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Cabin Fever
Excerpt from Cabin Fever a Novel
There is a certain malady of the mind induced by too much of one thing. Just as the body fed too long upon meat becomes a prey to that horrid disease called scurvy, so the mind fed too long upon monotony succumbs to the insidious mental ailment which the West calls "cabin fever." True, it parades under different names, according to circumstances and caste. You may be afflicted in a palace and call it ennui, and it may drive you to commit peccadillos and indiscretions of various sorts. You may be attacked in a middle-class apartment house, and call it various names, and it may drive you to cafe life and affinities and alimony.
There is a certain malady of the mind induced by too much of one thing. Just as the body fed too long upon meat becomes a prey to that horrid disease called scurvy, so the mind fed too long upon monotony succumbs to the insidious mental ailment which the West calls "cabin fever." True, it parades under different names, according to circumstances and caste. You may be afflicted in a palace and call it ennui, and it may drive you to commit peccadillos and indiscretions of various sorts. You may be attacked in a middle-class apartment house, and call it various names, and it may drive you to cafe life and affinities and alimony.
158 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1918
80 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
B.M. Bower
565 books25 followersBertha Muzzy Sinclair or Sinclair-Cowan, née Muzzy, best known by her pseudonym B. M. Bower, was an American author who wrote novels, fictional short stories, and screenplays about the American Old West. Her works, featuring cowboys and cows of the Flying R Ranch in Montana, reflected "an interest in ranch life, the use of working cowboys as main characters (even in romantic plots), the occasional appearance of eastern types for the sake of contrast, a sense of western geography as simultaneously harsh and grand, and a good deal of factual attention to such matters as cattle branding and bronc busting.
Born Bertha Muzzy in Otter Tail County, MN and living her early years in Big Sandy, Montana, she was married three times: to Clayton Bower, in 1890; to Bertrand William Sinclair,(also a Western author) in 1912; and to Robert Elsworth Cowan, in 1921. Bower's 1912 novel Lonesome Land was praised in The Bookman magazine for its characterization. She wrote 57 Western novels, several of which were turned into films.
Born Bertha Muzzy in Otter Tail County, MN and living her early years in Big Sandy, Montana, she was married three times: to Clayton Bower, in 1890; to Bertrand William Sinclair,(also a Western author) in 1912; and to Robert Elsworth Cowan, in 1921. Bower's 1912 novel Lonesome Land was praised in The Bookman magazine for its characterization. She wrote 57 Western novels, several of which were turned into films.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 16, 2017
Bud used to be a cowboy but when we first meet him he is a driver/mechanic and has been married for a year to Marie, one of the passengers he once drove into the mountains. They knew each other for three weeks before they married, and now they have a one-month old baby.
Whew!
Neither of them were ready for their new life, and having Marie's mother butting in all the time didn't help. So there was a big fight one morning, and Bud stomped off to town. He decided he would teach Marie a lesson, and stayed away until very late that night. But meanwhile Marie decided she would teach Bud a lesson: she packed up and took the baby to her mother's house, in secret hopes (according to Bower) that Bud would go there and apologize.
Didn't happen, Bud was too stubborn and got too angry when he saw Marie was gone. They go through a messy divorce, and that is the last we hear of Marie for quite some time. We follow Bud on his adventures into the desert, where he meets up with an old prospector and learns about mining for gold.
But there is always a romantic happy ending in Bower's books, right? Will this one be any different? Will Bud ever feel like himself again? And what in the world ever happened to that baby of his? And Marie?
This was an entertaining little book. I am intrigued to see the different ways Bower creates for her ex-cowboys to deal with the loss of Cowboy Life. (In the next title on my list, the hero becomes a pilot!) I do miss her earlier works, that were so vibrantly full of ranch life, but she still portrays her people so cunningly that whether they are on a ranch or in a city or up in a mining cabin in the mountains, their experiences are realistic, interesting, and make for comfortable reading.
Whew!
