The Drummond Girls

A Story of Fierce Friendship Beyond Time and Chance

By: Mardi Jo Link

Narrated by: Mardi Jo Link

An inspiring and heartfelt memoir about the friendship between eight women forged over two decades.<

The eight Drummond Girls first met in 1991 at Peegeo's Food & Spirits in northern Michigan where, at the time, they were all waitresses, bartenders, or regular customers. When one of them got engaged, they celebrated with a trip to Drummond Island--their first trip together to the remote 36-mile chunk of rock, dive bars, dirt roads, and beautiful forests--and it's where they became bonded forever. They've made this voyage every year since then as a way to retain a piece of their wild youth, despite the taming influence of marriage, motherhood, and management. This year, their focus is Beverly, oldest of the Drummond Girls at 65, whose memory is beginning to lapse. Undaunted, the other women intend to help Beverly remember all they've shared--every campfire, every late night talk, every secret confided.

Critic reviews

"Imagine Hemingway's northern Michigan, except with 'mothers who hand-sewed their kids' clothes, [and] who read used Jane Austen paperbacks,' and you'd have something wonderful, something lush and welcome like THE DRUMMOND GIRLS."—Sue William Silverman, author of The Pat Boone Fan Club

"In a prose style so lively and vivid it jumps off the page, Mardi Link tells the true story of her friends' and her own evolution."—Anne-Marie Oomen, author of Love, Sex, and 4H

"THE DRUMMOND GIRLS is a thoughtful reminder of the enduring and healing power of friendship."—Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life list

Praise for Bootstrapper

"Glints with Link's raw, willful energy. . . . Possesses that rare, elusive, but much sought-after feeling of authenticity."—The New York Times Book Review

"You'll fall in love with Mardi Jo Link's family in this irreverent and heartwarming memoir."—Parade

"A heroic-comic saga of single motherhood, pure stubbornness, and the loyalty of three young sons."—Garrison Keillor

"A country song of a memoir, complete with a broken-down truck named Cookie. It's great fun..."—San Francisco Chronicle

"Link's style of writing is like her style of living-direct, funny, void of self-pity and exceedingly humane."—Kirkus

"Inspirational and funny in the I-might-as-well-laugh-or-I-think-I'll-cry sort of way."—Detroit Free Press

Enduring story was of friendship

Where does The Drummond Girls rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Sorry to say, I rank this near the bottom of the list. The author's reading of her own book reminded me of my mother reading me a nighttime story. There is a big difference in a reading by an experienced reader or actor and someone not experienced in using their voice professionally. The recording also sounded, at times, like it was made in a large, empty basement, echoey and hollow sounding.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the story of enduring friendship, and especially liked the local connection, as I lived in Traverse City for 15 years, and still own a small condo there.

Would you be willing to try another one of Mardi Jo Link’s performances?

Sorry, no.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Wild, wonderful wacky women make annual pilgrimage to island get-a-way.

Any additional comments?

With 8 leading characters, and many voices entering the conversation through much of the book, it would be really helpful to engage a reader who can make those voices sound different? I've been listening to audiobooks steadily for close to 25 years, and the ones that stand out most in my memory, are the ones that are read by someone capable of doing different voices for each character. In my humble opinion, the only writers who should read their own works are either famous people, whose memoirs would sound foolish read by someone other than themselves, or possibly informational books, whose writers are known experts in the field. There are, of course, exceptions, like Malcolm Gladwell and Bill O'Reilly, but not many.

friendship prevails

I thought this was fantastic, wish I was there. I as well go on a yearly weekend trip with a few very good friends and can relate to this story very well. I can tell you that I definitely have put a trip to Drummond island on my soon to visit list. the island sounds fantastic..... thanks for the great read.