Memoir premise: Nanci Vineyard, a 73-year-old Indian Lake author, recounts her journey reclaiming and renovating a derelict Adirondacks home she purchased about two decades ago .
The “boomerang” comeback: After moving back to Dallas to afford mortgage payments, the house falls into foreclosure. Amid the COVID-19 eviction moratoriums, the foreclosure is halted—allowing Vineyard to reclaim the property, like a boomerang returning to her .
Narrative tone: Despite the serious circumstances—squatters destroying the home, financial strain, and legal battles—the memoir remains light-hearted, humorous, and “delightful.” Vineyard writes with a conversational style and playful wit .
Memorable line: One standout sentence captures her tone:
“Without television and much in the way of a social life, I was going through library books almost as fast as coffee and toilet paper.”
Structure & pacing: The book unfolds like the spokes of a wheel—starting with the house but frequently branching off into Vineyard’s various interests, crafting a rich, engaging, and unpredictable read