Neither of them were ready for their new life, and having Marie's mother butting in all the time didn't help. So there was a big fight one morning, and Bud stomped off to town. He decided he would teach Marie a lesson, and stayed away until very late that night. But meanwhile Marie decided she would teach Bud a lesson: she packed up and took the baby to her mother's house, in secret hopes (according to Bower) that Bud would go there and apologize.
Didn't happen, Bud was too stubborn and got too angry when he saw Marie was gone. They go through a messy divorce, and that is the last we hear of Marie for quite some time. We follow Bud on his adventures into the desert, where he meets up with an old prospector and learns about mining for gold.
But there is always a romantic happy ending in Bower's books, right? Will this one be any different? Will Bud ever feel like himself again? And what in the world ever happened to that baby of his? And Marie?
This was an entertaining little book. I am intrigued to see the different ways Bower creates for her ex-cowboys to deal with the loss of Cowboy Life. (In the next title on my list, the hero becomes a pilot!) I do miss her earlier works, that were so vibrantly full of ranch life, but she still portrays her people so cunningly that whether they are on a ranch or in a city or up in a mining cabin in the mountains, their experiences are realistic, interesting, and make for comfortable reading.
June 26, 2016
I've only read one other B.M. Bower novel, which I thought was OK, but didn't "wow" me. I decided to give her another try, and I am SO glad I chose Cabin Fever. It's not a romance, well not really, and the characters are so well written that they just suck you right into their lives, and make you care about them. The twist at the end I didn't see coming, which is always nice.
One other thing - B.M. Bower is totally on point with her "turn of phrase" game in this book, which I am a HUGE sucker for. I just love it when I am reading along, and the way a sentence is worded makes me stop and re-read it, just to enjoy how it is written. I'll be reading more of her novels for sure.
One other thing - B.M. Bower is totally on point with her "turn of phrase" game in this book, which I am a HUGE sucker for. I just love it when I am reading along, and the way a sentence is worded makes me stop and re-read it, just to enjoy how it is written. I'll be reading more of her novels for sure.
September 16, 2019
After all the storytelling everything ended a bit suddenly but it's a nice little tale altogether...
December 19, 2016
Such a warm story! Well, at first things go wrong, but with the turn of events, it all turns out wonderfully well.
The story is much like a fairy tale, I dare argue, with the cabin fever as its villain.
I loved the characters which were very human and quite detailed. The writing style also complimented the characters' personalities with common details which often were comical, because they sparked recognition. Also, the passages with Lovin Child and Bud were adorable!
There were some less interesting chapters too, in which detailed, but boring information was given about Bud's wandering "adventure". I understand these served the purpose of expressing how lost Bud was at a certain point in his life, but they are boring to read nonetheless... Anyhow, these parts weren't very long, so they didn't put me off reading.
I would recommend this story to anyone interested in a rather short, but still interesting and detailed story about the, lets call it midlife crisis of a man from 18th century America.
The story is much like a fairy tale, I dare argue, with the cabin fever as its villain.
I loved the characters which were very human and quite detailed. The writing style also complimented the characters' personalities with common details which often were comical, because they sparked recognition. Also, the passages with Lovin Child and Bud were adorable!
There were some less interesting chapters too, in which detailed, but boring information was given about Bud's wandering "adventure". I understand these served the purpose of expressing how lost Bud was at a certain point in his life, but they are boring to read nonetheless... Anyhow, these parts weren't very long, so they didn't put me off reading.
I would recommend this story to anyone interested in a rather short, but still interesting and detailed story about the, lets call it midlife crisis of a man from 18th century America.
June 9, 2019
This is not the kind of book that I would normally pick up. It seems like that has been said about most of my more recent book selections, but its true. I probably would have skipped it entirely if it hadn't been part of my "100 Books To Read Before You Die" list, and now that I've finished it, I'm not sure that I would have been missing out if I had just skipped it. That's not to say that this isn't a decent story, because it is, but I found that even as short as it was, the story dragged along for me.
