What an amazing story teller! Elizabeth Letts takes us back to the 50s in the U.S. when life was so different just a few decades ago.

It's about a 62 year-old woman, Annie, who sells her inherited farm in Maine for $54.36 - about the cost of a take-out dinner for two these days. Her doctor says she only has a few more years to live with a history of pneumonia. She's no longer married, her parents have passed and she has just a few friends left. She needs a job. Her dad always said to her: "keep going and you'll get there...have faith."

She decides to go on a journey from Maine to California where the weather would be warmer with more opportunities. She wears four pairs of pants and packs as much as her old horse, Tarzan, can carry along with her most beloved mutt, Depeche Toi. It's November, 1954 and she has no maps, no iPhone, no flashlight and no debit card. She just has trust that everything will work out as she hopes it will.

It's a total adventure that follows her through many states in New England, the Midwest, parts of the Northwest and then California with the illustration of maps of her route. Many people who were strangers embraced her by sharing meals and the hopes that her dreams would come true. The press wrote about her trip and the city mayors and officials would make her feel like she was a queen. Even a big-time gambler was betting for her success. Throughout her road trip, the reader learns all kinds of tidbits about the rapid changes taking place in the mid-50s with social justice, technology and automobiles taking over the new super highways.

It's a must read for everyone interested in the U.S. history. The author did an incredible amount of research centered on a true story. My thanks to Elizabeth Letts, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

Elizabeths Letts' gift of the story of Annie Wilkins took me back to the America I grew up in and was proud of. An America filled with good, kind, neighborly, people of strength, courage, and determination, who would willingly help others without a second thought. For that, I thank her!

Annie Wilkins, was a strong, hard-working woman. Born and raised in Maine, she had been married twice, and now widowed, worked her family's farm alone with her Uncle. They lived in a cabin with no heat, no water, no electricity. Aged and blind, her Uncle couldn't do much, so Annie did all the work, which was considerable; tending to the animals, pumping the water, cutting the wood for heating, taking care of the house, planting, tending, and harvesting the crops. It was hard living. Her uncle died, winter set in with a bad blizzard, and Annie became seriously ill, something which was discovered when two young neighbor boys tramped through the snow to check on her. Help was called immediately and Annie was taken to the hospital. There the doctor told her he was uncertain whether it was her old TB acting up, or cancer, but either way, he expected she had but two to four years to live.

After a few days in the hospital, she was sent home. Realizing that she no longer had the strength or money to keep the farm viable herself, she planned to put in one last crop to earn some money, then sell the farm to her neighbor, buy a horse and with minimal supplies, take her small dog and ride to California so she could put her feet in the Pacific Ocean before she died. And, being the determined woman that she was, that is exactly what she did! On November 4th, 1954, she mounted her horse and set off to ride across America. She had no maps and little money, but she was willing to work along the way for the things she needed to care for herself and her animals; their fate was in her faith in her God and her trust of the goodness of man.

What adventures she had! She would ride as far as she could during a day, and then either camp, or look for someone willing to put her horse in their barn and give her a night's lodging. Rarely was she turned away. As word of her travels spread, she would be welcomed by people coming out to greet her. Police across the states would come out to look for her and let her stay in their homes or in the town jail. Truckers watched for her, and kept track of her.

The author's descriptive skills easily put readers into the story of Annie's adventures, as she also immerses us in the history of America as we learn about the towns Annie rode through, and the changes that the 1950's brought to the country. An interesting read!!

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Ballantine for allowing me to read an ARC of the book which is scheduled for publication on June 1, 2021. Opinions expressed in this review are my own and are given freely.

Elizabeth Letts has written an amazing account of Annie Wilkins and her journey from Minot, Maine to Los Angeles, California, with her horse, Tarzan (a Morgan) and her dog, Depeche Toi. Annie is sixty-three in 1954, has been told she has two years to live, and has just lost her farm that had been in the family for three generations. She starts her our eyes in November, 1954, and arrives in California in early 1956.

