cover image Simple Living: 2one Couple's Search for a Better Life

Simple Living: 2one Couple's Search for a Better Life

Frank Levering. Viking Books, $21 (288pp) ISBN 978-0-670-82893-7

They were DINKs (double income, no kids) living in Los Angeles. Levering scripted B-movies; his wife Urbanska was a journalist and author. In 1986, in their early 30s and weary of their treadmill existence, they made an abrupt change by moving to rural southwestern Virginia to run the Levering family orchard. They hoped to combine that work with freelance writing careers. How they made the adjustment is an interesting and inspiring story. Levering's parents were active Quakers whose commitment to service outweighed practical matters, and the orchard was in debt. Urbanska had to overcome doubts about being surrounded by her husband's relatives and maintaining her independence. In the end, things worked out. If the authors sound smug at times, they probably deserve to be--they had the courage and determination to turn their lives around. (Jan.)