Scan barcode
terrimarshall's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book about the author’s life on her Colorado ranch.
liberrydude's review against another edition
4.0
In this revealing memoir and meditation on wilderness and place Pam Houston lays bare her soul and her love for her little piece of paradise- 120 acres at 9,000 feet near the headwaters of the Rio Grande in South Central Colorado. Sadly to pay for living the dream she is often away from it for at least half the year teaching and conducting seminars on writing. Perhaps these necessary absences increase her ardor for the place. But paradise is a misnomer. It’s a tough place to live in the winter and in the summer there is the danger of fire.
She’s a city girl who ran away from the city. It’s been a learning experience. She certainly won’t win any animal husbandry awards. In the Marcel Pagnol novel, Jean de Florette, also a 1986 film, a newcomer to rural life is destroyed by clannish and mean spirited neighbors. Houston had just the opposite experience. Being recognized as a kindred spirit she has been sustained with love and support. It truly takes a village.
Just a lovely book that will unleash some joy and tears in you for sure.
Here are some memorable quotes:
Page 7. All that time I thought I was busy talking care of the ranch, the ranch was taking care of me.
Page 85. The language of the wilderness is the most beautiful language we have and it is our job to sing it, until and even after it’s gone, no matter how much it hurts.
Page 96. I finally realized I could be the cowboy.
She’s a city girl who ran away from the city. It’s been a learning experience. She certainly won’t win any animal husbandry awards. In the Marcel Pagnol novel, Jean de Florette, also a 1986 film, a newcomer to rural life is destroyed by clannish and mean spirited neighbors. Houston had just the opposite experience. Being recognized as a kindred spirit she has been sustained with love and support. It truly takes a village.
Just a lovely book that will unleash some joy and tears in you for sure.
Here are some memorable quotes:
Page 7. All that time I thought I was busy talking care of the ranch, the ranch was taking care of me.
Page 85. The language of the wilderness is the most beautiful language we have and it is our job to sing it, until and even after it’s gone, no matter how much it hurts.
Page 96. I finally realized I could be the cowboy.
elizabethch95's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 beautifully written dedication to a piece of land in Colorado
beckykeister's review against another edition
4.0
A love story to her ranch. She weaves in stories of her childhood and her travels, especially as relates to her environmental advocacy. I really like the pace of her storytelling and how it fluctuates with the different events that have happened on her ranch over her years of ownership (including a long section about a threatening forest fire). Her farm animals felt more like people than many of the ... people. If this doesn't make you want to buy a farmette and homestead, nothing will.
alexblackreads's review against another edition
5.0
This is maybe the best book I've read this year. I read one of Houston's essays in an anthology a couple years back and enjoyed it, so I picked this book up to see if that essay was a one off. It wasn't. This was an absolutely gorgeous collection.
Her writing is stunning. She has such a strong voice and her descriptions of her ranch and the surrounding wilderness were breathtaking. The way she tied her her past into her present on the ranch was nothing short of masterful.
This book is sad in so many ways, but it's hopeful in even more. I've never felt so good after reading something so sad. She can make me cry while simultaneously making me feel that it's going to be okay. She speaks with such love about so many things that you can't help but love her back.
She wrote one essay about her babysitter who practically raised her and it broke my heart. Her parents were abusive and she credits that babysitter with teaching her love and kindness. It made me cry.
Diary of a Fire was a stunning piece of work. I mean this whole book was, but that particular essay was written about a wildfire that threatened Houston's ranch, as well as much of the state. Her fear is palpable and she weaves in factual information about wildfires in the most gorgeous way. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure.
But the book wasn't all sad. She's so funny and smart and it was just a brilliant collection. I'd recommend this to anyone for any reason. It was fantastic. It's rare I feel that an author is a new favorite after only one book, but I want to read everything she's ever written.
Her writing is stunning. She has such a strong voice and her descriptions of her ranch and the surrounding wilderness were breathtaking. The way she tied her her past into her present on the ranch was nothing short of masterful.
This book is sad in so many ways, but it's hopeful in even more. I've never felt so good after reading something so sad. She can make me cry while simultaneously making me feel that it's going to be okay. She speaks with such love about so many things that you can't help but love her back.
She wrote one essay about her babysitter who practically raised her and it broke my heart. Her parents were abusive and she credits that babysitter with teaching her love and kindness. It made me cry.
Diary of a Fire was a stunning piece of work. I mean this whole book was, but that particular essay was written about a wildfire that threatened Houston's ranch, as well as much of the state. Her fear is palpable and she weaves in factual information about wildfires in the most gorgeous way. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure.
But the book wasn't all sad. She's so funny and smart and it was just a brilliant collection. I'd recommend this to anyone for any reason. It was fantastic. It's rare I feel that an author is a new favorite after only one book, but I want to read everything she's ever written.
eml898's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not a woman who has spent much time in the wilderness, but reading Pam Houston always makes me feel like I could be.
bookbabebloom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
What a beautiful memoir and ode to the land. Makes me grateful to live on our little two acre ranch
ddillon2's review against another edition
5.0
Pam Houston is my favorite author. Honestly this book just makes me want to live a life outdoors.
pamiverson's review against another edition
4.0
A series of essays with interesting insights into the life of a writer, overcoming trauma, living in a remote part of Colorado (with a wildfire threatening the area), animals, and more. Thought-provoking -- I like her writing style and I learned about an area and a way of life I knew very little about. And the importance of hope!!