I cannot say enough how much I liked this story. I her travels she meets so many people and is subjected to so many weather conditions. This is a story of America in the 1950s. I was five in 1956 and could identify with so much of this story especially how Art Linkletter took an interest in her. I really appreciated the Author Notes that gives further information. My mom and I used to watch his show. She also met Andrew Wyeth along the way and lots of interesting people. So many interesting little stories, this would be a great book for a bookclub or for students to read portions of it when studying the 1950s.
I have a big smile on my face thinking about this amazing woman. Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this non-fiction book. In 1955, 63-year-old Annie Wilkins is told by a doctor she has 2-4 years to live due to weak lungs. The woman, twice-divorced after brief and disastrous marriages, remembers that her mother had spoken so highly of California and had always wanted to visit the sunshine state, but she never made it there. Annie decides that there's no time like the present for her to embark on an adventure. She buys a horse, sells her Maine farm for about $35, and sets out to cross the United States with just horse Tarzan and dog Depeche Toi (which means "hurry up").

This book is the tale of her journey, which took over a year. Being 1955, Wilkins doesn't have GPS, or even paper maps much of the time. Her journey also takes place before most interstate highways, which worked well for her since she and her horse were usually walking just along the sides of the roads. Annie took off wearing four sets of clothes and tying everything onto either herself or Tarzan's saddle.

At one point in the journey, she is told that Tarzan will not be able to make the trip with all that weight, so Annie is given another sturdier horse in Kentucky. "Rex" joins the trio and Annie usually rides him, while Tarzan carries the load. She remembered her father frequently saying, "Keep going and you'll get there."

Along with describing Annie's journey, the author has snippets about various 1950s topics: TV shows popular at the time. Timex watches ("Rugged. Solid. Durable. Dependable"). It was interesting how most every night Annie was able to find a stable for her horses and a home willing to let her spend the night (many nights she slept in a jail cell). Imagine how times have changed; far fewer horses, AND would you ask total strangers if you could spend the night at their place?

Annie had a proposal along the route (she declined), TV appearances, and was asked to participate in parades. It was wonderful to see how many people reached out to help her. "From her own perspective on horseback, the country she had traveled across had seemed vast, yet still welcoming and friendly, a place where neighbors greeted each other in local diners and a visiting stranger would attract friendly notice."

Annie and two of her friends (no spoiler here ...) make it to California, and I was happy to learn that (another spoiler) she ended up living to be 88, despite her doctor's dire prediction. She liked to say that doctors didn't know everything, and many things were foreordained.

I enjoyed this book for its look at a spunky lady, and at a simpler -- and better -- time in our country.

Barely got into the book and was unable to further because of download issues. Tried to re-load several times and the same issue occurred. I was so looking forward to reading this book. I will rate it anyway!

I loved this book! It’s a wonderful non-fiction account of Annie Wilkins and her late-in-life adventure across the United States in the mid 1950’s.

At age 63, Annie’s doctor had given her two years to live. She also had a farm that she was going to lose to back taxes and she had no money stashed away. One of her dreams was to see the Pacific Ocean, so she decided to buy a horse and pack up for an adventure from Maine to California.

With her little dog, Depeche Toi and her horse Tarzan, they set off West with no map. Annie figured people along the journey would help them find their way west. The trio were able to spend the night in barns and homes of strangers, who often fed them and recommended other places to stay on their journey ahead.

By the time Annie got into Kentucky and Tennessee, she was given excellent advice about her horse and was also advised to get another to help carry the pack load. In Tennessee, Rex, a Tennessee Walker, was added to her group and from there they proceeded west.

Interestingly enough, as the group continue on their journey, Annie begins to feel better, other than a case of bronchitis or two. This was a wonderful story of a woman taking advantage of the time she has left in life to fulfill a lifelong dream. It also is a portrait of the innocence of the 50’s and illustrates the many changes that have taken place in our country since that time.

Every story I have read by Elizabeth Letts has been amazing and this is one of her best. I highly recommend to readers who love true stories about brave women.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review.

I have not loved a book like The Ride of Her Life in a long time. It could be because I read it while on a road trip exploring the backroads or that I am the same age as when Annie when she set out on her adventure.. I have never heard of this true story of a Maine women riding her horse across the country. What a story it is and how kind humanity was in the 1950's. Her sheer grit, determination and ignorant of the unknown as well as her 4 legged companions helped her achieve her goal of riding from Maine to California.

What made me love this book is that how giving and supportive Americans were in the 1950's. And how that changed with the advent of urbanization and modern conveniences like the television and interstate highway system.

