Chokecherry

by Norma Hawkins

Genres: Canada

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle humor about small-town life in rural Saskatchewan. The author has almost certainly drawn on her experiences as a minister's wife in rural Saskatchewan and elsewhere, and used her experiences to inform the main character - who is also a minister's wife. This is a book about the foibles of imperfect people who accept each other's imperfections, even when they're annoyed by them.

[EP · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely little collection of vignettes which make you nostalgic for rural Saskatchewan and small town like....unless you haven't lived it in which case you would probably be surprised at some of the stories. Either way, you'll get a chuckle.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just hit the spot. Charmingly Canadian. Gently funny and kind. Beautiful image on the cover too

[rabbitprincess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured on CBC's Between the Covers podcast in May. Read by Janet Wright of Corner Gas. This review is of the book as it appeared on the podcast.

A mildly amusing series of anecdotes about life as a minister's wife in small-town Saskatchewan. I have the feeling the book was abridged, though, because it felt really incomplete (only five episodes of 15 mins each, when The Last Crossing, for example, had 20), and also at one point the narrator talks about something she said she mentioned earlier, but I did not remember hearing anything about it before that point. That could just have been my not paying attention, but I don't think so.

Anyway, what was there was all right. I was particularly amused by the story about Becky trying to learn how to drive, and her horror at the thought of driving in Prince Albert, where they had stop signs and traffic lights. I'm not much of a driver either, so I could relate.

The only thing I really couldn't stand was how rude the parishioners were, walking into her house unannounced and EATING HER FOOD, even if she was out! Sure it's a rural community and nobody locks their doors, but if you see that nobody is home, don't go making yourself a cup of tea while you wait for them to get back. Leave a note and come back later. Perhaps that's just me being overly sensitive about personal space, but yikes that seems a bit extreme. My indignation rather clouded my enjoyment of some of it, I'm afraid.

Overall, this was all right, but Janet Wright's reading definitely contributed one star more than I would otherwise have given, if only because I like her. Still, if you want to read this, don't let my review stop you.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised I haven't read this book since I joined Goodreads. I have read it multiple times and it never fails to entertain. My rural pastor husband has a four point parish so I feel like I know Becky (except we have running water). I would like to meet Norma Hawkins and hear her tell these stories!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

funniest book I have ever read

[Nicole]

Moderately interesting but not fabulous

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowed from Arlene Field.