The Road Home

January 6, 1997
Eight years ago, after living in Boston for decades, Thomas bought a one-room cabin set on four acres in central Vermont and found a place to call home. In this charming memoir, the first-time author reflects on the dramatic changes in her life as a result of the move and details the joys and problems of rural living. Her relationship with her friend Julian, who still lives part of the time in Boston, grew stronger as he visited regularly and lent his expertise to wiring the cabin and helping with structural additions. His support convinced Thomas, then in her mid-40s, to realize her dream of adopting a baby. She traveled to China and returned with five-month-old Amelia (now two). The author relates how she shares a contented life with Amelia, Julian and her dog, Lily, despite the difficulty of heating the cabin and locating drinkable water. Thomas communicates her deep pleasure in nature as she describes feeding hummingbirds, planning a garden and observing the splendid Vermont countryside. Author tour.

May 15, 1997
After decades of living "in a period of transition, before life really began," Thomas decided it was time to have a place to call home. So she bought an old cabin in Vermont, started fixing it up with help from her weekend friend, Julian, and signed up to adopt a baby from China. This memoir recounts her efforts to make her new home more livable by adding running water, adequate heating, extra rooms, and more amenities. In the process, she forms a closer bond with Julian and prepares for the arrival of her new daughter. Facing and overcoming various obstacles, she gains increasing self-confidence. The resulting work, partly a personal journal and partly a mere recollection of mundane events, lacks real insight and fails to capture the reader's attention.--Ilse Heidmann, San Marcos, Tex.