Magnin will sit on my "keeper shelf" for re-reading when I need some Harriet in my life! She reminds me of myself when I signed up for a tour of China. I was living alone then and had never been out of the country, but I decided to do it and have never regreted it. If Harriet was real, I would invite her over to share travel stories. She had a lot of amazing adventures on her trip!
At the beginning of the story, Harriet lives in Philadelphia with her basset hound, Humphrey. Her son and daughter-in-law are coming to visit. Because she lives at home by herself and is 72 years old, they are worried about her. What if she had an accident or got sick? They wanted her to move to Grass Valley, California to live with them.
She was putting the finishing touches on her Christmas tree when she fell off a chair. She is on the floor when her son and daughter-in-law find her. They make a bet that her ankle is broken and she loses. The stakes are high. After her ankle recovers, she sells her house and prepares to go to Grass Valley. But she thinks to herself, she has always wanted to travel but in all her married years, she had only been to the Jersey Shore. So, instead of flying to California, she decides to do her trip her own way. She would decide how to travel and what to see. She had always dreamed of seeing the only Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in the United States and now she is going do it. Now she can add to her shaker set collection by herselfy instead just receiving them as gifts.
Harriet is a "stick your guns" character, caring and funny and amazing. I did not want the book to stop, I had trouble laying it down. I definitely want more. I think what I loved about Harriet the most is that she never held back. Sometimes it put her life in danger but it also demonstrated her love of life and people. We need more Harrietes in this world.
I hope that Joyce Magnin writes what happens when Harriet stays with her son and daughter in law in the future.
I really hope that you read this book. It will do you a lot of good!
I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine Program but that in no way infleunced my review.
At the beginning of the story, Harriet lives in Philadelphia with her basset hound, Humphrey. Her son and daughter-in-law are coming to visit. Because she lives at home by herself and is 72 years old, they are worried about her. What if she had an accident or got sick? They wanted her to move to Grass Valley, California to live with them.
She was putting the finishing touches on her Christmas tree when she fell off a chair. She is on the floor when her son and daughter-in-law find her. They make a bet that her ankle is broken and she loses. The stakes are high. After her ankle recovers, she sells her house and prepares to go to Grass Valley. But she thinks to herself, she has always wanted to travel but in all her married years, she had only been to the Jersey Shore. So, instead of flying to California, she decides to do her trip her own way. She would decide how to travel and what to see. She had always dreamed of seeing the only Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in the United States and now she is going do it. Now she can add to her shaker set collection by herselfy instead just receiving them as gifts.
Harriet is a "stick your guns" character, caring and funny and amazing. I did not want the book to stop, I had trouble laying it down. I definitely want more. I think what I loved about Harriet the most is that she never held back. Sometimes it put her life in danger but it also demonstrated her love of life and people. We need more Harrietes in this world.
I hope that Joyce Magnin writes what happens when Harriet stays with her son and daughter in law in the future.
I really hope that you read this book. It will do you a lot of good!
I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine Program but that in no way infleunced my review.
April 24, 2012
What a perfectly delightful read! I absolutely love Harriet Beamer, and I would love to grow up to be like her some day. She is the absolutely ideal senior citizen who has decided her life is still not over. She knows that even in her golden years, God is not finished with her yet.
I was absolutely enthralled with Harriet's journey. And just when I did not think the mode of travel could get any zanier, it did! No spoilers here. If you want to know of Harriet's travel, you must read it.
I was enchanted with the way in which Harriet, Henry, and Prudence evolved over the course of the book. I did not think Prudence had any gumption, but by the end of the book, I was glad to see her spunk. And Henry and Humphrey truly bonded to the point that Humphrey became Henry's muse. I would love to have a dog like Humphrey!
I most appreciated the way in which God was woven into the fabric of the story. It was good to see Harriet's faith being so apparent in her every day dealings with each person she met. She never tried to force her beliefs on anyone. They were just a part of who she was.
In conclusion, I now want to go on a trip like this. I wish I were a retired lady with lots of money and no real responsibilities. I would go in a heartbeat.
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
I was absolutely enthralled with Harriet's journey. And just when I did not think the mode of travel could get any zanier, it did! No spoilers here. If you want to know of Harriet's travel, you must read it.
