Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus by Joyce Magnin

Synopsis from Zondervan.com

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.

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.

My Comments :

I had received this book from the Publisher, Zondervan, on Monday afternoon in exchange of an honest review. All opinion stated herein is mine.

This book came in a good time as my family was facing a bit of a crisis. My son caught Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD from the kindergarten and it spread to my husband. My husband got it very bad. Can't walk nor hold anything cause it's too painful.

This book came on a perfect timing. I had just finished reading one book and was looking for something soothing to read in time of crisis.

Almost immediately, I fell in love with the 72 years old "Harriet" and her unconventional ways. When I read the words, I felt that "Harriet" is alive and is not a fictional character.

Some may think what is so great about the story of an old lady. Well, let me tell you this is not your average old lady. Initially she was just a widow and some may say "waiting to be put out of her pasture". But when the push came, she made up her mind and her strong faith in God that He have a purpose for her on earth and that she somehow have not done what God put her to do on earth.

Although this book is classified as Christian Fiction, but to me it was not preachy at all. Harriet is just a person with a strong believe in God's will. She is open indeed and willing to accept and associate with people who are not from the same faith or Church as her.

It's hard to pin point which part that I love the most in this book. I guess if forced to choose, I would say it's the part when Harriet recalls that Miss Kitty had said to her  "Go, Harriet, your life is your own." and crisis strikes Harriet made up her mind that her life is not her own. Her life is God's , and for him to do with  what he wanted, not what she desired. That was the most touching part for me.

I loved all Harriet's adventures and hopefully this book can and will make its way into a movie. It's really inspirational for me to read this. For me this book rank the same as "Tuesday with Morrie" by Mitch Albom, to be read not once but more than that.

Thank you to Susan from Shelton Interactive for acceding to my request for the hardcopy of the book and maybe because of that the arrival of the book is like a blessing in disguise for me.

If you are still uncertain whether to get this book or not, do head on to Harriet's blog at http://harrietbeamer.blogspot.com/ to read about her journey.

I rate this book 5 stars and is a MUST READ.