Home to Woefield: A Novel (2011)

Prudence wants to save the world from carbon emissions and global warming. She recycles and only eats organic food; she puts up solar panels (or has her boyfriend do it). The boyfriend is not as much into the green thing; in fact, it drives him crazy. After he leaves, Prudence learns that her uncle has passed on and left her his farm. Clearly, this is fate. She will go out to a beautiful farm and have a booming organic farm going before a few months are up. Of course, she's never seen Woefield, which is falling apart, has rocky soil and is already in debt. Her eccentric help might even make things more difficult: Earl, the gruff farm hand, Seth, an alcoholic with an allergy to work and sunlight, and Sara, a young girl obsessed with chickens and the rapture.

Home to Woefield is the story of a ragtag group of crazy folks trying to figure out how best to live their lives. The story is told from the perspectives of all four of the people who come to view Woefield as home. Juby really made each voice sound unique. A lot of authors try to use multiple perspectives and fail, because each character sounds exactly the same, but not Juby. She also made me feel interest in each of the people, even though, when I think about it, I didn't particularly like any of them all that much. That takes talent.

The group's misadventures are definitely humorous. Four people who know nothing about sheep trying to take care of a depressed one can result in some serious hijinks. That poor sheep. Of course, there's also Alec Baldwin the rooster (seriously, if Alec Baldwin were a rooster, this is how he would be...don't tell me you're not intrigued).

This is a quick, fun read. Juby does the group of misfits plot perfectly. Home to Woefield came out this week, so check for it at your local bookstore or library. ( )

Originally reviewed at http://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.ca/2012/06/woefield-poultry-collective....

Whether reading the hardcopy or ebook or listening to the audiobook of The Woefield Poultry Collective, ensure that you are in a secure location where your outbursts (n.b. plural) will not disturb others, because they will be frequent and they will be hearty. Luckily they won't be prolonged because there isn't time to laugh endlessly - the next chortle is imminent. So you will end up laughing, looking around to make sure you haven't caught anyone's attention, continue reading and then laugh again. Ah, it's a vicious cycle. But, if you need to explain, just tell your audience to read Susan Juby's The Woefield Poultry Collective to fully comprehend the nature of your lack of self-control and note that it had been shortlisted for the 2012 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.

Though an apartment-dwelling New Yorker, Prudence Burns lives by the principles and practices of environmental responsibility. She has vermi-composting with red wigglers; she installed solar panels; she passionately sorts her waste for recycling; she buys organic, free-trade and local; and her only foray into writing, a YA novel titled, "The Sun Doesn't Always Forgive," focuses on the consequences of global warming. Luckily for her, just as her relationship with the pompous Leo goes down the tubes and she considers her options for a career, she inherits Woefield Farm from her great uncle, Harold, her only relative and one she'd never met.

Convinced her dream has come true, Prudence embraces the opportunity to become a farmer and packs herself up to move to Woefield Farm, a scrubby piece of land off the coast of B.C. With her passion for challenges and all things earthly, Prudence sees the limitless potential in the overgrown, rocky land with its old house, burned down barn, Bertie, the half-sheared sheep, and the elderly curmudgeon, Earl, who lives at the cabin on the property.

With her energetic charm, Prudence has no problems drawing people to her vision and to helping out, usually without them even realizing they've been snagged by her. First, there's Hugh the cabbie who drops her off at Woefield. Then it's Earl, the cantankerous banjo playing, TV documentary fan, who was her uncle's right-hand man, who first sticks around to protect and advise Prudence but ultimately grows to care, in his own way, for her passionate ways. Then, Seth, an alcoholic, heavy metal and celebrity gossip blogger, who has secluded himself for a few years (there was an unfortunate incident at the high school) until his mother kicks him out, joins the farm. Finally, eleven-year-old Junior Poultry Fancier, Sara Spratt, becomes a regular fixture at Woefield after Mrs. Spratt pays to have a coop built there to house her daughter's chickens.

