Last Chapters

The last chapters to the novel are kind of slow. They just wrap up the story and say how Jean and Joe end up setting up all these businesses in town and having kids. Mr. Strachan comes to Midhurst for a visit which was cute. I still think he should have stayed and lived with Jean and her kids since he became their godfather though (He ended up going back to England).
The entire story ended up being Mr. Strachan’s memories from Jean and her life. He writes down all his memories and that’s what the story was, his writing about Jean’s life. It is sad at the end when he’s so old and weak that he can’t get up off his bed. It kind of made me want to cry, but he lived a full life, so it isn’t like he missed out on anything.
Overall I loved this novel.
It turns out this was actually a true story, but it took place in another location. The author wanted to honor his friend, who was the lady who he based Jean on. He said she was one of the strongest people he ever met. I sure would have liked to meet her!

Chapter 9

This chapter is really only about how Jean is setting up her business and how she's settling into her new life in Willstown. Jean goes to spend some time in Midhurst station with Joe sometimes and they make plans to change it up a little by the time they get married in April. Jean describes the kitchen as "primitive" which is sort of funny to me (I think she'd probably have a heart attack if she were to know what kitchens look like nowadays). Joe also teaches Jean how to ride a horse at Midhurst and she practices whenever she can. To get to Midhurst takes three hours plus three to get back to Willstown by Joe's utility. Jean however, doesn't stay overnight at Midhurst because for the time being, Jean's and Joe's engagement is a secret. It would be a scandal if people saw Jean and Joe "together" without their engagement being known, so they have to act as if they're only friends in front of everyone. Jean's business at the ice cream parlor is going extremely well and the bar owner confides in Joe that he's getting the idea that he might run out of business. Hence, Jean has to make sure she doesn't start selling beer or working past 10 at night, which is the time the bar closes. I believe that the climax of the novel was when Jean and Joe decided to get married and now the story is at the falling action and going into the resolution part of the plot of the novel. By the end of this chapter, Joe has to go out to search for one of the owners of the nearby station who went missing, and is gone for a few days. During this time, Jean really starts to know how her new life with Joe will be like. Though it will be a happy one, she believes it'll be a life full of worry and anxiety while he's away, since if something happens, there's no way for him to contact anyone. Another down side to it is that she believes she may gain weight (hahaha).