Anniversary

It is Goldie Mullins’ first anniversary and she’s all dressed up, but her husband’s idea of a fancy night on the town doesn’t match up to her expectations. He’s taken her to a roadhouse; can you believe it? And to make matters worse, he doesn’t even seem to notice when she slips away out to the tracks. What would it be like to be a hobo, she wonders as she crawls inside the railroad car. The cars jerk and shudder and she is on her way, setting off on an unplanned adventure.

Anniversary is a quaint and old-worldly novella about disappointment and finding friendship in the most unlikely places. Mary O’Dell whisks readers back to the 1950's, when life moved at a slower pace and there was not so much to fear. Goldie is a wonderful character - she’s deep and layered, yearning for more than what life has dealt her. Ms. O’Dell captures the spirit and pace of this era perfectly, and I much enjoyed Anniversary.

Reviewed by: Michelle