Prudence learns from the bank that Woefield is essentially a negative asset and she is responsible for paying the mortgage, a home equity loan and long-overdue taxes and bills. But, far from discouraged, Prudence finds the means to make Woefield the farm of her dreams, armed only with her limitless energy, menagerie of sidekicks, and positive attitude.

The Woefield Poultry Collective has been acclaimed as adult humour but I believe that teens in high school would delight in Prudence's story, especially as Susan Juby's skills are founded in YA literature. Prudence may be a twenty-something character, but her voice and those of Susan Juby's other characters are so distinctive and familiar that teens will revel in their humour and odd perspectives. Seth, from whom expletives pour like beer, may be twenty-one but he's still living in his high school years since having never graduated or achieved closure after the "incident" at the school play. Sara may be smart enough to manage in a dysfunctional family and share her knowledge of poultry practices, but she is still a child, naive enough to misunderstand Seth's drunkedness, her dad's "misappropriateness" at the bank (which cost him his job) and Earl's swearing and lack of initiative. With Susan Juby's evocative text, the narrators on the audiobook of The Woefield Poultry Collective do not just read the words, they become their characters. Listen to a preview of it at Audible.com to share in the flavour that is Earl.

While Prudence may seem far too upbeat and environmentally-conscious for some readers, I know a few persons just like her, and the virtue that is Prudence's is that she doesn't preach or tell others how to live their lives. Even when Seth is falling down drunk, Prudence tries to find a way to help rather than just berate him. She's just the embodiment of the old adage, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Prudence makes lemonade with sparkly ice-cubes made of well water. ( )

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/2012/05/woefield-poultry-collective-by-susa...

If I could see Susan Juby's bookshelves at home, I wouldn't be surprised to find copies of Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, Sue Monk Kidd's Life of Bees, Shaffer and Barrows' The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and maybe several volumes by Sophie Kinsella. It's not that her novel is derivative per se, it's just that it seems very influenced by some of the folksy, so-quirky-it's-adorable novels with hapless characters and back-to-nature themes that have been so popular in recent years. That's not to say that I don't like those novels. With the exception of Jonathan Franzen, I've read and enjoyed all of the authors I mentioned above (I hated Freedom. Hated it. HATED IT.). But one thing that separates Susan Juby from most of those authors is that she doesn't seem to like any of her characters very much. Prudence, the city dweller turned sustainable farmer, is so clueless she doesn't seem to have any other qualities; Earl, the farm hand and secret musician, is more of a caricature of a lazy grump than a real character; Seth, the twenty-year-old alcoholic blogger, is just a whiny brat; and Sara, the oddly religious chicken enthusiast kid, is judgmental and annoying. It's not just that I find the characters unlikable, it's that the author seems to be laughing at them. Haha what silly awful people I've created. What hilarious situations can I put them in? I don't think Susan Juby actually had anything to say with this novel. All in all, it makes for a book that is readable but shallow. ( )

Oddly, wonderfully funny. It made me want to go get a shed full of chickens. Why will none of my relatives leave me a farm. Honestly! ( )

A quirky cast of characters tells the story each through their own point of view. A fast and enjoyable read. ( )

I was torn with this story. Part of me thought it was a cute story with amusing characters, and a storyline full of questions on ethics and morals. But then occasionally the story would get a little ridiculous. Sort of “over-the-top”. You know, like slapstick humor can be. So I continually found myself frustrated and distracted by some of the preposterous setups. But the characters had some endearing features that kept me reading. Filled with relatively likable characters, I found that I probably liked the vet Dr. Eustace the most, but the irascible farmhand Earl was a character that I got a kick out of as well. An ornery loner, there is a warmth to him hidden underneath it all.

If you are interested in organic produce, a sustainable lifestyle, conscious consumerism, and an individual’s ability to have a global impact on the world, then this story is for you.