I was enchanted with the way in which Harriet, Henry, and Prudence evolved over the course of the book. I did not think Prudence had any gumption, but by the end of the book, I was glad to see her spunk. And Henry and Humphrey truly bonded to the point that Humphrey became Henry's muse. I would love to have a dog like Humphrey!
I most appreciated the way in which God was woven into the fabric of the story. It was good to see Harriet's faith being so apparent in her every day dealings with each person she met. She never tried to force her beliefs on anyone. They were just a part of who she was.
In conclusion, I now want to go on a trip like this. I wish I were a retired lady with lots of money and no real responsibilities. I would go in a heartbeat.
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
May 15, 2019
I wish that I was Harriet Beamer! I was sad at her "forced" resettlement from Bryn Mawr to Grass Valley, but I envied her the adventurous way she chose to do it. Just a nice read. Probably best appreciated by women around Harriet's age (72) whether they're gutsy or heroes or not. My one reason for not giving it more stars (because it is so charming) was that it really needed a little better editing. Lots of irksome errors to overlook.
August 13, 2018
Harriet loses the bet so she has to move to California to live with her son and his wife. She faces all types of adventure and fun times as she goes from bus, to train, to helicopter and any adventure that gets her to Cali! She kept a journal to let her deceased husband know what adventures she had that day. Fun book.
January 3, 2020
Really enjoyed this one.
Such a fun book of all harriet's experiences crossing the country on a bus. What an adventure!!
I listened to it on audio.
Such a fun book of all harriet's experiences crossing the country on a bus. What an adventure!!
I listened to it on audio.
November 11, 2020
Absolutely delightful! There’s surely a bit of Harriet Beemer in all of us—that mixture of trepidation but desire for adventure, and a relishing of God’s pleasure in becoming all He’s created us to be. I'd barely swiped away my tears before breaking into new peals of laughter. Harriet Beemer Takes the Bus is Joyce Magnin’s best yet.
October 30, 2022
A slightly far fetched but extremely fun read! Be warned, reading it may make you want to hop on the nearest bus and start zooming across the country.
March 30, 2012
What do you do when you look back at the last 72 years of your life and realize you're not getting any younger? The only time you've ever gone anywhere was to the Jersey shore on vacation. Now that she has lost a bet with her son Henry and his wife Prudence over an accident at Christmas, Harriet is forced to sell her home and move in with them. After all, it's apparent to them, you can't be left to care for yourself all alone. Yet rather than jump aboard a plane and head for Grass Valley, CA on their terms, you do what Harriet Beamer does.
You plan a road trip.
From Pennsylvania to California.
Seeing whatever it is you've wanted to see before you die taking whatever means necessary except for a plane if she can help it. Once she has secured her faithful companion, Humphrey, her Basset Hound on board a plane headed to California, she is ready to begin. And with Harriet, that begins with a bus. Not a Greyhound bus mind you but a local public bus and see how far it will take her. Unfortunately for her, it only goes as far as the University, but since she's never seen that, she takes a walk around the campus before heading off on another bus.
Harriet's goal is not only in seeing the sights she feels she has missed in her 72 years of living, but also to prove to herself and her family that she isn't as incapable in caring for herself as they think she is. The journey that the reader is invited along with Harriet is memorable, fun and often times sobering as she meets with people from all walks of life. She finds herself offering invaluable wisdom to the people she engages with, names her GPS application within her Droid phone, Amelia, and continues collecting her salt and pepper shakers as she journeys to California, one bus, one train, one memorable journey at a time.
I received Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus by Joyce Magnin compliments of Shelton Interactive and Zondervan Publishers for my honest review. I LOVED this adorable story because it relates to a situation close to my own heart where an elderly woman living alone was asked to sell her own home because they felt she couldn't care for herself and live with them. I would have loved to see her have as much gumption as Harriet Beamer did and take life by the reins and ride it for the best time of her life. I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars and it truly shows in the character of Harriet Beamer that age is just a number, and life is truly worth living to the final moment!
You plan a road trip.
From Pennsylvania to California.
Seeing whatever it is you've wanted to see before you die taking whatever means necessary except for a plane if she can help it. Once she has secured her faithful companion, Humphrey, her Basset Hound on board a plane headed to California, she is ready to begin. And with Harriet, that begins with a bus. Not a Greyhound bus mind you but a local public bus and see how far it will take her. Unfortunately for her, it only goes as far as the University, but since she's never seen that, she takes a walk around the campus before heading off on another bus.
