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The Train to Estelline
The Lucinda 'Lucy' Richards trilogy, spanning the years from 1911 to the 1930s, has everything good books should have: a variety of landscapes, characters of all ages and social classes, an overall tenderness that never lapses into sentimentality, and a sense of the comic amidst the tragic. Lucy is feisty, funny, and completely open-armed about life. Josh passionately conf...more
Paperback, 209 pages
Published
January 1st 2000
by University of North Texas Press
(first published 1987)
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Feb 22, 2009
Claudia
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of historical fiction
Recommended to Claudia by:
Caroline! And her mom!
Lucy goes on a great adventure on the train to Estelline...at the ripe age of 17, she becomes a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse. She has to contend with critters in her school, parents who don't appreciate education, students who must babysit younger siblings...and she finds her calling.
Told through letters and diary entries, this book forces us as readers to fill in the blanks, and see beyond Lucy's words to the heart of the story. Lucy loves Bob, but his mother, the rancher's wife, wants mo...more
Told through letters and diary entries, this book forces us as readers to fill in the blanks, and see beyond Lucy's words to the heart of the story. Lucy loves Bob, but his mother, the rancher's wife, wants mo...more
I'm not sure the diary/letter format works as well as a straight narrative, in either first or third person, would. But overall, nice coming of age story in early 20th century West Texas. One thing I liked very much was the way the narrator is really in her world: whenever explanations are given for differences, the differences are between what she is accustomed to and what she finds. So often works of historical fiction slip in elaborate descriptions of what would have been entirely ordinary it...more
One of my favorite trilogies. Teachers might especially appreciate this story. It is a warm and inviting step into the days of Texas past. I am a fan of Jane R. Wood's writing style.
I really liked this book because it reminded me of my grandmother. The descriptions were amazing. I also enjoyed how it is written in letter form.
If you love Texas and teaching you will love this trilogy of books. I savored each one and enjoyed the 1800 historical time period they are set.
Loved this book...lots of humor, pathos and surprises. I can't wait to read the other two in the trilogy.
May 06, 2012
Kitty Tomlinson
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
entre-nous-book-club-reads,
historical-fiction
17 year old Lucy Richards takes a job teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in West Texas. Enjoyable.
In August of 1911, 17 year old Lucy Richards takes a teaching position in Texas.
Very good book and story line. I found myself routing for Lucy! Worth reading.
A Texas classic about a 17 year old in charge of a one room schoolhouse
I read this book just after reading The Lemon Jelly Cake and this one suffered from the comparison. The time period was the same, but this one wasn't as compelling. I had planned to ready the two sequels; I'm glad I didn't buy all three at once because I'm not interested enough to read more.
Aug 13, 2007
Karetchko
added it
Recommends it for:
new teachers
Shelves:
favorite-books-received-as-gifts
I read this during my first year as a teacher and related to so much of it. There are two follow-up books, and both are good as women's literature, but the main character isn't teaching anymore so I didn't like them as much.
Fun, quick read about a young schoolteacher in West Texas during the early 1900's. The story is told through her letters home to family and friends.
It's a good book to pick up for a light, enjoyable read.
It's a good book to pick up for a light, enjoyable read.
A sweet West Texas story....a classic in Texas literature!
I enjoyed this book but it was mostly forgettable.
Apr 29, 2013
Jacque
marked it as to-read
Apr 26, 2013
Katie Jamieson
marked it as to-read
Apr 12, 2013
Reed Bilz
added it
Feb 26, 2013
Stephanie
marked it as to-read
Feb 25, 2013
Carmen Watkins
marked it as to-read
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