Aging and widowed 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-shaker collection to California, and prepares to move away from the only life she knows.
The catch? She’s doing it her way. Just wait until 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, taxi, 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. You can readHarriet’s blog on her journey.
Vitals:
Publisher: Zondervan ISBN-13: 978-0310333555
Page count: 320 Pages
USD: $14.99
Genre: FICTION/Christian
About the Author:
Joyce Magnin is the author of five novels, including the popular and quirky Bright’s Pond series and the middle grade novel “Carrying Mason.” She is a writing instructor and frequent conference speaker. Joyce lives in Pennsylvania with her son, Adam, and their crazy cat, Mango, who likes to eat nachos.
Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus is such a fun read! Harriet is 72, and her son & daughter in law no longer want her living alone. She loses a bet to them, so has to move across the country to live with them. Harriet decides since she has to move, she might as well make an adventure out of it. She will take the bus to California! Harriet ends up taking not only the bus, but a train, taxi, motorcycle and even an helicopter.
Along the way, Harriet meets many interesting people. Despite feeling like her son and daughter in law think she can no longer do anything useful, God uses Harriet according to His plan. She is able to help and bless many of the people she meets.
Harriet’s adventures range from hilarious to down right dangerous. But she has her faith and her cell phone, so she keeps going. My mother is in her 70’s, and while I was reading, I kept thinking about my mother doing something like this. Except I don’t think she could handle a smart phone as well as Harriet. lol
You can read an excerpt of Harriet Beamer Takes the Bus.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. My opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