Harriet's goal is not only in seeing the sights she feels she has missed in her 72 years of living, but also to prove to herself and her family that she isn't as incapable in caring for herself as they think she is. The journey that the reader is invited along with Harriet is memorable, fun and often times sobering as she meets with people from all walks of life. She finds herself offering invaluable wisdom to the people she engages with, names her GPS application within her Droid phone, Amelia, and continues collecting her salt and pepper shakers as she journeys to California, one bus, one train, one memorable journey at a time.
I received Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus by Joyce Magnin compliments of Shelton Interactive and Zondervan Publishers for my honest review. I LOVED this adorable story because it relates to a situation close to my own heart where an elderly woman living alone was asked to sell her own home because they felt she couldn't care for herself and live with them. I would have loved to see her have as much gumption as Harriet Beamer did and take life by the reins and ride it for the best time of her life. I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars and it truly shows in the character of Harriet Beamer that age is just a number, and life is truly worth living to the final moment!
May 2, 2012
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.
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.
July 17, 2013
Harriet Beamer is a 72 year old widow, very happily living on her own with her basset hound, Humphrey in Pennsylvania, until she has fall when her son Henry and daughter in law Prudence are visiting. She makes a bet with Prudence, if her ankle is broken, (and Harriet is sure it isn't), she will move to California to live with her and Henry. Well, her ankle is indeed broken, and Harriet doesn't really want to move, but she isn't going to welsh on a bet either.
She sells her house, and as she is packing up her beloved collection of salt and pepper shakers, she decides that if she has to go to California, she is going to do it her way. She's never traveled further than the Jersey Shore, but she decides she will get to her son's by bus; and not the Greyhound bus either, but public transportation.
Armed with just a tote bag, a rolling suitcase, and a Droid phone with a GPS, (which she names Amelia), she sends Humphrey on ahead to California and sets out on an adventure, collecting salt and pepper shakers along the way, and even stopping at The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Tennessee (a real place!), which has always been a dream of hers.
She meets all kinds of interesting people along the way, and makes a lot of friends. She is also forced to take a few unconventional forms of transportation through areas that can't be reached on public transit. Her adventures are both hilarious and heartwarming.
I loved this book, and Joyce Magnin is one of my favorite authors; she is indeed the "Queen of Quirk". Even though Harriet is a fictional character, she is very inspiring, proving that you are never to old to achieve your dreams.
She sells her house, and as she is packing up her beloved collection of salt and pepper shakers, she decides that if she has to go to California, she is going to do it her way. She's never traveled further than the Jersey Shore, but she decides she will get to her son's by bus; and not the Greyhound bus either, but public transportation.
Armed with just a tote bag, a rolling suitcase, and a Droid phone with a GPS, (which she names Amelia), she sends Humphrey on ahead to California and sets out on an adventure, collecting salt and pepper shakers along the way, and even stopping at The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Tennessee (a real place!), which has always been a dream of hers.
She meets all kinds of interesting people along the way, and makes a lot of friends. She is also forced to take a few unconventional forms of transportation through areas that can't be reached on public transit. Her adventures are both hilarious and heartwarming.
I loved this book, and Joyce Magnin is one of my favorite authors; she is indeed the "Queen of Quirk". Even though Harriet is a fictional character, she is very inspiring, proving that you are never to old to achieve your dreams.
April 26, 2012
There are few things better than a good road trip story and Harriet Beamer takes a road trip that would be a challenge for the most youthful of souls. I can’t imagine embarking on a journey like Harriet’s - travelling from Philadelphia to California relying primarily on public transportation. I prefer to travel by car. While this is not a journey I would ever want to take, I sure did love reading about Harriet’s adventure.
Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus felt to me a lot like a coming of age story, even though Harriet is seventy-two years old. She had never been anywhere or done anything adventurous, but now is the time for her to set out on her own to buy her own salt and pepper shakers instead of other people buying them for her. On this journey, Harriet learned a lot about herself and about God, making it truly the adventure of a lifetime.