"Cabin Fever" tells the story of a man discontented with his life who goes out and discovers the value of what he had by wallowing in the desert with a strange drifter for a few years. It isn't until three quarters of the way through the book that something worth mentioning actually happens to the pair. The ending is cutesy in a way that would have succeeded wonderfully in the early 1900s. Everyone gets a nice little ending, despite all odds. It's sweet. With that said, I would not read this book again and am not tempted to seek out anything else by B.M. Bower.
"Cabin Fever" tells the story of a man discontented with his life who goes out and discovers the value of what he had by wallowing in the desert with a strange drifter for a few years. It isn't until three quarters of the way through the book that something worth mentioning actually happens to the pair. The ending is cutesy in a way that would have succeeded wonderfully in the early 1900s. Everyone gets a nice little ending, despite all odds. It's sweet. With that said, I would not read this book again and am not tempted to seek out anything else by B.M. Bower.
November 23, 2016
Lovely story, the characters are so well written not to mention the author has such a wonderful way with words... captured the human condition perfectly.
When I first started reading I thought B.M Bower was a man and marveled at how well he knew the mind of a woman. Now that I've just found out he's a she I'm marveling at how well she knows the mind of both!
When I first started reading I thought B.M Bower was a man and marveled at how well he knew the mind of a woman. Now that I've just found out he's a she I'm marveling at how well she knows the mind of both!
May 26, 2020
Sexist and racist. The book argues that a man should never pay child support and refers to native Americans using slurs and horrible stereotypes. While I know this book was written in a different time the racism was uncomfortable and painful to read.
April 5, 2018
Old-fashioned, but entertaining, with a twist I didn’t see coming.
August 9, 2024
When I found that BM Bower was the first woman to write westerns, I thought I would read at least one of her books out of curiosity. I read "Cabin Fever" a classic vintage western published in 1918.
Cabin fever is one of those diseases that plague folks all over the world and are protagonist, Bud Moore is no exception. An ex-cowboy turned stage-driver (of an auto stage!), he has been married just over a year, and lives in a nice, sturdy house with his wife and baby. Now, the bad news is that Bud is not the only one in the house to have “cabin fever,” his bride, Marie, has a severe case and is even closer to committing a desperate act than he is. The scene is circa 1920 California: a little different from the normal western but it seems there's still some gold to be found in them hills.
Cabin fever gets Bud Moore into a peck of trouble now and then.
It is simple in plot, yet quite original enough to be interesting. Her writing style is simple as well, but Bower usually has a point that she makes with the story. In this one it has to do with the issues of compassion, understanding, the utter silliness of pride and its damaging repercussions, and the theory that “change is as good as rest.” It is full of dialogue, a fun story, humorous moments, and a little action. This tale has quite a surprising twist at the end! I thought I could pretty well predict the way the story would end, but I didn’t anticipate how the plot would spin at the last minute! Having not read any of her books, I will have to look for other books she wrote.
Cabin fever is one of those diseases that plague folks all over the world and are protagonist, Bud Moore is no exception. An ex-cowboy turned stage-driver (of an auto stage!), he has been married just over a year, and lives in a nice, sturdy house with his wife and baby. Now, the bad news is that Bud is not the only one in the house to have “cabin fever,” his bride, Marie, has a severe case and is even closer to committing a desperate act than he is. The scene is circa 1920 California: a little different from the normal western but it seems there's still some gold to be found in them hills.
Cabin fever gets Bud Moore into a peck of trouble now and then.
It is simple in plot, yet quite original enough to be interesting. Her writing style is simple as well, but Bower usually has a point that she makes with the story. In this one it has to do with the issues of compassion, understanding, the utter silliness of pride and its damaging repercussions, and the theory that “change is as good as rest.” It is full of dialogue, a fun story, humorous moments, and a little action. This tale has quite a surprising twist at the end! I thought I could pretty well predict the way the story would end, but I didn’t anticipate how the plot would spin at the last minute! Having not read any of her books, I will have to look for other books she wrote.
