Monday, July 21, 2014

Judy S. Has Fallen Head Over Heels For This Debut Book

"This powerful book has much to say about the 1950’s West, and says it beautifully and hopefully. I think followers of Kent Haruf, Jim Harrison, or Molly Glass will especially enjoy it.

The story is about 23-year-old Catherine Lemay who, fresh from an archeological dig in London, is selected by the Smithsonian to investigate an immense Montana canyon and document any ancient relics before it is flooded by construction of a dam. Leaving behind dismayed parents and a fiancee – she is supposed to be at Cambridge seriously studying music – and ill-prepared by her Eastern upbringing, she is at first unsure how to approach this scientific undertaking. Eventually her knowledge of riding and horses becomes useful and gives her confidence. And her honest naivete endears her to some of the locals, who one-by-one take her under their watchful eye.

She and her newfound friend and Crow guide, Miriam, set off on horseback to explore the canyon, not expecting to find much of anything – least of all relics nor ancient rock glyphs; not wild horses nor horse wranglers … and certainly not love. But each does find a kind of love, in her own way.

This story has so much about it that I loved: an intelligent protagonist, horses and horse whisperers, rich characters that you come to know well, all set in the broad landscape of a West full of promise. A promise that ripples throughout the entire story not unlike a breeze through quaking aspens.

All in one read – and simply lovely."
 
--Judy S,

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