Overall an enjoyable story, despite it getting too silly and preposterous at times. A story of a woman empowering herself and not taking "no" for an answer-- not taking it from people nor from life. Grit, humor and human fallibility underlies the entire storyline. ( )

When Prudence Burns inherits Woefield Farm she is full of hopes and dreams. She really has no idea what she is in for. What she finds is a farm that is aptly named. Next she finds people who definitely fit right in. This is a colorful and quirky cast of characters, to be sure. The story is told by these characters, each from their unique viewpoint.

Prudence is a woman who brings her ideals with her to Woefield Farm. She wants to be an honest to goodness, back-to-basics farmer. She has great plans for herself and the farm.

Seth is a troubled young man whom Prudence hires as a handyman. A high school drop-out, he fancies himself to be a writer. What he is really, is a rebellious kid who lacks self discipline.

Earl is the real down-to-earth guy. The strong silent type, he knows his stuff and gets things done.

Then there is little eleven year old Sarah, a girl on a mission. She has chickens that need housing. Prudence agrees to keep them on Woefield Farm. But not only do the chickens find a place there, so does Sarah.

In fact, this zany group all come together on an entertaining journey, all finding a place, a home of sorts at Woefield Farm. This is a very pleasurable and satisfying read. ( )

This was a very funny, light read--perfect for the summer. The characters had faults which Juby rendered mostly lovable and the plot was fun without being vapid. ( )

24-year-old Prudence Burns has always dreamed of being a seller instead of just a buyer at the farmer's market. She can picture herself beside a table loaded with farm fresh organic produce she's grown herself feeling finally and fully alive. Unfortunately, Prudence happens to live in an apartment in Brooklyn, and her efforts at being sustainable have chased her boyfriend away and left her wondering just what to do now. Next thing you know, Prudence has inherited her Great-Uncle Harold's farm in Canada and it seems as if her dreams might just come true.

What Prudence finds, though, is a run down farm that hasn't produced anything in years, a house that hasn't known any cleaning, mountains of debt, and a lonely, pathetic half-sheared sheep. All these problems are hardly enough to deter the ever-optimistic Prudence, and she happily sets about making the improvements she imagines will turn Woefield Farm into the profitable sustainable farm of her dreams with the help of her unlikely and unwieldy "staff." Prudence inherits crotchety Earl, the farm foreman who's much better at watching TV and playing the banjo than he is at building or farming, when she inherits the farm. Soon after her arrival, Prudence hires Seth, a reclusive celebrity gossip blogger with some embarrassing secrets and a major drinking problem who's just been kicked out of his parents' house. Last comes too serious eleven-year-old Sara Spratt who needs a home for her prize-winning chickens and a place to get away from her own home life that is rapidly deteriorating.

If you're looking for a serious book on the trials of modern-day farming or the practical aspects of sustainability, look elsewhere. However, if you're looking for a laugh-out-loud funny unexpectedly heartwarming tale of a group of people who come together to save a farm and find a home, that's what you'll find in Home to Woefield. The book unfolds in the four very distinct voices of its four main characters, getting inside each one's bizarre thought patterns and revealing each character for what they see themselves as, as well as how the others perceive them. It's as easy to laugh at as it is to root for these characters as they attempt to shear the other half of the sheep, get Alec Baldwin (the chicken) ready to compete at the county fair, and come up will all sorts of harebrained schemes to hold off creditors until they can figure out how to make the farm profitable. You'll find yourself laughing out loud at Earl's grumpy old man narration or Seth's self-deluded ramblings, but you'll just as easily find yourself feeling for them as they face up to the secrets from the past that dog them.