April 1, 2019
I stumbled across this work while browsing the table of contents in the anthology of 50 Masterpieces You Have to Read Before You Die, nestled in among writers like Mark Twain, Jane Austin, Daniel DeFoe, and the like. I had never heard of B.M. Bower (pen name of Bertha Muzzy Sinclair, 1871-1940) before, nor of Cabin Fever, written in 1918, but it was short, just over 100 pages in length, so I thought what the heck, I’ll try it. Well, it’s a goodie.
Written in the style of a short story, without excessive detail or extraneous characters, this is the story of Bud Moore, who after his wife leaves him, unknowingly gets caught up in a crazy scheme that necessitates his running for his life across the Southwest on foot, until he meets and teams up with an old prospector, Cash Markham. The tale that follows is fun, and I really enjoyed it, including the surprise ending. Note: Cabin Fever is a public domain book, which is available free on Kindle.
Written in the style of a short story, without excessive detail or extraneous characters, this is the story of Bud Moore, who after his wife leaves him, unknowingly gets caught up in a crazy scheme that necessitates his running for his life across the Southwest on foot, until he meets and teams up with an old prospector, Cash Markham. The tale that follows is fun, and I really enjoyed it, including the surprise ending. Note: Cabin Fever is a public domain book, which is available free on Kindle.
November 13, 2020
Bud Moore drives people around. He takes what seems like a simple gig and finds he's an accessory to a bank robbery. So, he "heads for the hills", heading somewhere well to the southeast of San Francisco. Eventually, he hooks up with a miner, Cash Markham and they work together. But things don't go so well during the long winter while they're holed up together.
Bud also "rescues" a white baby from a squaw (yes, a century ago, literature could have its racist tropes). The baby reminds him of the son he left behind. Eventually, he also wonders about his left-behind wife, who was ok, but who had an overbearing mother. Well, it seems that Cash has some skeletons in his closet as well, so all is revealed in the end.
I discovered B. M. Bower about sometime last year. Once in a while it's nice to take a break and read a "cowboy" book. So far, I've read four or five, and they're all fine.
[***+ were that possible on GR]
Bud also "rescues" a white baby from a squaw (yes, a century ago, literature could have its racist tropes). The baby reminds him of the son he left behind. Eventually, he also wonders about his left-behind wife, who was ok, but who had an overbearing mother. Well, it seems that Cash has some skeletons in his closet as well, so all is revealed in the end.
I discovered B. M. Bower about sometime last year. Once in a while it's nice to take a break and read a "cowboy" book. So far, I've read four or five, and they're all fine.
[***+ were that possible on GR]
April 8, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book up until the final chapter, at which point it goes into Hallmark territory of cheesiness. I'd still recommend it to a friend because in spite of the ending it's still a great read. The story nails the characters and their conflicts, especially in regards to the protagonist inner dialogue which although unsaid and below the surface, shapes the conflict he has with his wife, his friends, and his-self.
The dialogue is awesome, it reflects the time period and it gives the characters depth. The story is solid and interesting and I think everyone could relate to the conflicts and squabbles that occur on some level. Solid read.
The dialogue is awesome, it reflects the time period and it gives the characters depth. The story is solid and interesting and I think everyone could relate to the conflicts and squabbles that occur on some level. Solid read.
October 11, 2020
I read this on the Serial App. I forgot at one point that I was reading it as a slow but steady and only recently picked it back up. This book was originally published in 1918. It is a well told story for its time. Given that, there is also cultural insensitivity which was more apparent to me now than it would have been if I had read this when I was younger. For modern tastes, this book has parts that drag and the ending felt rushed. Also, books where the main characters don’t communicate bug me. I am using the serial app to “catch up” on classics. If you like classics, you will probably enjoy this book.
August 7, 2021
The plotting of the novel is a bit odd, since it begins with the protagonist Bud accepting work from two criminals. I expected it to be a noir story, but he rids himself of the criminals fairly quickly and begins a slow adventure as a miner with an aging companion, Cash. The middle section of the novel is repetitive, both for the mining and Bud's alcoholic gambling binges to forget the wife and child he left behind. The book finishes as "two men and a baby."
