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A review by alexblackreads
Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country by Pam Houston
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.