Though, the story lacks something in believability, it more than makes up for it with its big heart. Ultimately, Home to Woefield is a fun, funny, and refreshing book that never takes itself too seriously yet somehow manages to strike at the heart of how much we all need to find a place where we can be safe and loved for who we are, big messy secrets and all. ( )

I should confess from the outset that I romanticize living in Canada much in the same way Prudence romanticizes farm life. At the start Prudence has an idea of what farm living and farm communities are like-think Mayberry. What I love about Prudence is what first drove me crazy about her. Her pie in the sky naive optimism and ideals. The humor of this book is watching Prudence’s ideals be put aside for her to reach her goals.

I really enjoyed these quirky characters. Seth, the next door neighbor with a horrible secret (well, not so much horrible as just terribly embarrassing). Earl, the crusty caretaker of the farm and his half-shaved sheep, Bertie. And my absolute favorite Sara, the 11 year-old chicken expert who comes to stay at the farm and may just never leave.

This was a nice, fun read. You may not warm to it right away but stick with it and I’m sure you’ll be as charmed as I was. I’m hoping we get to hear from these characters again.

Oh, and I still love Canada and totally want to live there some day.

I received this copy free from Book Club Girl for her Blog Talk Radio show. ( )

Prudence is full of great ideas. New York City just hasn't provided the best atmosphere for some of her more ambitious environmental projects. Just when she needs it, however, a second chance comes to her in the form of her recently deceased uncle's farm on Vancouver Island. Full of hope and plans she heads off to Woefield Farm only to discover that it's acres of scrub land, with nothing but one half sheared sheep and the bank is talking about foreclosure. Though not the idyllic country life she had in mind Prudence is no less determined to make Woefield Farm a success. Her first step is to assemble a team (assemble here is a loose term which means “to take whatever help that falls into your lap”) made up of Ed, her uncle's old banjo playing, incredibly grumpy farm hand, Seth the alcoholic, heavy metal blogger from across the street and Sara, an eleven year old member of the Poultry Appreciation Club. A motley crew to be sure, but together they all pitch in an try to keep Woefield going.

Of all the wonderful characters in this book I found Ed and Sara to be the most charming and relatable. I found them both scrappy and resilient, despite the family problems they're coping with. Sara in particular, frequently made me smile. At only eleven years old she has more determination than I do now at twenty two. I also found myself wishing there was a Poultry Appreciation Club in my town when I was younger! All the characters were great and they had great chemistry despite their differences.

I also want to give Juby credit for the setting. Sometimes author's really over-do it when their story takes place in a small town. As someone who is from a small town I really appreciate when we're not represented as backwaters, oblivious hicks. Susan Juby did a great job of describing the quirks of small town people without giving in to those common stereotypes.

This book was a lot of fun to read. I find when I pick up books that take place in Canadian rural small towns, they're often heavy handed and a little depressing. That's sort of what I expected when I started this book. Instead I got some hilarious characters, taking part in some memorable moments, in a charming setting. It was very light but at the same time had some strong moral themes and idea which kept it from being flaky. Though not a serious book by any means this was still a wonderful and thoughtful read. ( )

I ALMOST passed this book up. At first, I just said no to it because it didn't sound like one that I would enjoy. Then, it was on that I'd have to squeeze into my already bogged down schedule. Then, I said to myself "what's one more book in my already gazillion piles of books"? So, I took this book, with it's chicken on the cover, and gave it a shot. Susan Judy's plot line, characters and style instantly had me hooked. There were times I couldn't see straight because I read this book in one day and couldn't put it down.

The story line is different than some of I've been reading lately. Prudence is a New York author, who, not by choice, inherited a run down farm. So, she leaves the world she's known to start her life as a farmer. Little does she know that she's getting a foreman, a neighbor who's a blogger (go Seth!) but hasn't left his house since high school, and an 11 year old little girl who had award winning chickens. That need a home. On Prudence's new farm. That has an absolutely hilarious sounding, not to mention depressed, sheep.

