[fusion_builder_container backgroundcolor=”” backgroundimage=”” backgroundrepeat=”no-repeat” backgroundposition=”left top” backgroundattachment=”scroll” video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” bordersize=”0px” bordercolor=”” borderstyle=”” paddingtop=”20px” paddingbottom=”20px” paddingleft=”0px” paddingright=”0px” menu_anchor=”” equal_height_columns=”no” hundred_percent=”no” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]The book Hannah Coulter is set in the rural town of Port Williams, Kentucky, and is Hannah’s reminiscence of a life before and after WWII. At that time farming is central to the Port Williams families. They make a living from working and caring for their land. But the community and Hannah are affected by the war. Hannah’s first husband, Virgil, is missing in action shortly after they were married and when they are expecting their child. Her second husband, Nathan Coulter, survives the war but does not speak of all the death and suffering he has seen.

There is a hope and an expectation for their children to continue to farm. However the three children leave to attend college and it is the beginning of change for the family. Hannah and Nathan Coulter live without these expectations by continuing to farm and love each other.

Wendell Berry writes so beautifully and there is so much to listen to when reading this book. It speaks to many people in different ways. The excerpt below speaks to me.

“The chance you had is the life you’ve got. You can make complaints about what people, including you, make of their lives after they have got them, and about what people make of other people’s lives, …but you mustn’t wish for another life. You mustn’t want to be somebody else.”
― Wendell Berry, Hannah Coulter

Wendell E. Berry is a novelist, poet, environmental activist, and farmer. There are seven books in the Port Williams series. Jayber Crow, Andy Catlett, A Place on Earth, and Hannah Coulter are titles available in our system. They do not need to be read in any particular order.

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