I am recommending this to our book club as we tend to read about strong women.

Thank you, NetGalley, the author and publisher, for an advanced copy.

Intriguing and inspiring! A true story I’d not heard before but lapped up eagerly due to the author’s beautifully written narrative. At 63, Annie Wilkins was broke, ill and unable to manage her Maine farm any longer. She decided to chuck it all, and set off to see the Pacific Ocean, riding her horse named Tarzan while accompanied by her dog, Depeche Toi. It was 1954.

I felt as if I were there, astride a horse by Annie’s side, experiencing her remarkable journey as it unspooled. Touched by the kindness of strangers all along the 4,000-mile, two-year trip, clopping on new highways, through streams and up mountains, in blizzards and scorching heat, through large cities and small, to fulfill a final wish.

Not only is this Annie’s story, it is Midcentury America’s — fueled by a spirit bursting with life after surviving the Depression and two world wars. Both tales woven deftly together by author Elizabeth Letts. Brava!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 01 Jun 2021
#TheRideofHerLife #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

I was so intrigued with this book, which is a true story. In 1954 (which caught my eye, as it is the year of my birth), Annie Wilkins (at age 63, so also a "woman of a certain age"), left her farm in Maine to ride a horse to California. Her mother had always wished to see the sunset in California, but have never made it there. Annie, who had had a health scare the previous year, yet had recovered to work her meager farm alone, raising cucumbers for a pickle factory, simply saw no real future in her life as it was. What did she have to lose? She had no family to speak of, so she took her cucumber money, bought a horse, and set off. I was very interested to see what this country was like in the year of my birth. This year for the most part preceded the interstate highway system, so Annie was riding along a lot of smaller, two-lane roads. So many people helped her and took her in for a meal and a warm bed. She did have to do some camping out, but less often than you would think. Only near Memphis, TN was she accosted by some young men, but she was quickly rescued, and that was her only experience with people who may have meant her harm. Think of that! Annie was woefully out of shape and unprepared for such a journey, but the kindness of strangers often saved her. The journey took more than a year and the author takes the reader along, meeting the people Annie met and describing the places as they were then. It was a wonderfully engrossing journey and I loved every minute!

Annie Wilkins was 63 when she began her journey. She had been given 2-4 years to live. Despite the lack of a planned route, she pointed her horse south and left her farm behind. As Elizabeth Letts tells Annie's story, we also get a snapshot of our country in 1956. Along the way there were many clues to the new normal that was making itself known. Annie called herself the last Saddle Tramp. The era of highway travel was barreling in and travelling on horse was going to become increasingly difficult. When Annie packed for her trip she anticipate many nights out under the stars. In reality she found that the kindness of strangers to provide accommodations in jail cells, stables, fairgrounds, fancy hotels, and guest rooms. Often, her hosts would encourage her to stay with them indefinitely. I am sure she was often tempted to just hang up the saddle and stay put. She never gave in. Her courage and determination pulled her back into the saddle to go onto the next town. Readers will also find Annie's deep love and respect for her travelling companions to be an endearing facet of this story. I can just see them: Tarzan (the Morgan horse) and Rex (the Tennessee Walker) with Annie on one horse and her dog Depeche Toi perched on the other. I did not think a horse story could top 'The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation,' but I do believe this new title from Elizabeth Letts is my new favorite.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Oh, I don’t give out 5 stars very often, but this book deserves every single one! The story of Annie is one of triumph, and the writing is an eloquent message of hope, gratitude and kindness.

The journey of a lifetime is one taken by Annie Wilkins, her horse, Tarzan, and her dog, Depeche Toi. It’s 1954, and Annie is living on a hard-scrabble farm without electricity in Minot, Maine. Annie has had a tough life, and finds herself alone and penniless at 63 years old, in the midst of losing her farm when her doctor tells her he gives her about two years to live. She has lung problems, perhaps due to complications from tuberculosis when she was younger. The doctor offers her a place in a county-run charity home, but Annie has never been one to take charity. Besides, she has never seen the Pacific Ocean. Annie makes a plan, and she works hard to bring in one last crop to earn enough money to buy an old racehorse. What a crazy plan! I couldn’t decide if she was just a plucky woman who was determined to live and die on her terms, or just plain crazy. About halfway through, I was thinking Annie is someone I’d invite to my Who Would You Invite to Dinner? dinner party.

