The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts

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Web ID: 14500383

The triumphant true story of a woman who rode her horse across America in the 1950s, fulfilling her dying wish to see the Pacific Ocean, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Horse and The Eighty-Dollar Champion The gift Elizabeth Letts has is that she makes you feel you are the one taking this trip. This is a book we can enjoy always but especially need now. Elizabeth Berg, author of The Story of Arthur Truluv In 1954, sixty-three-year-old Maine farmer Annie Wilkins embarked on an impossible journey. She had no money and no family, she had just lost her farm, and her doctor had given her only two years to live. But Annie wanted to see the Pacific Ocean before she died. She ignored her doctor's advice to move into the county charity home. Instead, she bought a cast-off brown gelding named Tarzan, donned men's dungarees, and headed south in mid-November, hoping to beat the snow. Annie had little idea what to expect beyond her rural crossroads; she didn't even have a map. But she did have her ex-racehorse, her faithful mutt, and her own unfailing belief that Americans would treat a stranger with kindness.Annie, Tarzan, and her dog, Depeche Toi, rode straight into a world transformed by the rapid construction of modern highways.

  • Product Features

    • Elizabeth Letts (Author)
    • Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
    • Publication Date: 06-07-2022
    • Page Count - 336
    • Paperback
    • Adult
    • Pets
    • Product Dimensions - 5.16 W x 7.98 H x 0.7 D
    • ISBN-13 - 9780525619345

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Ratings & Reviews

4.6/5

7 star ratings, 6 reviews

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1 month ago
from Manteca, CA

Great Slice of Americana History

I loved this feel good story which featured the story of a woman, her horses, and her dog traveling across 1950's United States. I gasped out loud several times while listening to the audio version, and I got so involved and concerned in her story and the story of her animal companions. If you love history, if you love animals, if you love a true story that will leave you feeling good about your fellow Americans (at a time when we all need a little reminder that we can be good people), then you'll love this story. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago

Fill your heart

A wonderfully uplifting story of one woman's journey to fill a wish before she died. Her travels across the United States would be full of excitement and the kindness of strangers.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago

Inspiring story

After a devastating diagnosis where her doctor gave her two years to live, Annie Wilkins, age 64, ignored her doctor's advice of moving into a care home and instead used the last of her money to buy a gelding named Tarzan. Along with her ex-racehorse and her dog, they set out with no map and no money to ride over 4000 miles to fulfill her lifelong wish of seeing the Pacific Ocean. I found this story inspiring and heartwarming. It gives us a glimpse of the country in the mid 50s when you could still rely on the kindness of strangers for help and shelter. Through the many difficulties in her journey, she never gave up. I like the descriptive writing style in this book. It painted a picture of all the places she visited and people she met, keeping the story running along smoothly. The book is nonfiction but read like fiction. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Illinois

Great Read

I loved this book. It is a true story of an amazing adventure!

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from MN

1950's America

The Ride of Her Life is a very inspiring book about a strong female in 1954. Annie Wilkins is a 63 year old widow who, rather than accept her diagnosis of only 2 years left to live, buys a horse and travels across America to see the Pacific Ocean. Letts tells this story of when the country is changing and growing while Annie rides her horse through the country. She meets many people and has an incredible experience. I really enjoyed reading this book about a strong woman, the USA and how good the people can be.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from Massachusetts

Delightful read

This is a charming, uplifting, thoroughly enjoyable biography about a forgotten time in America. So many things were changing in the mid to late 50’s and Annie Wilkins is mostly unaware of her unusual trip and how it is completely outside most of the country’s experience at that time. I found this to be a very enjoyable read, and kept reading just to see what would happen next. I thank #netgalley and the publisher for this copy of #therideofherlife to read in exchange for my honest review.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com