Mary Dove

Double Mountain Books

by Jane Gilmore Rushing

Reared in isolation by her father on the Western prairie, Mary Dove has been taught to fear only one thing. One sparkling October day it happens. The inevitable stranger rides in off the plains, and Mary Dove does what she had always promised her father she would—she shoots. Yet compassion overcomes Mary's fear. In remorse, she tends to the wounded stranger, and what follows is their tentative discovery of each other and a love story that weaves universal and timeless themes. The mother who died before Mary Dove could know her was African-American. And so completely has Mary Dove's father sheltered her that she cannot begin to comprehend what society would so cruelly teach her.

Genres: Fiction

184 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really different. I was looking for a different one from this author and couldn't find it and got this one instead. It's about a man who's wife died when his daughter was young so he took her to a remote place to raise her where she had no contact with the outside world. It takes place in western times in Texas and you find out later that he was hiding her because she is partly black and there was no tolerance of blacks in that day in fact it was against the law to marry one. It was so different that I really enjoyed it and am always amazed at the arrogance of white people in their relationship with other races.

[Kitty Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of advice- if you haven't read the summary yet, don't. Just read the book. There is a surprise somewhere around the middle that I didn't see coming, and may have contributed quite a bit to my enjoyment. But most summaries of reviews I've seen of this book give it away since it's something worth knowing in order to better categorize the novel.

The cover of the edition I got conjures up images of thrilling suspense, heroines in some sort of complex entanglements and turmoil with perhaps a gothic tinge.

What the book actually ended up being was part survival/nature quest akin to Clan Of The Cave Bear and part romance with interesting dynamics worth pondering.

There are delicious frustrations and ironies housed in these mere 198 or so pages. Some of which I doubt were even intended by the author, simply products of shifting attitudes and times. It makes me think about what unassuming books will take on different dimensions years from now.

I'll just go ahead and dive right into what intrigued me the most about this book. Mary Dove lives essentially in exodus, boxed away from civilization under circumstances that lead to one of the key plot revelations. Her friends are her livestock. Her hobbies are living off the land. Her skills are imperfect though and about to fail her when...

One day a young cowboy finds her and ends up discovering all about her life. When it comes to all the things that matter to him and the rest of civilized society, she knows nothing. He feels such pity for all she has been deprived of and wants to show and teach her all about the world. She is aghast at all she doesn't know, and clings to him as her guide.

Without ever meaning to, he busts a power imbalance wide open. An ironic one, considering that all this stuff he knows is due to generations of people nursing each other and building a society that functions with the proper roteness of an elliptical. Mary on the hand was brought up under unusual circumstances and mastered skills that many would think girls aren't even capable of. But those things are not valued by anyone in that society, or even in this one. And remember how I mentioned her being boxed away from civilization? Later on it seems more like she is boxed in by it.

I didn't even get into the race relations of the book yet. I'll just say that for being so short, this book was pretty evocative and worthwhile. And contributing to the high rating are my subjective preferences for the straightforward and simple writing style. I was in the mood for less reflectionary writing at the time and this one flows well and is effortless to envision like a movie in one's head.

[Kallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a deceptively simple story told in a fresh, immediate voice. Mary Dove is about survival in a harshly beautiful environment (the 19th century Llano Estacado) living as one with nature and animals -- an innocent, full existence. The problem is, people naturally want to live among other people and for Mary Dove, other people pose a particular danger I don't want to give away in this review. The author clearly knows this land as well as her protagonist, and she knows the people who settled there. My only question is about the historical era. When European Americans first moved to West Texas, the Comanches (it was their land, a vast territory where they lived as nomads and hunted buffalo) killed or captured anyone ignorant enough to attempt settlement in the Llano. Indians are mentioned once, in Mary Dove, and buffalo not at all. The story seems to be set in a later era but as I understand it, there would have been more people around Mary Dove from the beginning of the story. Still, it is an effective device to have the story begin as it does, in an unsettled Eden where Mary Dove grows up innocent of society. I think an earlier film director might have made a beautiful film of this story -- Charles Laughton comes to mind, and 'Night of the Hunter.'

[Leslie Kitchin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book shortly after it came out in 1974. It's always interesting rereading a book I first read as a young person. This is a beautifully written book, but what is most important to me is that I'm sure this is a book which strongly influenced my view of the world, human behavior, religion, discrimination, and prejudice.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. I had read one other by the author, which I've read and re-read several times, and wanted to see what her other books were like. Mary Dove is a good read.

[Lillian Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this wonderful book while I was pregnant in 1993 it really is a well written story with lots of life learned experiences and challenges of love, deep thoughts of appreciation. The innocent Life in a forest. The nurturing love and care for people and animals in a beautiful soul. You really get to know Mary Dove so simple and so intriguingly intelligent. She reminds me of my daughter Julia💕

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl lives in isolation with her father up in the mountains. But one day in winter trajedy befalls and the father doesn't show. Then in spring, a stranger comes and offers to help Mary Dove. Their love grows, but as the area fills with new settlers they must find a way to stay together.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good love story about a mulatto girl and a cowboy.

[Vicki Marmillot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this YEARS ago, but saw it at Half Price Books the other day. Very good book.

[Kate Breslin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago, but refuse to part with it. Mary Dove has a surprise that will blow you away!

[candybookzilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was wonderfully written~ you might find the first few chapters boring but you'll eventually love it like I do.