The journey begins, and it’s much harder than Annie had thought. First, there are her health issues and while she is no stranger to hard work, Annie is physically drained at the end of each day. Tarzan is skittish around the cars whizzing by, and there are quite a few harrowing encounters with automobiles. The weather is cold and snowy when the journey begins, and Tarzan is nervous on ice and bridges. Annie’s bankroll is meager to say the least, and she depends on the kindness of strangers to stable her horse and give her a warm and dry place to sleep. But “isn’t this just how life is anyway? You could plan, but you couldn’t control much, except your own two feet and which way you chose to point them.” And Annie keeps them pointed toward the Pacific Ocean, on an adventure of a lifetime.

Annie is an inspiration, and thank you to Elizabeth Letts for bringing Annie’s uplifting story to life.

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A stunning story of triumph about a woman who rode her horse across America during the 1950s.  Terminally ill 63 year old Annie Wilkes beat the odds to achieve her dream of seeing the Pacific Ocean before her death.  A story of an underdog that achieves great things.  Inspirational and heartwarming, The Ride of Her Life takes the reader on an emotional journey of tragedy, triumph, loss, and discovery

I honestly don't know what to do with this review. The subject matter of the book interested me. It was well-written. But there was simply something about it that kept me from being able to say that I "liked" it. I'm not sure that's the book's fault; I think its more about me and that it just wasn't my cup of tea. I found much of it interesting, but I found an equal amount of it just boring. I enjoyed reading about Annie; some of the more generic historical parts almost put me to sleep. And while I liked Annie, I also found myself not really relating to or understanding her. I certainly didn't admire or appreciate her. Again, I can't particularly blame it on the book. It provided me every opportunity to like it, but I was never able to give in. I'm clearly in the minority; there are so many other reviews here that absolutely rave about the book, which is why I'm inclined to just chalk this one up to "it's me, not you."

4 journey of a lifetime stars

This true story is quite remarkable. Annie Wilkins has just lost her farm in rural Maine and at age 63 she sets out for California which she has always heard is full of sunshine. She’s got minimal money, her dog, and a trusty horse. In 1954 there was no such thing as internet navigation, so she relies on gas station maps and word of mouth to navigate across the country.

At about 10 miles per day, it takes her quite a while and as you might expect, it is more about the journey. The author delivers mini-history lessons about landmarks along the way, and I enjoyed those. It was also very interesting to see how many people welcomed Annie in along with stabling her horse along the way.

She acquires a second horse to help carry the load and the quartet has quite a few adventures along the way – mountains to cross, flash flooding, road debris, and poison. I worried at several points if she and the horses would make it to California. She’s dressed in men’s clothing as it was unusual for a woman to travel alone in those days. She frequently was welcomed to spend the night at the local jail as was the custom at the time for the homeless and travelers.

The media catches wind of her story and there are frequent parades and speeches in many small towns along the way. This one was meticulously researched, and I definitely enjoyed learning more about down-to-earth Annie Wilkins.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Annie believes that she only has a short time to live. She is determined to see California and the Pacific Ocean before she dies. So, she finds a horse, packs up her meager possessions and her dog and sets out from her native state of Maine. Her travels through 1950s America highlight the activities and businesses that make each state she crosses unique.

As the reader follows her meandering journey, you learn about her successes, difficulties, and the helpful people she meets all across America. This is an interesting point in history, as the United States is moving from an agrarian society to a citified one. The automobile is becoming more popular and the highway system is in its early stages of development. This is well before cell phones, GPS, modern road maps, and the comfort of a heated and air-conditioned car!

Amazing to think I never heard of this woman who I now wholeheartedly clasp to my bosom as a Hero! I am so glad this book came to me and I read it. . . slowly. Traveling with Annie, her pup and her boys, beautiful horses.

This is non-fiction, folks. It really happened. Annie had nothing to lose, she wasn't well, perched on the easternmost edges of our great nation and was the last of her line. Didn't have long to live according to the medical folk who recommended she sit still and stay warm and she might last a little longer. And from there, dear Reader, this story . . . this journey begins. It really happened! Crossing the nation, as we follow along on Annie's journey we run the serious risk of being filled with nostalgia for the Nation That Was Before, in the 50's. Those places found along the roads before highways, the roads before they became backroads, with all the charms and challenges we haven't experienced in generations tossed in for good measure.