I have to admit that I started to feel a bit road weary along with Harriet. I think I may have given up at some point and hopped on a plane or rented a car, but Harriet shows us that persevering can lead to many great discoveries. This book was a lot of fun and I enjoyed taking this journey with a woman who inspired me. I highly recommend this book. It is unique and fun and truly an amazing journey. This book really touched me and I am a little sad that it is over. I am hoping that I have not seen the last of Harriet Beamer.
Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus felt to me a lot like a coming of age story, even though Harriet is seventy-two years old. She had never been anywhere or done anything adventurous, but now is the time for her to set out on her own to buy her own salt and pepper shakers instead of other people buying them for her. On this journey, Harriet learned a lot about herself and about God, making it truly the adventure of a lifetime.
I have to admit that I started to feel a bit road weary along with Harriet. I think I may have given up at some point and hopped on a plane or rented a car, but Harriet shows us that persevering can lead to many great discoveries. This book was a lot of fun and I enjoyed taking this journey with a woman who inspired me. I highly recommend this book. It is unique and fun and truly an amazing journey. This book really touched me and I am a little sad that it is over. I am hoping that I have not seen the last of Harriet Beamer.
April 22, 2012
Great Fun, Totally Enjoyable
Widow Harriet Beamer still living in the house where she spent her married life and raised her son, awaits that son’s arrival from California. Her son and his wife arrive to discover her on the floor after a fall from a ladder while putting up Christmas decorations. Harriet bets her daughter-in-law that the ankle is not broken and if it is Harriet will move to California if it is broken. After the broken ankle heals, Harriet decides to move to California, but to travel there by local public transportation as much as possible. Along the way, Harriet has many adventures, meets many new friends, and reaches some conclusions.
I loved this book. Reading about Harriet’s adventures is just plain fun, and definitely reveals that elderly women have a great deal of life left to live. Harriet is a character that you want to pull out of the book to visit with, and make your new best friend. I would recommend this book for women of all ages and men who want more insight into an elderly woman’s psyche.
Received Galley from NetGalley.com
Published by Zondervan, May 1, 2012.
Widow Harriet Beamer still living in the house where she spent her married life and raised her son, awaits that son’s arrival from California. Her son and his wife arrive to discover her on the floor after a fall from a ladder while putting up Christmas decorations. Harriet bets her daughter-in-law that the ankle is not broken and if it is Harriet will move to California if it is broken. After the broken ankle heals, Harriet decides to move to California, but to travel there by local public transportation as much as possible. Along the way, Harriet has many adventures, meets many new friends, and reaches some conclusions.
I loved this book. Reading about Harriet’s adventures is just plain fun, and definitely reveals that elderly women have a great deal of life left to live. Harriet is a character that you want to pull out of the book to visit with, and make your new best friend. I would recommend this book for women of all ages and men who want more insight into an elderly woman’s psyche.
Received Galley from NetGalley.com
Published by Zondervan, May 1, 2012.
April 30, 2012
Senior citizen Harriet makes a bad bet. If her ankle sprained, she gets to remain in her lifelong home in Pennsylvania; if it is broken, like her son and daughter-in-law believe, then she is selling her home and moving to California with them. You guessed it, it is broken. Only when the time comes to head to Cali, Harriet makes a decision. She is going to be brave and make this a journey of discovery, not just a plane ride to California.
Harriet decides that she is going to see the country, mainly by using public transportation. No Amtrak for her, local buses as much as possible. Destination 1: The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum.
This was a gentle, cozy read and I can see it being used as a book club selection for church groups,senior groups or caregiver groups. It will appeal to all of these groups. There is also a heavy emphasis on faith and belief in God as part of the storyline. While the scenarios are a bit fantastic, it was a fun read.
This review is based on a digital galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Harriet decides that she is going to see the country, mainly by using public transportation. No Amtrak for her, local buses as much as possible. Destination 1: The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum.
This was a gentle, cozy read and I can see it being used as a book club selection for church groups,senior groups or caregiver groups. It will appeal to all of these groups. There is also a heavy emphasis on faith and belief in God as part of the storyline. While the scenarios are a bit fantastic, it was a fun read.
This review is based on a digital galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
July 23, 2013
What a beautiful story!
May 28, 2019
Could have been a cute story, had a great plot. Unfortunately I couldn't get over the inconsistencies and at times downright stupidity.
