Journey To A Dream

by Mary Lovel

The true story of the Lovel family and their journey from middle America to the wilds of Alaska during the 1960's. Their success in homesteading land to earn and obtain title and the adventures they experience raising four small children in the wilderness.

Genres: Biography, Adventure, Nonfiction, History

172 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2006

About the author

Mary Lovel was born on June 17th and was the first-born daughter of Rachel and Frank Zirwes. Her parents, both Real Estate Brokers and her mother a teacher as well, would continue on raising their family until the children numbered six.

Mary's parents instilled in her a strong work ethic and taught her never to be afraid of hard work, always to follow your dreams and to be a decent human being.

When Mary fell in love with Clyde Lovel, she was very young and married him on her 18th birthday. With her many responsibilities for her younger siblings Mary felt she was more than ready for a family of her own.

The true American pioneer spirit that lives in Mary's heart is conveyed to the reader in this wonderful story about life in Alaska.

"Journey To A Dream" is Mary Lovel's first book. Her description of life on the homestead in Alaska and the many adventures, joys, hardships and surprises, truly leaves us with a feeling of awe and respect. Not just for Mary, but this amazing, brave, hard working, 'never give up' family. They followed their dream to the great state of Alaska and raised their family, (most of who all still reside in Alaska) and continue to live a happy life there in the pristine beauty that is Alaska.

Mary's second book, "Suddenly It's Spring" continues the story by request of her many fans. The fans wanted to know more about Mary's life and her children and the second book delivers another fascinating true adventure story.

Mary and Clyde Lovel celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary in June of 2011.

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

On an absolute scale this is not a four, but considering Mary Lovel went into the Alaska wilderness in 1964 with four young children and a husband who was away more than half the time, she deserves credit for surviving, let alone taking notes which yielded this positive, gentle view of homesteading in Alaska. (Kind of like a twentieth century Little House on the Prairie.)

She gives us enough details to understand the challenges and enough humor to keep us reading.

Nice cover art.

A good read.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

When in Alaska, we went past Sherman, AK on the train to Fairbanks. The narrator on the train mentioned that the woman who loved there had written a book about her family's experiences as homesteaders in the 60s. Decided to pick it up and read on the plane back home. It is written like a personal journal and gives you a great sense of what it was like to relocate their family of 4 young kids to the bush in Alaska. Although it is not particularly literary in nature, it is an authentic account of their life journey, which I enjoyed. I suspect it had greater appeal for me since I just visited the area.

[Susan Montelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of the TV show Railroad Alaska - I discovered it by accident flipping through channels but immediately enjoyed the show. I enjoyed the beauty of Alaska's landscape and throughout its TV run, I became interested in some of the residents along the railway that had been featured. One such couple was Clyde and Mary Lovel. I admired the courage that it took this couple to live "off the grid" and at their ages. By the time the show aired they were well into their 70s. Through casual research, I became aware that Mary had written a book about their adventure. I ordered the book and it was autographed by Mary herself. I absolutely treasure this book and Mary writes the way she talks. In fact, while reading, it was as though I heard Mary reading this book to me - in her voice. The choice they made in homesteading is not for the faint of heart. Much determination, intestinal fortitude and perseverance comes with the decision to homestead. I understand that Mary has a second book and I will attempt to obtain that as well...God bless these two wonderful people. I wish them both well...

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a major fan of the TV show Railroad Alaska, this book is about one of the featured families. It’s an amazing journey of seemingly sane people who decided in the early 1960s to leave home and family and “homestead” in the wilds of Alaska. Geez, they had their challenges and hardships in this very remote part of the state. However, they had the Railroad not far from their cabin. Their story, which was written like “entries” in a Diary, keep me glued to the pages. Try to watch a bit of this Series on cable TV or streaming ( not sure where) to get a sense of the setting etc. i loved these two books by Mary T Lovell.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story about a family homesteading in Alaska in 1964. The author writes about their hard work & survival during the Alaskan winter without electricity. No roads lead to their homestead, only the Alaska Railroad (which we saw their present day homestead from our train ride on the Alaska Railroad in August 2013).

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in Life in Alaska, this is a great story. About a family who moves from Missouri to Alaska in the 60's, it's an amazing tale. Alaska really is the Last Frontier and this really tells a first-hand experience.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book last month when we were in Alaska. Actually went by the homestead as we went to Denali National Park. What a hard life they lived!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book on the tourist/passenger train from Anchorage to Denali when I vacationed in Alaska last summer (2023). I like to read books by local authors in places where I vacation. Prior to my vacation I read Homestead and Bear Down, Bear North by Melinda Moustakis, both novels based on Moustakis' grandparents' life as homesteaders in the Talkeetna area and both very good and beautifully written. Mary Lovel is beloved by Alaskans as one who arrived in Anchorage in the 1960's with her husband and four small children and subsequently homesteaded, proved up, and continue to live on their land to this day. She records her journey in diary like entries and an abundance of photographs in Journey to a Dream. Their homestead is also in the Talkeetna region in Sherman Alaska. They were totally dependent for their survival on true grit and on the very railroad on which I purchased her book. It was interesting to hear the history of the railroad from our guide and then read a book about a family to whom the railroad was so vital.