I read the book because it was included in a list of "masterpieces." I don't see why it earned that designation. However, it was a pleasant read with light comic touches and a sweet ending.
I read the book because it was included in a list of "masterpieces." I don't see why it earned that designation. However, it was a pleasant read with light comic touches and a sweet ending.
September 29, 2020
Published in 1914, my copy is falling apart, pages are torn, but it is signed by my grandfather, who died when my mother was 7 years old. He was a miner, and that makes this book all the more treasured. I loved this story and I loved the surprise ending. Cabin Fever, so appropriate for this covid season.
November 27, 2021
The story was good but I wish there was another ending. I kinda felt it was odd for Bud to remarry Marie. Their love seems fake. He never did seem to respect her much. Only for being the mother of his child, he wanted to be married with her.
I think it's pointless to be married with someone if you don't like the person.
I think it's pointless to be married with someone if you don't like the person.
March 15, 2017
First book I've read by B.M Bower but I'm hooked. I really enjoyed Cabin Fever. Some really interesting twists and good character development.
January 30, 2018
Do not understand how this gets to be packaged as one of 50 masterpieces you have to read before you die. It was pleasant enough but on the twee side to me.
March 23, 2018
I enjoyed but not necessarily loved this book. The ending was one that I did not see coming. When a writer can pull that off, I respect how well the book was crafted.
December 15, 2019
Fun little story. The ending is a bit farfetched but pretty cute, too. Just keep plowing through the boring parts at 40-60% and you'll be rewarded.
January 25, 2022
Very neat and tidy happy ending. Just the way I like my stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2023
Review to follow on my blog.
November 23, 2023
(11/23/23)
3.75 stars
Western? Says who?
3.75 stars
Western? Says who?
August 14, 2024
Did not know what to expect, pleasantly surprised.
July 9, 2025
Cute little story. Not a psychological thriller the Kindle blurb stated it was.
I would have liked if Bud read a newspaper account of the two men he suspected of being jewelry store robbers.
I would have liked if Bud read a newspaper account of the two men he suspected of being jewelry store robbers.
February 27, 2017
Overall a nice little tale about a young couple in 1918 who experienced an unrecognized bout of cabin fever. This caused a prideful split which neither really wanted, but were blinded by this common winter malady. The travels of the young man who took to the road went through some surprising and interesting twists and turns. The surprise ending was a nice touch, by the author. A few times the descriptions of the events unfolding became just a tad too long, but not so as to diminish the tale. Another author totally unknown to me who proved very skillful at her craft. If I could give it another half star I would. I especially liked the information about prospecting for gold. It was both informative and intriguing. I think I would have liked to do that.
February 12, 2025
This was an interesting story about a man who quarrels with his young wife and goes out into the world to try to forget her. He runs across jewel thieves and, after craftily turning them in to the police, throws his lot in with a prospector. He tries his best to ignore all thoughts of his abandoned wife, but the effort leads him into bad habits and an urge to drink. Then, one day, he finds a child who has been stolen by an Indian squaw and takes him in. How will the child's presence change the two hardened men?
October 25, 2015
My sister-in-law, who's book recommendations have always proved fruitful in the past, just lent this 1944 edition to me~~I'll rate it when completed!
Ok, it's a delightful read, with a surprising little twist at the end to leave you feeling "happily-ever-after." I'm not a fan, usually, of this period, but still--enjoyed it enough to recommend!
Ok, it's a delightful read, with a surprising little twist at the end to leave you feeling "happily-ever-after." I'm not a fan, usually, of this period, but still--enjoyed it enough to recommend!
November 22, 2015
Different from what I expected. Good western with good character development. The pace was slow and much of it bogged down a bit, but some of that was to develop the character personalities. I would probably have given it three stars until it came together at the end with a totally unexpected conclusion.
I'd recommend it.
I'd recommend it.
November 10, 2013
B. M. Bower wrote a lot of books. This one is one of her earliest (1918). It is worth reading if only for the glimpse of life in a certain part of the United States a hundred years ago.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews