The Jump-Off Creek: A PEN/Faulkner Finalist – A Modern Western Classic of Survival in the American West

THE JUMP-OFF CREEK is the third Molly Gloss tale I've read over the last two days, after The Hearts of Horses and Falling from Horses . That should be your first clue on how highly I am enjoying these books. Lydia Sanderson, widowed, leaves Pennsylvania and moves across the country with two mules and two goats and all her worldly possessions to homestead a small piece of property in the Blue Mountains of Oregon. It is during the Depression of 1895 and times are very hard for most everyone. She meets her close neighbors, ranchers Tim Whiteaker and Blue Odell, right away and they are able to help each other out. But Lydia is determined to make it on her own. Lydia is a strong, determined female protagonist - one who I would love to meet in real life. The details of living in this bygone time are interesting and bring this era to life for the reader. The dialogue flows effortlessly. It is not surprising that this first novel of author Gloss won literary awards. I highly recommend this unique tale of a single woman, battling the elements and braving life alone in a run-down shanty - to history buffs, lovers of Western dramas and advocates of self-sufficient women.

This book was assigned reading for my book club and I'm glad it was. This is not a page-turner and does not set forth a plot that demands your attention, but it is an interesting story based on real people in central Oregon in the mid-19th century. The main character is a widow who bought an abandoned ranch where squatters lived when she arrived. The hardship was described in wonderful detail by the author. Within the narrative are chapters of actual journal entries by a woman from that era who describes her daily activities and difficulties. The author uses terms to describe equipment and details that we no longer use in modern language. Her descriptions give the reader a sense of the world as it was in the wild west 150 years ago. She has a wonderful way of describing smells of food, animals, products and a world where people were fortunate to bath once per week. A very interesting book that is worth the time to read.

I enjoyed this book. Well written and researched. Very believable.The storyline was good, but I enjoy a little more excitement and surprise in my novels. I would try another book by Molly Gloss.

This well written story reminded me of my grandmother and great grandparents who were homesteaders in northern Montana during this period and it added more to my understanding of how hard life was. A benefit proven out in this story was the necessity of building relationships with neighbors even though far apart because they needed each others help at times along with friendships. I have known this to be true and sadly is lacking because for the most we are independent and ok in our lives other than lacking in the satisfaction of that neighbor system which can create a loneliness that we probably don’t recognize. It’s odd how little conversation there is in the book and yet I felt as though I know the characters well. The stoic personalities and short clipped sentences feel very familiar to me. I didn’t like it as a kid because I value conversation and had lots of questions but now I see where it came from as well as the comments like, that’s life just get on with it, that seems cold, but that how they and generations before had to deal with things. They kept busy and worked hard which they had to and felt pride in that, judging others by that as well. Lots to think about here comparing to today’s lives in cities as well as contemplating our ancestors lives. How good we have it and do we appreciate it? Do we find satisfaction and pride in our work as they did then?

Molly Gloss gave vivid description of the hard-scrabble living in the mountains. She created one tough woman with a purpose. I loved the characters: loners, tough, soft spoken, of few words. The conditions she showed us were unimaginable in our easy world. I was cold and uncomfortable the whole time I read it and amazed at how those pioneers endured it. Good reading. I would have liked for the story to continue a little further to see if she and the cowboy who befriended her got together and made survival easier.

An incredibly poignant novel that reads and feels as sharp and clear as a freezing cold running stream. The author writes crisply, economically and precisely to reflect the times and circumstances of the lifestyle of Lydia Sanderson. Lydia is widowed and decides to purchase what remains of a forsaken homestead in the Blue Mountains. The challenges that she must face up to are great, being a woman, even greater, still. The work she must do is brutal, the weather a force to break men's souls, the physical labor more demanding than anything she knows. Yet she accepts this completely. In brilliant detail the author portrays how this woman lived alone and prospered. It is a fascinating accounting of her lifestyle; the items she has in her possession, what she eats and how she transports herself and her animals. All of this is told conservatively as her journal recounts the challenges that unfold before her. In contrast to her personal life, the reader is introduced to the folk that live nearest to her. These are strong and beautiful characters, tough and tender, strong and bending. In very difficult times, they came together and helped each other. Their spirit is reflected through the accounting of Lydia's story.

The book was for my wife and she enjoyed it immensely.