I could probably be more generous and give this four stars based on the story itself but the writing is extremely amateurish and the photos are so small and grainy as to be largely useless. Kudos to the Lovels who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to the beautiful state of Alaska and saw it through when so many others didn't. Their love of Alaska, and each other, shines through on every page.

[AJ Stoner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many interesting tales of a family's journey to Alaska and their homesteading adventures. Also, they were in Alaska for the big quake. Not exactly a flashy book but a realistic book about how life really was for people who tried to settle the 49th state in the 1960s. The writing is almost fresh in its plain-ness; it comes off more like a revised diary than a polished memoir. If you have an interest in true stories about traveling to Alaska or moving there, this might appeal to you. Minus one star because the publisher didn't enlarge the photos, and there was no audiobook. Bill read it out loud to me. Thank you Bill.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's like reading her journal that she's modified for the public to view. Very interesting and I enjoyed it, but I couldn't help thinking, "What were they thinking?!" I've always thought I'd love to been a homesteader, but this book made me realize I'd never want to do it in Alaska. I'm not that hardcore. Also, the pictures were so tiny and grainy, they were just a disappointment.

[Anne S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My brother bought this book when he met Mary Lovel during a trip to Denali in the summer of 2018. She was at the hotel for guests of Holland America cruises.
After visiting Alaska, I enjoyed hearing how her family decided to move there and her experiences in living off the grid in a very harsh environment.

[Goodies4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not great literature - it tends to be repetitive and doesn’t have much of a narrative arc - but it reads like letters written to someone back home, and the times and adventures relayed are remarkable.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

1963 and family moved by land from Missouri to Alaska. Dad built his own trailer and they kept getting stuck in mud and sand trails due to lack of roads. The trip was 4900 miles and it took them 28 days! I didn't know you could really eat porcupine??

[Danice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is written as if you are a guest invited into the Lovel home for coffee! It is a delightful read.

[Ida · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read.

[Cheryl Layne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, quick read

[Pattyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reads like a journal, so the writing is not anything special, but the stories are pretty amazing and I am awed by the lifestyle they choose to raise their children in. It all seemed to work out well for them. Hats off to the family and I'm glad it worked out. It is a beautiful part of Alaska. I can see what the draw was, but the family hadn't even seen it before moving up there! Brave folks!

[Steve Hostert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent read full of real life drama and life's experiences in the Alaskan frontier.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this account of homesteading in Alaska in the 60's. We went by this home several times on the train when we visited Alaska last month. The "Sherman Town Tall" is quite famous on the tourist circut.
Unfortunately the author is not much of a writer and the book reads more like journal entries without much pathos. I was hoping for more dark struggle tales, which between the lines seem to be there?! Also more out Kalteetna (the closest town)and the photos are presented in a very poor quality which aslo misses an opportunity to be intereting. Still glad I read it but don't recommend it much as a great story.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is certainly not good writing. It lacks content and unless you've been on the train that drives past this homestead, I'd not bother. That being said, Mary and her family make a gutsy move from Missouri to the Alaskan bush in 1963 as homesteaders and this is her family's story. Most who attempt it don't last and the courage and determination is commendable. There is not much to be said about their lives other than being consumed by hard work and primitive living. Her descriptions of beautiful Alaska cannot compare with the hardships of living there. As the old saying goes , " It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to leave there."

[Debbie Hagedorn]

Pleasant read. It's like talking with Mary Lovell, since the book is written in her voice, from her point of view. It's a slice of Alaska that cannot be found today. She and her family moved to Alaska to homestead. Their home is visible from the Alaska Railroad and she used to wave at the train, frequently. If you're looking for classic literature, this isn't it, but it's a nice slice of old-time Alaska.

[Vera-Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. At times I can imagine myself trying to homestead out in the wild, but to have done it with having to take care of not only her husband, but 4 children, plus all the visitors, it must of been truly a challenge. Learning an all new way of life of dealing without electricity, phone; having to learn how to cook on a wood stove besides chopping & bringing in the wood and water. I truly admire her.

[Roxann Kelly]

We purchased this book during our train travels Alaska. The tour guide had several stories she told about Mary and her family. We actually went by Mary's home. It was exciting to find out the family was from my hometown - St. Louis.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read about true life experiences in Alaska. Amazing everything she does and with 4 kids too.