Between four narratives, Juby makes her lovable, laughable characters come to life as the reader settles into Woefield. While I loved all these characters, I absolutely fell in love with that poor, depressed sheep. That sheep was funny enough itself, but add in 4 mismatched souls, sheep sheering, chickens and hilarious misadventures along the way, and you'll find yourself wishing you were among the folks at home in Woefield in real life.

So, I am, of course, super glad that I gave into this novel. It keeps the reader turning the pages and laughing out loud the entire time. This 5 star novel is one I'll recommend to all who like to laugh til they cry. Susan Juby has a new fan in me and I hope that more mismatched characters, poultry and depressed sheep are in the future of Ms. Juby's works! ( )

Home to Woefield surprised me. I mean, I thought it'd be a cute fluff stories, and it had a few things that annoyed me (the super green attitude of the main character was a little over the top) but it worked still. And what a cast of characters! I don't think I've had that much fun reading about characters since experiencing The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser (another fun book).

Susan Juby did a fantastic job moving into the world of adult literature, but there is still some evidence in her writing that she came from a world of young adult. Not that it's a bad thing, just that the book was very sectioned into certain personality types and there was not a whole lot of growth in the characters - outside of obvious story-needing growth. Still, although a bit predictable, it was a fun, entertaining, easy read and made my afternoon pass very pleasurably.

For a light, summer beach read, this book would be high on my list - now, all I need is summer to make its way back so I can enjoy it again. ( )

Witty, charming, and filled with quirky characters. My review may be read here: http://www.rundpinne.com/2011/03/book-review-home-to-woefield-by-susan-juby.html ( )

Normally, I would begin by telling you a bit about the plot and what I though would follow....But - I cannot wait 'til the end of the post to tell you how much I ADORED this book.

Susan Juby is a Canadian author who has previously written award winning young adult novels, but Home to Woefield is her first book written specifically for adults.

Prudence Burns is a young, idealistic New Yorker, determined to do the right thing for the earth - she makes her own bread (even hand milling the ancient grains) recycles everything, shares a car service, buys from local co-ops and even has a worm composter.

"I don't know about you, but for me there came that moment during every visit to the farmers' market when I wanted more. I wanted to be the one standing behind the folding table, a truck of organic produce at my back, displaying my heirloom tomatoes and baby potatoes. I want to be the one handing over glossy sheaves of swiss chard at a reasonable price and talking knowledgeably about my mushroom patch. The one looking cold and somewhat chapped about the face and hands, yet more alive than anyone else in unfashionable rubber boots and dirty pants."
Her enthusiasm has not rubbed off on her live in boyfriend Leo. In fact, those worms were the final straw. When she gets a call telling her that she has inherited a farm from her only remaining relative, Great Uncle Harold (whom she's never met) she packs up and moves to Vancouver Island, Canada. She'll be able to make those dreams come true!

Dreams and reality collide when she arrives. Farm is an enthusiastic term for what she finds, and apparently she has inherited a 'negative asset' according to the bank. But our Prue is eternally optimistic...

"The property was spectacular. So rugged and untouched. All that wonderful grass. The beauty of stray stones in a field." "A farm is nothing but limitless potential, waiting to be uncovered."
She has also inherited Earl, a sometime handyman who has lived on the property for 35 years. Her planned strawberry social memorial to Uncle Harold introduces her to a few more of the neighbours. Seth from across the way ends up asking if she has a room to rent. His mother wants him out of the house as he's been in hiding since that incident with the drama club, writing celebrity gossip and heavy metal blogs from the confines of his basement bedroom. And he might have a wee bit of a drinking problem. Prudence takes him in in exchange for chore duty. And during that strawberry social she also meets Sara's mother, who asks if she would mind building a coop and housing her daughter's chickens - they just can't keep them in their residential neighbourhood any longer. They'll pay of course - so the answer is yes.

And these are the residents of Woefield Farm. The story is told in chapters from the viewpoint of each of the characters. All four of them leap off the page - each voice is funny, unique and sometimes heartbreaking. Eleven year old Sara especially grabbed me. There are lots of problems at home and she spends more and more time at the farm, trying to live her life according the the guidelines and principles of the Junior Poultry Club - Getting Started, Take Action and Leaders Are Even Tempered.