November 23, 2019
Four Stars = I enjoyed the book very much.
RECAP: I heard about this book on a podcast about books with an older female protagonist. The story begins when Harriet Beamer loses a bet with her daughter-in-law. Losing meant she would agree to move from Pennsylvania to California to live with her son and his wife. She's 72 and though she agrees to go, she's going to do it her way . . . by bus. Not the Greyhound bus, but public transportation local buses. This story chronicles the interesting, quirky, memorable, and harrowing events she encounters along the way. It's a delightful story, somewhat light in nature and content, but very much a fun read.
BLUSH FACTOR: You can loan it to your grandmother when you're finished - the conservative one.
THE WRITING: Good, but sometimes I couldn't tell if the typos were editing errors or were created to denote the dialect of the person speaking.
STAND-ALONE OR CLIFFHANGER ENDING? – Though this book is part of a series, you aren't left hanging and could stop after just one book.
BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a fun, light read, look no further. You'll laugh and cry as you make your way across country with Harriet.
RECAP: I heard about this book on a podcast about books with an older female protagonist. The story begins when Harriet Beamer loses a bet with her daughter-in-law. Losing meant she would agree to move from Pennsylvania to California to live with her son and his wife. She's 72 and though she agrees to go, she's going to do it her way . . . by bus. Not the Greyhound bus, but public transportation local buses. This story chronicles the interesting, quirky, memorable, and harrowing events she encounters along the way. It's a delightful story, somewhat light in nature and content, but very much a fun read.
BLUSH FACTOR: You can loan it to your grandmother when you're finished - the conservative one.
THE WRITING: Good, but sometimes I couldn't tell if the typos were editing errors or were created to denote the dialect of the person speaking.
STAND-ALONE OR CLIFFHANGER ENDING? – Though this book is part of a series, you aren't left hanging and could stop after just one book.
BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a fun, light read, look no further. You'll laugh and cry as you make your way across country with Harriet.
July 19, 2017
Sweet story about a widow who is forced to leave her home and move in with her son and daughter-in-law. However, Harriet is doing it on her terms. She is making the trek from Philadelphia to Grass Valley, California via public transportation. And she doesn't want to take the Greyhound. Harriet is in search of self, purpose, and of course the salt and pepper shaker museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Harriet meets many interesting people along the way. Inner strength pushes her on as well as the will to see her beloved basset hound, Humphrey, again. He was air lifted to California ahead of her eventual arrival. Speaks to women who find themselves in a similar situation as well as the caregivers who yearn to help their loved ones.
August 10, 2017
Harriet Beamer is 72. She has been a wife and mother but feels she has missed out on something - a chance to do something that was just hers. After losing a bet to her daughter in law which requires her moving to California, she decides she is going to do it her way. She isn't going to fly. She going to use only public transportation. This takes her on buses, trains, motorcycles, a helicopter and many other forms of transportation. When she does this she meets many people who are in need of a touch that only she can give. She also meets people who give her a touch.
This is an inspirational. It is sentimental. It doesn't move quickly. She is quirky. She is funny and she is kind. It is a lovely little book. It isn't great literature, but it is a nice read.
This is an inspirational. It is sentimental. It doesn't move quickly. She is quirky. She is funny and she is kind. It is a lovely little book. It isn't great literature, but it is a nice read.
September 2, 2024
Harriet’s Adventure
When Harriet loses a bet and agrees to move across the US to live with her son and his wife, she decides to take the long way to get there by every means possible, and get all the salt and pepper shakers she wanted to for herself. This was one of my favorite books and I didn’t want her trip to end. I’m 72, like Harriet, and often feel the world has passed me by and I have not felt God’s pleasure. I don’t think I could do all that Harriet did, but I sure enjoyed sharing her adventures and all those she met along the way. I laughed and cried at how brave she was and everything she did, just by trusting God that she was doing what He wanted her to do. Sure hope there’s a sequel!
When Harriet loses a bet and agrees to move across the US to live with her son and his wife, she decides to take the long way to get there by every means possible, and get all the salt and pepper shakers she wanted to for herself. This was one of my favorite books and I didn’t want her trip to end. I’m 72, like Harriet, and often feel the world has passed me by and I have not felt God’s pleasure. I don’t think I could do all that Harriet did, but I sure enjoyed sharing her adventures and all those she met along the way. I laughed and cried at how brave she was and everything she did, just by trusting God that she was doing what He wanted her to do. Sure hope there’s a sequel!
