Mrs. Mike: The Story of Katherine Mary Flannigan

In the early 1900s, sixteen-year-old Katherine Mary moves to Canada to live with her uncle, hoping that the air will help her pleurisy. She meets Sergeant Mike Flannigan, a Mountie. He makes her mad with her teasing, but as she confides in her new friend, Mildred, "he has eyes so blue you could swim in them." When they marry, duty calls him to the North, where there are few white women and being a Mountie isn't so much being a policeman as it is peacemaker and doctor.

This was a sweet, sad, but hopeful tale. I enjoyed Kathy and Mike and their growing relationship as the years pass and they go through various experiences in their married lives. Having just read The Egypt Game and The Summer of My German Soldier, I couldn't help but notice show more how this book from the 1940s dealt with race. "Mrs. Mike" lives in a territory where there are primarily trappers and Indian women, and her opinions include historically accurate generalizations, such as when she wonders about introducing strikes to the Indian women, but concludes that they're "savages and wouldn't understand." Yet the portrayal of some of the individual characters, especially when compared to some of their white counterparts, give a much more nuanced picture. Though Kathy's spoken opinions never say as much, one can see a difference in the way she responds to characters in given situations as she continues to live and work with Indians and half-Indians. This is a story I would definitely read again, and I'm going to look for the sequels as well. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, heartfelt story of 16 year old Katherine Mary O'Fallon, who travels for health reasons from Boston to Calgary in 1907 to live with her uncle. "Up till 1905 Alberta had been part of the Great Northwest Territory, and it gave me a real thrill to go to a place that had been officially civilized for only two years." There, she meets and marries Sergeant Mike Flannigan, and the two of them travel by canoe and dog-pulled sled to remote Northwest outposts of the vast region Mike serves as the beloved Mountie -- which at such a time also means doctor, community liaison, judge, and provider. Their life together in the rugged, harsh, lonely and unspoiled wilderness is one of love and loss, community and isolation, show more wonder and heartbreak, cruelty and kindness. As I read the book, which was published in 1947, it seemed to me like a Canadian Little House book for young adults. I was touched to read internet reviewers' accounts of the book -- many said it was the book that made them fall in love with reading (and Sergeant Mike), their favorite book from childhood, or the one they read so often it literally fell apart. I wish I had read it at a young age, but I'm so glad I read it now! show less

There is something so satisfying about reading a really good love story. The trouble is that there are so few really good stories out there! I don't want just mush; I don't want steamy sex scenes; I don't want 'inspirational' muck. I want great characters; I want a struggle somewhere; I want an amazing conclusion that makes me want to shout. Is that too much to ask?

Yes. Most of the time. But this book delivered all of that and more. It gave me a great setting so real that I would recognize it if I saw it. It gave me great secondary characters. It made me cry. It offered some real drama and excitement.

If you have, like me, somehow overlooked this story of Katherine Mary, formerly of Boston, and Sergeant Mike Flanagan of the RCMP, and if show more you want a really good love story, then race to the nearest library or bookstore and pick this one up. You will be glad you did. show less

On the one hand, it's an enjoyable book with great characters. On the other hand, it was originally written in 1947 and has a lot of racist things to say about Cree people, and generally sexist attitudes towards women. Both of these were accurate to the timeframe. There is also an abiding respect for Native nations and their traditions, and great love for particular individuals. As Canadian frontier propaganda, it could certainly be worse.

I enjoyed the sheer wonder that Kathy experiences for the land. I liked the love story. I appreciated the thoughts and conversations about grief and loss. The audio book was well read. If you are looking for nostalgiac books about frontier life, this will probably delight you. I am not planning to show more read the sequels since they center a Native character and the author does not have the background for it. show less

This story is about sixteen year old Katherine Mary O’Fallon, a 16 year old Irish girl from Boston in 1907, and the man she falls in love with, Sargent Mike Flannigan, a hero who is handsome, chivalrous, strong and fearless. Kathy is suffering from pleurisy and is sent alone to Canada to recover at her uncle's home in Calgary. Mike is a Canadian Mounted Policeman, who falls in love with her and takes her to the Northwest Territories of the Canadian wilderness. We follow along with Kathy and Mike and witness their life in the harsh and beautiful land, which includes isolation, snow, fire, death, bears, and even deadly mosquitoes. Kathy and Mike learn respect for the Indians, their beliefs and their way of life. It's also a timeless show more love story.

I first read this book when I was twelve and, of course, fell madly in love with Mike. I definitely wanted to grow up and marry a Canadian Mountie and live in a cabin in the wilderness. (Ironically, I married someone named Mike, and lived in Alaska for three years but it just wasn't the same). Reading the book fifty years later is a bit disheartening for me. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Mike in a much more jaundiced way. Of course, since the book was published in 1947, the attitude and language with reference to Indians and women might offend many readers. Over the years there has been some indications that the “true” story was highly fictionalized by the Freedman's.

Nevertheless, it remains one of the most memorable books I've ever read. I needed to pull out some tissues a couple of time. I still think of Mrs. Mike as one of the first books that contributed to my lifelong love of reading and of historical fiction. I have a shelf called “nostalgia” and it's the perfect place to put this gem. The book was “based” on a true story and doesn't claim to be non-fiction. It's love story that emphasizes what friendship, community, family and love are all about. show less

At age 16 Kathy O’Fallon is sent from Boston to Calgary, Alberta with the thought that the cold dry air would be good for her pleurisy. It was there she met Sergeant Mike Flannigan, of the Northwest Mounted Police. After a quick romance, Kathy finds herself married and on her way up to northern Canada. The winters are cold and dark and the summers full of mosquitoes but Kathy adapts to the her new community and her assorted neighbors.

I first read this book back in 1964 when I was taken in by the romance of the story. And I believe it started my lifelong fascination of life in far northern climates. Reading it again, almost 50 years later has not changed my love for the book. I still admire the pluck of young Kathy, can dream with her show more about her husband Mike, and appreciate the difficulties in making a satisfactory life in a small village north of everywhere. show less

This story is about sixteen year old Katherine Mary O’Fallon, a 16 year old Irish girl from Boston in 1907, and the man she falls in love with, Sargent Mike Flannigan, a hero who is handsome, chivalrous, strong and fearless. Kathy is suffering from pleurisy and is sent alone to Canada to recover at her uncle's home in Calgary. Mike is a Canadian Mounted Policeman, who falls in love with her and takes her to the Northwest Territories of the Canadian wilderness. We follow along with Kathy and Mike and witness their life in the harsh and beautiful land, which includes isolation, snow, fire, death, bears, and even deadly mosquitoes. Kathy and Mike learn respect for the Indians, their beliefs and their way of life. It's also a timeless show more love story.

I first read this book when I was twelve and, of course, fell madly in love with Mike. I definitely wanted to grow up and marry a Canadian Mountie and live in a cabin in the wilderness. (Ironically, I married someone named Mike, and lived in Alaska for three years but it just wasn't the same). Reading the book fifty years later is a bit disheartening for me. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Mike in a much more jaundiced way. Of course, since the book was published in 1947 and the attitude and language with reference to Indians and women might offend some. Over the years there has been some indications that the “true” story was highly fictionalized by the Freedman's.

Nevertheless, it remains one of the most memorable books I've ever read. I needed to pull out some tissues a couple of time. I still think of Mrs. Mike as one of the first books that contributed to my lifelong love of reading and of historical fiction. I have a shelf called “nostalgia” and it's the perfect place to put this gem. The book was “based” on a true story and doesn't claim to be non-fiction. It's love story that emphasizes what friendship, community, family and love are all about. show less