Annie

T. Virginia Gillese is an editor and writer who is currently involved in
the revising of the Literature, Communications, and Philosophy sections
of the Canadian Encyclopedia.

Orphaned at 16, Annie refuses to accept the fact that she must marry in
order to be cared for. She leaves her two brothers and embarks on a life
of self-sufficiency—a life that finds her engaging in such activities
as gutting and skinning an antelope. As Annie’s journey progresses, we
empathize with her struggles to find herself in a harsh land full of
people with whom she is unable to relate. Eventually, she ends up (to
the dissatisfaction of the reader) back where she began.

Although evenly written, this first novel stumbles in its character
development. Annie is a stereotypically masculine figure, wary of
emotions, commitment, and responsibility. The novel’s underlying
message seems to be that women are of value only when they act out this
stereotype.