On Brassard's Farm

A Novel

By: Daniel Hecht

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

In a radical departure from her urban life, Ann Turner buys a piece of remote Vermont land and sets up a tent home in the forest. In an effort to escape an unending string of personal disasters in Boston and a desire to leave behind a world she sees as increasingly defined by consumerism, hypocrisy, and division, she hopes to find a kind of peace in this new life. As she writes in her journal, "There's got to be a more honest, less divided way to live."

She soon learns she was mistaken in thinking a kindly Mother Earth would grant her wisdom and serenity in her new home. The forest confronts her with unanticipated dangers, aching loneliness, harsh weather, instinctive fears, and wildlife of the sort she's never encountered. It's beautiful, yes, but life in the wild is never easy. When necessity requires her to start work as a farmhand, she quickly discovers that she held similarly childish illusions about small farms.

Under the stern tutelage of Diz Brassard, the farm's 60-year-old matriarch, and the gentler guidance of Earnest Kelley, an Oneida Indian friend of the Brassards, she learns what hard work really means. Ann faces her predicament with determination, but there's a lot to learn - about the Brassard family, about dairy farming, and about herself. If she is to succeed in her new life, she must become as tough and resilient as the rural community she lives in. She must also learn to accept love - even if it arrives in the most unexpected forms.

On Brassard's Farm is a tale of personal struggle, sweeping transformation, and romantic love. Author Daniel Hecht tells of Ann Turner's quest for a better life with unsparing honesty and gentle humor. Through its portrayal of the unrelenting labor and harsh pragmatism of farming, On Brassard's Farm reveals the deep durability of rural life and offers a much-needed affirmation in a changing and uncertain world.

©2018 Daniel Hecht (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

don't miss this story!

if I could give this book ten stars I would...loved every word. beautifully written and narrated.

Beautifully written and narrated

This beautiful story of a woman's struggle to deal with her past and find her own path to happiness is one of my favorites.

Very nice book, but different from his other books

Hello. I am currently reading the book and it is very good. It gives us a glimpse into how hard it is to keep a small farm going. The narrator is perfect for the book and does a nice job with the character voices. I have no trouble telling which character is which. This book is not the same style at all as Skull Session which I have also read and enjoyed. I am looking forward to reading this authors other books available on audible.

I was moved by this story

I loved the themes and details of this book, it was a beautiful story of relationships to the land and people. I wasn't expecting to be as compelled by it as I was.

An incredible journey

For me this was less a book or a story as I’d expected, but an actual experience of a rather incredible journey

Deep, engaging

I like well written stories where people evolve, become more of themselves.
I especially enjoy female leads that face down their fears. The variety of characters, the humor, the anger and sorrow kept it real.

Not what I expected

I expected this book to be a story of a city person's retreat to the country and all the lessons learned the hard way ... with and without humour.

What I got was a much richer story of struggle, love, pain, redemption, humour and farming. I had to remind myself, daily, as I listened to it, that it was not a biography, not a story about a real person's life. I still have to remind myself, even having finished the book.

It is really a love story when you come right down to it. But not a predictable one, and the love story is not just between two people, but also between people and the animals that are part of our world, as well as people and the traditional world of farming. Hardship is an underlying theme, but not in a sob story sort of way. Grit, resilience, courage and kindness all have roles to play in this thoughtful and engaging story of part of one woman's journey and the people she took with her, or met, along the way. I highly recommend it if you are a thoughtful reader looking for an above average story. If you're looking for a light and somewhat predictable read, this might not be the book for you.

Beautifully woven tale

Wonderful writing and perfect narration. A novel worth a readers time and attention. May we all find a little of what Annie did.

Easy and simple

Slow, but just enough to hold my interest. I listen to a lot of history and non-fiction. This was a good story, but not one I listen to again. Lisa Flannigon is a wonderful narrator! She upped the book for me. Always! Nice and easy, for a few hours.

enjoyable and well written

i very much enjoyed this book. growing up on a small dairy farm similar in size to this farm, i found the description to life and work on a dairy farm very accurate and detailed. very good characters. a nice listen.