This is my 2nd Elizabeth Letts book, and I am even happier with this one, and I loved the last one.

In her dedication she says that "Not all Journeys are on Roads." Amen to that, dear Elizabeth. Some are in books. Great books. Thanks for wonderful ride!

A sincere thanks to Elizabeth Letts, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.
#TheRideofHerLife #NetGalley

Pub date: 01 Jun 2021

In 1950, Annie, found herself with a diagnosis of two years left to live, far in debt, and with no family. She had lived in Maine her entire sorry life and decided she wanted to see the Pacific Ocean. She scraped together enough to buy a horse and, along with dog, began a 5,000 mile journey across the pre-interstate America. Cobbled together with Annie’s diaries, letters to friends, newspaper, and magazine accounts, the author recreated her story. She also had notes from an interview given to a journalist friend about twelve years after the trip. It was a clear look at the character of a woman of the 50s.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in return for an honest review.

The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts, tells the moving and gritty story of 62 year old Annie Wilkins, who in 1954 was determined to have the adventure of a lifetime, a last ride, and the
final say on the remaining years of her life.

When Annie lost her elderly Uncle Waldo and then fell seriously ill with the flu herself, future prospects started to look grim. WIth no money, a farm in foreclosure and failing lungs, her only options were living with a friend or acquiring a room at the county home. Frustrated, embarrassed and determined, Annie found a way to farm a small crop one last time and post harvesting, with some cash in hand, pays off her debt and sells her farm. Later, as Annie contemplated where to go and what to do with her remaining years an idea started to grow. Annie became determined that she and her little dog, Depeche Toi would have one last adventure. With her remaining cash she bought a horse named Tarzan, packed some supplies and decided to head to California. Thus began the long adventure of Annie and her fur companions from Minot, Maine to Los Angeles, California.

As Annie started her trip, she had no grand expectations. With little money to spend she planned to be thrifty and work for a time if necessary. Keeping her animals safe and fed became her top priority, as well as food, shelter and rest. Along the way, Annie met many people fascinated by her story and without her knowledge, as she traversed across the country, her fame was growing. Local newspapers spread her story and people looked for her as she came to each and every town. She was offered meals, help when needed, as well as places to sleep and shelter her animals. She was even granted an additional horse in Tennessee, a Tennessee walker named Rex, to ensure she completed her incredible journey. At times her journey was arduous, but as the months went by, these four companions learned to love and rely on one another for companionship, safety and security. Annie met every challenge (and there were many) with fortitude, and any assistance when given was met with gratitude. Guts, determination and help from strangers and celebrities alike helped Annie to eventually succeed and cross into California almost 1 year after her journey began. A great feat for Annie, who would permanently refer to herself as “one of the last saddle tramps”.

This story given to us by Elizabeth Letts was a grand story on every level. She captured the heart of who Annie was by allowing us insight into her life, her strengths and her vunerability. What a gutsy woman she was to take on such an adventure and on horseback no less. She had little money and at the start of her journey ailing health. But what she did have was a lot of gumption, a good heart, faith in the goodness of people and a gift with animals. I loved the horses and especially the spunk and heart of her little dog. The author did such an amazing job detailing the beautiful relationship they had with each other. I appreciated the details of all the people she met along the way and the pertinent information on world events and the changes happening across the USA as she journeyed west. I also appreciated the epilogue and additional information on Annie and how her life progressed after California. All in all this beautiful book can be enjoyed by any reader, no matter what genre they prefer to read. I enjoyed it immensely and found myself cheering, laughing and even crying for this plucky senior.

I want to thank Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts. “The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own”.

What an interesting story! Being close in age to Annie at the time of her journey, I can't imagine dressing in multiple layers, hopping on a horse in late autumn, and setting off to ride across the United States with little thought as to what was around the bend. When there's a will, there's a way, I guess. I've already suggested this book to several friends, and will be buying it for my parents for Christmas. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I enjoyed this true story a a girl and her. While I didn't love it was still an enjoyable read. And I did learn alot.