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Description of  Minding Molly (Courtships of Lancaster County)

Leslie Gould has an appealing knack for capturing the emotional roller coaster many young women encounter in the spiritual journey to find God's will in a traditional, collectivistic culture where the good of the community is valued more highly than an individual's personal goals. Her skill is clearly evident in Minding Molly. The story traces "Miss Molly" Zook through the turmoil of family grief for the loss of her father, the shocking revelation that their farm has been financially unprofitable, the fear of the consequences of her mother's undiagnosed illness, and the bewildering quagmire of her mother's demand that she marry Mervin, her best friend's vacillating boyfriend. Molly is an organizer whose scheduling skills reduce stress for her, but increase stress for those around her. Into the midst strolls (or gallops) a tall, handsome cowboy, Leon Fisher. Molly falls fast and hard. What can I say? I understand her completely after all, he's a Fisher! Through it all Leslie weaves the theme of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including in the details a storm in the forest, the wedding of a prominent couple, and an impish toddler named Robbie. It was fun to anticipate how she could bring it all about followed by the surprise of a very unique story. Even the title has an ambiguous twist. A quick skim of the story might lead one to think that everyone is minding Molly, but in truth, Molly is minding the farm and her mother. She tries very hard to turn the farm around metaphorically speaking without upsetting her family. She is an admirable heroine.