Linnea Bradenborg expects to find culture and excitement in Alamo, North Dakota, where she's recently been hired as the new schoolteacher. Instead, she finds a sparse little town in the middle of nowhere. Better yet, her train is met by a cantankerous wheat farmer named Theodore Westgaard who doesn't bother to hide his displeasure when he discovers that L. I. Brandenborg is a woman and not the man he was expecting. Westgaard thinks twice about bringing Linnea home to live with him, but he soon realizes that he has no choice ...
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Linnea Bradenborg expects to find culture and excitement in Alamo, North Dakota, where she's recently been hired as the new schoolteacher. Instead, she finds a sparse little town in the middle of nowhere. Better yet, her train is met by a cantankerous wheat farmer named Theodore Westgaard who doesn't bother to hide his displeasure when he discovers that L. I. Brandenborg is a woman and not the man he was expecting. Westgaard thinks twice about bringing Linnea home to live with him, but he soon realizes that he has no choice. All of the town's past schoolteachers have lived with the Westgaard family--made up of Theodore, his mother, and his teenaged son--due to their farm being located very near the schoolhouse, and so Theodore allows Linnea into his home. But who could have guessed that this young, independent woman would soon find her way into the handsome farmer's heart? A compelling classic to be listened to again and again, Years is a fitting tribute to the pioneer schoolteachers who braved many hardships to share the gift of knowledge with countless children.
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This is an unusual story about two people attracted to each other ? but 16 years apart in ages. Linnea Bradenborg, 18 and fresh from teacher training, arrives at Alamo, North Dakota.
Wheat farmer Theodore Westgaard arrives at the depot to take the new teacher to live in his home. He (and everyone else) is shocked that L.I. Bradenborg is female. Teddy pitches a fit and refuses to keep her, even though he has kept all previous teachers (who were male). Teddy soon finds that he has no choice and Linnea moves into the home.
Eventually, we learn that Teddy?s wife left him and their young son many years before. Theodore is fairly hostile towards women. At the opening of the story, Teddy is 34 and his son is only a year younger than the new teacher.
In no time, Linnea starts to change the Westgaard household in various ways ? often unintentionally. She receives an education of another kind ? she learns just how hard life is for farmers and their families.
The relationship between Theodore and his brother is beautifully written. The whole book is a step back in time and the reader feels the emotions the characters are expressing.
Teddy and Linnea fight against their growing attraction for each other. On the side of logic, the reader agrees with Teddy?s feeling that he is too old for Linnea. On the emotional side, this reader feels that they cannot stay apart.
This is an emotionally satisfying tale that will stay with the reader a long time. They grapple with issues that are still important today.
brenda c
Jun 23, 2011
great book
this is one of my favorite books--lavyrle spencer
is one of the best of the best (i just wish she
would come out of retirement and write again)
i for one would pay any price---thanks
