Accidental Cowgirl

We were asked if 5 Minutes for Books would like to participate in a book tour, sponsored by Women on Writing (WOW), for the book Accidental Cowgirl: Six Cows, No Horse and No Clue. I waved my hand around in the air to be the reviewer on staff who got to read this one because I thought it sounded fascinating.

Mary Lynn Archibald writes this memoir to tell other potential cowpoke what life on a ranch is really like. She and her husband Carl had visions of grandeur in their heads as they signed papers on Twin Creeks Ranch. They envisioned themselves hiking, rocking in rocking chairs on the front porch of their ranch style home, lovely wildflowers and calm breezes. What they didn’t bargain for were bridges in need of repair, and cattle which multiplied faster than they could count. Hiking experiences turned into opportunities to hike ranch equipment to various and necessary locations. Their lazy life plans didn’t quite work out.

I would say that Archibald has various Bombeck qualities in her writing. She strives to make amusing that which clearly was not. Her book acts rather as a warning against those who think that living on the land is the cheap and easy way to live. She makes clear that a lot of hard work was involved.

I thought this book was ok. It’s true, I can’t really rave about it. Certainly it was interesting to hear about Mary and Carl’s life on the ranch. It was funny to hear what their expectations were in comparison to the reality that they came to terms with. If you are wondering, they no longer live on Twin Creeks Ranch, although they don’t mind the idea of country living! You should know that there are some foul words scattered about the book, occurring mostly when something is broken or causing distress.

This book is a couple’s experience of trying their hand at ranch living and all of the ups and downs related to such an ideal. Mary Lynn talks about how she read a lot of books and articles that idealized the experience for her prior to her own life decision – and this book counter-attacks such resources that might case readers and city-dwellers to look through a life ranch experience with any kind of rose-colored glasses.

All in all I can’t say that I was not necessarily wow-ed by this book but it definitely has its moments.

Carrie enjoys also enjoys the idea of living off the land and living a country life. In fact, she and her husband live outside city limits and enjoy the peace and quiet of country – and the beauty of knowing that the “city” is a mere 5 minute drive from their front door! (She reaps the benefits of both worlds!) She blogs about life and books on her own site, Reading to Know.