May 7, 2019
Coming-of-age…At 72!
Harriet Beamer is not ready “to be put out to pasture.“ She is ready to try out her fledgling wings and make the trip across country the l-o-n-g way— bus stop to bus stop, train to train, and even motorcycle to helicopter, oh my! She meets people, she meets herself and she meets God in action. She resolves family conflicts and internal conflicts and in the end resolves to finish her journey to its destination where lays no broken dreams.
This book was a real pleasure to read. It was smooth and maintained my interest. It was also inspirational. I highly recommend it to everyone (and especially any of my gray-haired reading friends :-)
Harriet Beamer is not ready “to be put out to pasture.“ She is ready to try out her fledgling wings and make the trip across country the l-o-n-g way— bus stop to bus stop, train to train, and even motorcycle to helicopter, oh my! She meets people, she meets herself and she meets God in action. She resolves family conflicts and internal conflicts and in the end resolves to finish her journey to its destination where lays no broken dreams.
This book was a real pleasure to read. It was smooth and maintained my interest. It was also inspirational. I highly recommend it to everyone (and especially any of my gray-haired reading friends :-)
July 20, 2019
I finished this last week. From the title and blurb, I knew this book would give me a light and humorous read, which is what I wanted. I was not disappointed. I am smiling a week later as I write this. The highest recommendation I can give it is I passed it on to my wife. I don't want to give away the plot, but here's how I read the book: a chapter or two per day during lunch or a break and before bed. Each session rewarded me with several healthy, happy laughs. In addition to its playful voice, it is a paean to joy.
June 7, 2018
In this contemporary novel, Harriet is living a quiet life with her dog after her husband passes away. When she falls and breaks her ankle, her son decides she should move in with him and his wife. Harriet decides to make the trip from Philadelphia to California her way -- via local buses, trains, side car on a motorcycle. She encounters many adventures, relying on her faith to keep her safe. The plot moves quickly and the characters seem real. A quick read.
February 4, 2021
Harriet gives 72 year-olds a good name - as adventurers. She is heading out to CA from PA where she has lived all her life, to now live with her son. But she is taking public transportation to get there, and finds she can't always get there without the help of trains, maybe a motorcycle or a helicopter, or ... ! On the way, in addition to meeting lots of folks, she has lots of adventures of course, and makes a few headlines. Great fun for senior citizens!
October 13, 2024
A great read
Who would have thought to do the things that she did and the way that she traveled and the way that she affected people this day and age not many people would do what she did I love the storyline I love the way she thought the writer was great . N
Very light reading didn't have to worry about what was going to happen next I knew it would be fun I'm going on to book two
Who would have thought to do the things that she did and the way that she traveled and the way that she affected people this day and age not many people would do what she did I love the storyline I love the way she thought the writer was great . N
Very light reading didn't have to worry about what was going to happen next I knew it would be fun I'm going on to book two
August 29, 2017
This book was very, quaint. Not fast paced, even a little plodding at points. But it was a very comfortable book. Interesting to come along on this journey of the heart with Harriet. I would call this book very lightly Christian. Nothing heavy hitting, just how one unassuming woman's Christianity is lived out on a day to day basis. This book reminds me of Jan Karon's Mitford series.
August 31, 2017
2.5 stars. The kindle version has some grammatical errors and rough transitions between characters but it's a cute story and a fun idea. I'm not sure we need to know what she does with her luggage every. single. time. she boards a bus or her worries about passing gas...but entertaining story and fun to learn a little about some unique places in America.
May 19, 2018
Good feel good book
Really liked this book a lot. Would have given 5 stars but it got just a bit too far fetched near the end for me. It really made it interesting for me that I have been most of the places she visits in the book. I hope I can be as brave and plucky as Harriet Beamer when I am her age!
Really liked this book a lot. Would have given 5 stars but it got just a bit too far fetched near the end for me. It really made it interesting for me that I have been most of the places she visits in the book. I hope I can be as brave and plucky as Harriet Beamer when I am her age!
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