Sara C. (wahmom) reviewed Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West on + 56 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I love books like this - historical document, reads like fiction but ISN'T! Includes some great old time photos. Like the Laura Ingalls Wilder books? Try this one!
Tammy P. (tammycolo) reviewed Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West on + 63 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book starts out in Telluride, Colorado, British Columbia, Elk City, Idaho and in the back to Leadville, Colorado.
I enjoyed it, it was a bit slow in places,typical of a book written from journals.
I enjoyed it, it was a bit slow in places,typical of a book written from journals.
Mike L. - , reviewed Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is an excellant account of a young woman's life as a new bride living at the Tomboy Mine in the mountain out of Telluride, CO. It is especially fascinating and interesting if you have ever visited that area or done mountain 4WD travel in the Colorado high country. My husband and I just returned from that area where we took two teenage boys on a jeep tour. Climbing to 12,000 feet was quite and adventure for all of us. The mining ruins, cabins and shacks are still prevelent all along the trail in the vacinity of where Harriet Backus lived. I strongly recommend both the book and a visit to the area. Once you read the book you will want to see for yourself where Harriet and her husband lived and be amazed that anyone could endure that primitive life in such very harsh conditions. Enjoy! Sandy Langner
Melissa M. (MemoRandom) reviewed Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West on + 77 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Mrs. Backus (and she comes from the era when the "Mrs." was worn proudly) writes an engaging memoir of her life as the wife of a mining engineer at the turn of the last century. His first job was at the Tomboy mine in Colorado. Hers was a life of drudgery and deprivation, punctuated by catastrophe and emergency. Through it all, her love for her husband shines to remind the reader why she embraced such a lifestyle. We follow Hattie through her own career as a teacher in the mining camp and later, a devoted mother and homemaker. If you remember outhouses and bucket baths, you will celebrate with the Backuses their first indoor bath, complete with bathtub. And if you appreciate history from those who really lived it, "Tomboy Bride" will be your kind of page-turner.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Helpful Score: 1
What a wonderful story Mrs. Backus writes for us. I can't imagine how she and her family did what they did for each other. I guess it's called love."
As a former Marine, who also experienced some very interesting living arrangements, I am in awe of what she and her husband went through.
As a former Marine, who also experienced some very interesting living arrangements, I am in awe of what she and her husband went through.
Carol F. (cactusflowerwomen) reviewed Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West on + 628 more book reviews
This is a personal account of life in mining camps of the west written by the wife of a mining engineer, George Backus. They met at UC Berkeley where they were both students. She traveled to marry him and lived with him at several mining camps in Idaho, British Columbia, Telluride and other Colorado camps, and raised 2 children. It reads like fiction, though about the only character development is about the author. I was hoping for more adventure and to learn more about the hardships of the miners themselves. There was plenty of hardship, deprivation and unbelievable hardships, and I was broken hearted at the treatment of the animals. Definitely a good historical read.
Nancy S. - , reviewed Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West on + 63 more book reviews
This is a very interesting look at life as a miner's wife, as she travels from Colorado, to B.C., and on to Idaho. She paints a very vivid picture of life in the remote Colorado mountains with the joys and hardships that entail her life in sickness, in tragedies, in the joys of neighbors leaning on one another. She had an absolutely wonderful attitude in all she faced, and tells of the local history of each place, some quite amusing. The author will make you feel as though you were there with her in her travels. She has pictures included in the book to help the reader get a better perspective of the areas in which she lived. Well worth the read.
Frances F. (quiltgal) reviewed Tomboy Bride: A Woman's Personal Account of Life in Mining Camps of the West on + 51 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book, having traveled in the areas described by the author. It is hard to imagine the primitive sort of life that was by that time rare, even in the early part of the 20th century. That was intriguing. It does reinforce the pioneer spirit that characterized the development of the West, and that it wasn't really so long ago.
I did find the narrative rather saccharine in places, though I recognize that it was undoubtedly sincere,born of the author's deep commitment to her family.
It was an entertaining read, and would be particularly meaningful to those who live or travel to the Rocky Mountains, especially Colorado.
I did find the narrative rather saccharine in places, though I recognize that it was undoubtedly sincere,born of the author's deep commitment to her family.
It was an entertaining read, and would be particularly meaningful to those who live or travel to the Rocky Mountains, especially Colorado.
