3 1/2 StarsI'm rating this based on how much I enjoyed it, not on the quality of the writing which is 5 star.
Basically, a young woman gets on a train to join her new husband on his job assignment: a rail road boss stationed at Mile 210 in the wilds of Canada. The "settlement" is merely a few boxcars housing railroad workers and their small families. Her job is to find what satisfaction she can in a bleak, stark, and barren world. Her husband, more married to his work than to her, is a strong, unbending perfectionist who expects all railroaders to have his same worth ethic. There is no room for sentimentalism or fellow feeling and definitely no room for mistakes. If workers are suffering in their personal lives than they can "snap out of it" or he'll find someone else to take their place. Obviously an essential man for the railroad but should he have married? Personally, I say no.
Do you remember in the old Disney adaption of Oliver Twist when Nancy sings that song about Bill Sykes 'As Long As He Needs Me"? (*insert finger down throat*) Well, I felt that they could have started the music to that song around page 186. The sad thing is, He doesn't need her. So while I applaud her heroics, it's all seemed...rather... pointless.
Whistle On The Wind has many of the same elements as Mrs. Mike. Arctic cold, accidents, typhoid,a forest fire, grief, marital unhappiness, good and bad neighbors etc. But if you were to choose Mrs Mike or Whistle On The Wind, I would absolutely say grab Mrs Mike. Which is a good thing since this book is pretty rare!
While this book is well written, it's not as detailed or as exquisitely executed as Mrs Mike. And it is a bit depressing. The ending is ok,(for those who need a HEA) but there is far more closeness between Mrs. Mike and her Canadian Monty husband than there ever was or would ever be between Lyn and Don in this story.
Bottom line: Good but not awesome
CONTENT:
SEX: None, but an infidelity is alluded to.
VIOLENCE: Mild
PROFANITY: Very Mild
MY RATING: PG
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