Prudence is unfailingly optimistic. Her view is sunny when there isn't a ray in sight. Really, she's the kind of person you would love to know and have as a friend. And someone you just can't help cheering for.

Juby is a very funny woman. It takes a lot for me to laugh out loud while reading, but Prudence's forays into Home Depot, and a disastrous attempt at sheep shearing and tmany other scenes had me laughing out loud at work - prompting more than one read aloud session to my co workers.

Four diverse personalities band together to save the farm and in the process - save themselves. Home to Woefield is a hilarious, heartwarming, heartbreaking, heartfelt heck of a read. I was going at breakneck pace and had to put the book down and save the final 50 pages. I just didn't want it to end. Maybe...we'll hear more from the farm in the future? What do you think Susan? ( )

Prudence is ready for a life change when she receives word that her uncle has died and left his small farm (inauspiciously named Woefield) to her. With her mind filled with visions of farmers' markets and peaceful pastures of sheep, she leaves Brooklyn and moves to Woefield, on a small island off British Columbia. There she discovers that the land comes with a tenant--Earl, her uncle's hired man, (although she never did learn what he was hired to do) lives in a small house on the farm. Then Seth, the young lush from across the road, asks if he can move in. And finally, Sarah, the oldest 11-year-old you will ever meet, brings her chickens. (This child takes her chickens VERY seriously.) Together, with many bumps along the way, these four disparate (or is that desperate) folks turn themselves into a family.

Earl and Seth just shake their heads at Prudence and her dreams for the farm--and her enthusiasm and energy! Unwillingly they are both pulled along. Sarah seems to understand Prudence very well--the two females are definitely on the same page. Prudence doesn't always look before she leaps in with both feet, and she definitely gets herself into trouble. Parts of Home to Woefield are hysterical; other parts are heart-rending. But it's a story I've come back to in my mind time and again, since finishing it a week ago. ( )

There is a trend right now for adults to read YA literature. Being the cantakerous reader than I am, I still don't read much of it, not because I think it's of a lesser quality but because most of the premises I've seen haven't appealed to me much. This first novel targeted at adults by YA author Susan Juby appealed to me greatly though. The idea of a native New Yorker with back to the land ambitions inheriting a scrubby farm in Canada and moving there to try her hand at farming sounds like just my type of book. I've read a number of these in memoir form but I hadn't yet come across this story in fiction until now. Just let me say that I enjoyed this book so much that I fully intend to go back and read Juby's YA works (and maybe even pass them along to the YA reader in my house if they are as entertaining as this book was).

Told in four narrative voices, that of Prudence, who has inherited the farm and its seemingly insurmountable debts from her late uncle; Sara, the eleven year old girl who moves her chickens to Woefield Farm; Earl, the cranky septugenarian farm hand who came with the farm; and Seth, the twenty-one year old alcoholic blogger from across the road who moves in when his mother kicks him out. It is indeed a woeful and motley crew of characters but they are completely hilarious and charming. Prudence is delightfully naive, certain she can make the farm a paying proposition based on her extensive reading of "moving and starting over" memoirs. She is uber-positive and incredibly motivated, if as innocent of the necessities involved with farm life as a newborn chick. She is indeed a cheerful force to be reckoned with.

To start with, Prudence must face the dire financial situation on the farm that she is so determined will fulfill her dream of living sustainably. In order to buy a little time, she decides to hoodwink the bank by telling them that she is opening the farm up as a treatment center, using the alcoholic Seth as a dummy client. And somehow she pulls it off but then she is landed with a local mother desperate for help with her sullen, drug-abusing teenaged daughter in tow as well as the local writing group who has learned that Prudence is a published author (the fact that her novel was poorly received and almost unknown seems to dissuade the group about her skills not at all). As Prudence juggles the situations she's created for herself, jaded Earl goes about the farm trying to build the things that Prudence's visions require, Seth fights his demons, and Sara stoically endures a demoralizing home life.

