Naomi’s Houses: A Memoir

A woman’s poignant account of her impoverished upbringing in isolated rural communities and her mother’s struggle to give her children more than she had.

In the crushing poverty of a post-war rural community, Naomi, a mother of three, pushes through incredible obstacles to ensure her children’s security and future prosperity. Closely observed by one of those children, Naomi endures decades of financial struggle, male dominance, and the loss of her husband, while endeavouring to shelter her family as their circumstances change again and again. Named in honour of the homes her mother, Naomi, provided for her family in those difficult years, author Rosalie Tennison’s powerful memoir exposes the beauty and resilience in her humble upbringing.

Sad, funny, heartbreaking, and life-affirming, Naomi’s Houses is a fascinating portrait of Prairie life, family turmoil, societal shifts, and the enticing pull of a bigger, faster-paced world. Reflecting on her life from the comfort of a home Naomi could scarcely have imagined, Rosalie leaves readers with an unforgettable story of familial love and perseverance.