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colin_cox's review against another edition
5.0
I only read "The Scavengers" and "The Land of Little Rain."
***
Mary Austin's The Land of Little Rain is an extraordinary example of literary naturalism. Specifically, Austin antagonizes sentimental, regional writing about the West of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In doing so, Austin produces an affectionate, reverent, but tonally detached narrative that argues, "Desert is a loose term to indicate land that supports no man."
***
Mary Austin's The Land of Little Rain is an extraordinary example of literary naturalism. Specifically, Austin antagonizes sentimental, regional writing about the West of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In doing so, Austin produces an affectionate, reverent, but tonally detached narrative that argues, "Desert is a loose term to indicate land that supports no man."
simlish's review against another edition
5.0
Do you like glowing nature writing with absolutely no plot whatsoever? Do you long to have someone talk at you about the various beautiful aspects of the West for a hundred pages? Do you like the kind of overwrought writing that was popular around the turn of the century? If yes, you'll like The Land of Little Rain. It does what it sets out to do, and it does it skillfully. It made me want to walk around in the desert and look at flowers really closely, which is what I'm looking for out of a book like this. Loved it. Would only recommend it to people who are into this exact niche, because otherwise you will be bored.
little_lettie's review against another edition
5.0
These short narrative are absolutely captivating. The prose, the historical context of it all, just a fantastic book
sssnoo's review against another edition
4.0
Sort of a memoir, but maybe better classified as a series of essays on the California desert written by a woman naturalist who lived there much of her life. I read this book as I planned and embarked on a trip to the desert and found the descriptions wonderful, poignant, and vivid. A great read to accompany a desert adventure.