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“Sister Lumberjack" is Simar's 5th book in her Abercrombie Series. Solveig Rognaldson, originally from Norway, is a woman of the prairie who makes her first appearance in book one of the series. In book 5, “Sister Lumberjack,” she reprises her role but now takes center stage. Recent widowhood sets Solveig on a downward spiral with the impending doom of being unable to pay off a mortgage on her Foxhome Farm. To compound her problems, she feels bitter and disappointed with her son's refusal to stay and help run the farm. He moves into town with his new wife. Solveig needs money to pay off the mortgage. With determination, a courageous heart, and not a lot of options, she seeks employment at a logging camp as a cook.
Sister Magdalena, a young Benedictine nun, is trying to find her place within their community. Mother Superior has a plan to expand health care in the Northwoods with the sale of hospital chits to lumberjacks. For just one dollar loggers who buy a ticket will be ensured to receive health care if injured. In what turns out to be a life-changing move, Sister Magdalena is enlisted to help the Benedictine cause. She's to travel solo in dangerous winter conditions from one isolated logging camp to another camp selling chits to lumberjacks. She earns the nickname “Sister Lumberjack” from the lumberjacks. Sister Magdalena is dedicated to the cause and her community.
Nels, a young man whose thirst for liquor is called “bottle fever,” is swindled out of his summer pay. He seeks work at several logging camps only to discover he has been unfairly blacklisted at each of them. Despite his best efforts to overcome his addiction and turn his life around he can't seem to get ahead. He desperately needs money to pay his parents' fare to America. A potential love interest motivates him to change his life around.
From my perspective, I am adding into my review what felt like another character in the story, weather. Braving the elements was central to the plot with constant references to the relentless cold, dangerous working conditions, poorly insulated bunkhouses, and food shortages.
Simar's meticulous research effectively captures the nuances of everyday life in the logging camp and its hierarchy system. The dialogue exchanges among some of the characters may seem rough and crude, but add to the reality of the situations encountered at the logging camp.
Simar's precise wordsmithing skills employ all the senses describing the emotions that arise while coping with difficult living and working situations and facing the perils of cold weather.
Despite continual hardships, the characters found camaraderie among themselves and a sense of hopefulness prevailed at the end as each embarked on a new path. “Sister Lumberjack” is a well-written story that will not disappoint readers. Each time I finish one of Simar's books I say this is the best one, and then another superb one comes along topping the previous one.
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Candace Simar likes to imagine how things might have been. She combines her love of history with her Scandinavian heritage in historical novels that examine the early days of Minnesota and North Dakota. “I write historical novels to share painless history lessons about the fascinating and unique history of our region.”
Simar is a Spur Award winner and Spur finalist from the Western Writers of America for her Abercrombie Trail series. Check out her website for more information about her books and preordering at candacesimar.com
Definitely one of my favorite Minnesota writers. Like you, I've always enjoyed Candace Simar's books.
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