A review by squinderella
Bootstrapper: From Broke to Badass on a Northern Michigan Farm by Mardi Jo Link
3.0
I found Bootstrapper to be somewhat disappointing. I'm not usually all-about memoirs to begin with, but it took place in Michigan! I had to!
I felt like Link wrote a pretty decent description of suddenly being on her own, (without a husband), but of living on an actual farm? Not so much. It's not as if she had crops- she had a garden! And yes, she had animals, but only one kind at a time: first horses and then chickens - that's all.
Also, as another reviewer mentioned as well: she was so prideful that it was nearly dangerous for her boys. I understand not wanting to have to admit you're now "poor," but she had no food and no heat! In Michigan- in the winter! I've lived here my whole life...you can't do that!
Bootstrapper wasn't bad- I actually enjoyed it mostly, and there were quite a few points that were funny. I just feel as if the tag line and description aren't quite what you get.
As a side note: I listened to the audiobook and the reader, although good, had trouble with pronunciation: I thought Link's farm was called The Big Belly instead of Valley for the majority of the book until I finally looked it up! I couldn't understand why anyone would name their ranch that! She's also not a Michigander, as was obvious as soon as she said "Mackinac. " :) (It's ok...I can forgive that!)
I felt like Link wrote a pretty decent description of suddenly being on her own, (without a husband), but of living on an actual farm? Not so much. It's not as if she had crops- she had a garden! And yes, she had animals, but only one kind at a time: first horses and then chickens - that's all.
Also, as another reviewer mentioned as well: she was so prideful that it was nearly dangerous for her boys. I understand not wanting to have to admit you're now "poor," but she had no food and no heat! In Michigan- in the winter! I've lived here my whole life...you can't do that!
Bootstrapper wasn't bad- I actually enjoyed it mostly, and there were quite a few points that were funny. I just feel as if the tag line and description aren't quite what you get.
As a side note: I listened to the audiobook and the reader, although good, had trouble with pronunciation: I thought Link's farm was called The Big Belly instead of Valley for the majority of the book until I finally looked it up! I couldn't understand why anyone would name their ranch that! She's also not a Michigander, as was obvious as soon as she said "Mackinac. " :) (It's ok...I can forgive that!)