The plot is not overly complicated and the main focus of the story is on building relationships more so than building a productive farm. Watching the four very disparate characters come together is great fun and having the differing perspectives on each disaster as it befalls them is wonderful. Where else can so many characters riff on a sheep wearing maxi-pads taped to her hooves and sides? Each of the characters has a very distinct voice. They're unique and quirky and I enjoyed spending time with them. One reservation about this charmingly entertaining read is that the ending is a little too easy, a little too deus ex machina although as it stands, we could certainly see a future trip to Woefield Farm for more. While Juby raises some interesting issues, the green movement and sustainability, alcoholism, politics, and dysfunctional family dynamics, she doesn't dig too deeply into them here, keeping the novel breezy and light, goofy and generous, tenderhearted and warm. I have to admit that I turned the last page of this one with a big grin on my face. I liked it. I really, really liked it. ( )

The Good Stuff

Unlike anything I have ever read before
Wacky and weird but beautiful and hopeful
The young girl Sara is so unusual and sweet and living in such a horrible situation that I just wanted to reach out and adopt her
Prudence is a complete flake, but a truly lovable flake with absolutely no malice in her and such wonderful enthusiasm for everything and everybody - she reminded me so much of my buddy Tosca
this is not story you read all at once. It is something you read a bit of every day sort of like watching a favorite tv show.
wonderful dry sense of humour and hilarious lines that will make you laugh your ass off
The Not so Good Stuff

hard to explain but felt like the author was trying to hard to make all the characters especially odd at the expense of the story at times
Sara's parents are so horrible they made me really depressed for the kid
It takes a bit to get into with all the different narrators, but this also ultimately makes all the characters more interesting from the various points of view
I picked up on some anti-love vibes about blogger's and popular writers - it could just be me though
Favorite Quotes/Passages

"He'll just take them, even if they are driving or flying planes with other people in them. So that will cause a lot of accidents for the people who are left behind. It's kind of an irresponsible way for God to handle it, if you think about it. You would think that if God was going to do a Rapture, which is what it's called when God takes all the people, he would do it when they aren't busy. But I think the point is that the people who get left behind get what they deserve."

"My book was, according to the lone blogger who reviewed it as part of one of those roundups about what is wrong with young adult literature, "anxiety-saturated but surprisingly dull." I couldn't, in good conscience, argue with that assessment."

"I used to update my blogs eights, sometimes twelve hours a day. That's eight or twelve hours of writing, Stephen King is probably one of the only other guys who writes that much. Him and James Patterson, although King's the only one of those two worth reading."

What I Learned

Some actually fascinating information about sustainability and farming
Who should/shouldn't read

Those who like a story that is just a little bit odd
This is not one for those who like fast paced exciting storylines
3.75 Dewey's

I received this from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest ( )

This book is simply charming! Told in 4 voices, it is the story of Prudence, who inherits a rundown farm from an Uncle she barely knew. She also inherits Earl, the hired hand, and a half shaved sheep. Debts are through the leaky roof, but Prudence (who I think has read too many books, and seen too many movies) brings her overly optimistic self to make a go of farming.

A one book novelist, she lies to the bank, takes in Seth, the alcoholic son of a neighbor, and Sara, a young girl raising prize winning chickens. Prudence decides to supplement her income by teaching writing to the locals.

Running a farm is much more than she anticipates, but Prudence's high energy and "Pollyanna" attitude help her charm even the hardest heart.

Will this ragtag, motley group be able to save the farm?

This book has humor, sadness, and hope. Something for everyone.

I highly recommend " Home to Woefield" as a book with great heart.

