Book Review: The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan

The Rural Diaries
by Hilarie Burton Morgan (Biography Morgan)

The Rural Diaries, by Hilarie Burton Morgan is as dreamy as a nonfiction book can get; like a soft-filter picture with a little quote underneath. The Rural Diaries reads like a fairy tale for adults – where the prince is dressed in leather and the castle is a farmhouse.

 

The author shares her journey from single actress (One Tree Hill) to Madame of Mischief Farm. Hilarie and her husband, actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Supernatural), set out to make a beautiful life together. As singletons, they had attained their dreams of becoming successful actors. As a couple, they had a new dream: One that was far from the glitz and glam of Hollywood. They dreamt of an idyllic life with babies, a garden, and bison frolicking across a 100-acre farm.

 

This book gently stirred my emotions. I smiled as they explored a quaint village, got teary-eyed when they welcomed their first child, and laughed out loud when she suggested that she bewitched Jeffrey by lacing his coffee with cinnamon. There are moments where she is frustrated with the little things but overcomes the big things. She is both authentic and whimsical.

 

I really love that the book is sprinkled with practical advice. She gives a lot of sage tips to the novice willing to brave the unknown. She covers gardening, old-fashioned recipes, and animal husbandry. The book is very encouraging to those of us (ahem) who wish to one day make our way out of the city and into the country, all without sugar-coating the struggle. One of my favorite chapters that embodies this, is “The Fun of Failure.”

All in all, this is a beautiful and uplifting read. It may be a diary, but it is also a love letter to Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Mischief Farm, and her babies. I give this book a 9 because it is really good — I would definitely recommend it — and I have nothing but good things to say!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Honey Farm Dreaming by Anna Featherstone, or Country Grit by Scottie Brown Jones.]

[ publisher’s official Rural Diaries web site ] | [ official Hilarie Burton Morgan Instagram feed ]

 

Recommended by Monica K.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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