I received this book from Harper Collins for review. Thank you! ( )

Everyone who has ever tried to grow something should read this book. Besides the frustrations of farming without experience and and the best tools, this book is about a group of unique characters who are all funny in their way. I did laugh out loud all through this book and felt sorry for the people's misfortunes. It had a little of the flavor of the movie 'Waking Ned Devine'. This assortment of characters did not seem to fit together at firt yet they all began to love each other in different ways. So, I make my last recommendation, any one who is human should read this book!

I won 'Home to Woefield' from GoodReads. My review is completlely my opinion. ( )

This book sounded perfect for me, with its themes of sustainability, local food, small towns, and farming. And there were definitely parts of it I loved--most especially, its quirky characters. But overall, I found it too simplistic (too-easy solutions to complex problems), and unbelievable (I really doubt someone as idealistic as Prudence would really see past the vet's conflicting politics to fall so hard for him). There was a great cast of characters, and their interactions with each other and various viewpoints were very fun to read. A fun, fluffy read, but only if you're willing to suspend a lot of disbelief. ( )

Prudence Burns is in love with the idea of becoming an organic farmer, of selling her sustainable, heritage, free range products at local farmers markets, and living in harmony with the earth. Problem is she lives in a 600 square foot apartment in Brooklyn. So when she inherits Woefield Farm from and uncle it seems like all her dreams are coming true, until she sees the 30 hard-packed, desolate acres and the motley collection staff, neighbors, and livestock attracted to the place. Prudence, however, is a force to be reckoned with and she is determined to keep the farm going even if all she has is a 70 year old foreman, an alcoholic blogger, a young chicken enthusiast, and a one lonely, half sheered sheep.

Home to Woefield started out with the right idea - an interesting project for the characters, almost insurmountable obstacles, and funny, quirky characters. The book was entertaining and easy to read, but in the end just a bit too quirky and far fetched for me. I liked its big bigheartedness and the idea that that the characters could create their own sort of family. I wish there had been more description of the farm and the work that went on there. I had a hard time picturing where the story was taking place. ( )

This is a hilarious book about a naive but passionately idealistic 24 year old city girl who inherits a broken down farm. And its' old curmudgeon of a farm hand. And a hard-rocking, blogging, agoraphobic boarder. And a precocious junior chicken farmer. And a traumatized sheep. And a teensy little lie told to a banker. Mix all these things together, add in a sexy vet and a bluegrass festival and you've got one lovely romp of a book that could very well cause spontaneous giggles and sudden guffaws. This is a fun, fun read. ( )

I wanted to like this book. I thought the concept seemed promising. But I didn't love it. First of all, even though it's advertised as an adult book, I think it reads as YA. It's not surprising, considering the author mainly writes YA. And I don't mind YA, but that's when I know I'm reading YA. For instance, it's hard to relate to an adult character who acts and talks like a teenager. The main character, Prudence, was really poorly written; if she was a teenager, it would have been fine. Further, the two main male characters were...boring? I'm not sure. The only segments I really enjoyed reading were the child's segments (again, not surprisingly), and her story was left with such a poor ending that it was hard to believe this was the book. Sara (the girl) is exploring some sort of way to feel better about her terrible home life, and that includes searching for religion. Unfortunately, I don't feel like this storyline ended believably or satisfactorily.
I finished it, so I guess that's something. But I can't in good conscience recommend this to anyone. ( )

I am probably the most perfect reviewer for this book, having recently made the return to farming life after living in several cities. I, like the main character, had to adjust my ideas about what it was possible for me to do on a farm.

The supporting characters in this book were very interesting, much more so than Prudence who is supposed to be the main character. The supporting voices told compelling stories of what small town life is like for a lot of people. That was infinitely more interesting than Prudence being bubbly and "perfect" all the time.

The solution to all their problems was a bit too convenient for my liking and was the main reason I ultimately rated this book kind of low. It's just disappointing when an author gives in to such an "easy" ending. ( )