A reading group favorite, The Jump-Off Creek is the unforgettable story of widowed homesteader Lydia Sanderson and her struggles to settle in the ...
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Mar 15, 2009
Jesse
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This book is about a woman homesteading alone in the late 19th century in the Pacific Northwest. The writing is quiet, emotionally disciplined, restrained, wasting nothing, without a hint of self-indulgence, like the homesteaders themselves who were able to survive an unforgiving wilderness. If you want to know what these men and women were really like, what kind of personality allowed them to spend two generations simply cutting down trees and hanging onto life by a thread just to call a few ac
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Nov 07, 2011
Jakki
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What a story of an amazing widowed pioneer woman making it on her own as a Homesteader in an unforgiving land - she probably represents many of the strong, determined, independent women of that time facing what to me would be overwhelming weather obstacles let alone wild animals and unsavory men with ideas of their own. How would you like to worry about your hair literally freezing during the night when the temperature got too low or having to clean out too many rat traps in the morning when you
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Mar 26, 2011
Michael
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A female homesteader...yes! I teach Westward Movement to fourth and fifth graders every other year, and it's important for them to understand that pioneer women were every bit as hard core as the men. In fact, they were harder, because everyone treated them worse. This stoic, recently-divorced heroine stays remote from the reader - her physical features, her sex - Gloss clearly intends to keep her anonymous. She's an idea, a bundle of intention and willpower. Molly Gloss, employing the cold and
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Dec 05, 2010
Donna Jo
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Another good look at the hard life of women who chose to work in early days of pioneering Oregon.
Lydia takes up homesteading after her husband dies. She buys a broken-down claim and works hard to make something of it. Although women alone are unusual here, everybody has to work hard--the land and the economic circumstances dictate that the soft are weeded out.
Gloss writes of people who work hard physically, who are not necessarily socially adept, who take little time for introspe More...
Lydia takes up homesteading after her husband dies. She buys a broken-down claim and works hard to make something of it. Although women alone are unusual here, everybody has to work hard--the land and the economic circumstances dictate that the soft are weeded out.
Gloss writes of people who work hard physically, who are not necessarily socially adept, who take little time for introspe More...
Jan 14, 2010
I know I read this book before. I even had or have a copy signed by the author who I heard speak at PLA in Portland, OR. But I really did not remember the story as it actually is. This is a perfect example of reading a book at the wrong time. All I remembered was the story was hard to follow.
This time round, that was definitely not true. Gloss' style is spare and her characters are living very hard lives, but the story is clear. In my opinion Gloss does an amazing job of showin More...
This time round, that was definitely not true. Gloss' style is spare and her characters are living very hard lives, but the story is clear. In my opinion Gloss does an amazing job of showin More...
Jan 01, 2009
Julie
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At the height of the Depression of 1895 Lydia Sanderson, freed by the death of her husband, travels to Oregon where she homesteads on a mountain, living in a wretched hovel on land not fit to grow even a vegetable garden. Her companions are two mules, two goats, and hard work. Lydia's neighbors are few and far but bound together by a common struggle to survive.
I liked this book, but did find it difficult to read. The writing is great and the story is compelling (I always enjoy a goo More...
I liked this book, but did find it difficult to read. The writing is great and the story is compelling (I always enjoy a goo More...
Jul 18, 2009
Donna
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The writer's tone and pacing reminded me of cowboy poetry, which was a perfect style for a book about the challenges of single woman homesteading in eastern Oregon in the 1890's. The author's extensive research is reflected in the realistic story and believable characters. I appreciated the bittersweetness of the story, which seemed in keeping with the time and place.
I am glad that I have had an opportunity to explore some of the towns and areas that the author mentions.
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I am glad that I have had an opportunity to explore some of the towns and areas that the author mentions.
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May 17, 2009
Jill
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Gloss' novel is rich with description of the harsh realities of pioneer life for a single woman and the other people in the area. It's listed as being mostly about her life, but in truth she only takes up half the novel. The rest details the lives of the other pioneers, which are sometimes more interesting. I'll warn you though - all that hardship is kinda depressing. I'd recommend Isabella Bird's book on her travels as a single pioneer woman as an antidote - it's written in the same manner,
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Nov 30, 2008
Shauni
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This book was really a slow read, it had a lot of character positioning, and was so easy going that at times it got to the point it was so boring I couldn't read anymore. Gloss did a great job at portraying a strong woman homesteader though, and made Lydia's character alone, quite interesting; but when added into a scene with a male character the definitions of her stances were always the same which made Lydia a very boring character with company. (I had to read this for Junior year-it wasn't th
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Mar 05, 2010
Barbara
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Set in the latter part of the 19th century in the Oregon wilderness, this book tells the tale of a lone woman homesteader, her trials, challenges, fears, small victories, and loneliness. Bleak but feels authentic and did not gloss over the difficulties. Good thing she brought along 2 goats or she might have starved. I was getting tired of goat milk and corn meal mush by the end of the book and I didn't even have to eat any!
Feb 02, 2009
Debbie
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This one is fairly good, really about a 2.5 star read. The author does a good job of painting a portrait of frontier life for women in the old west, but she could have developed the characters more thoroughly. I think her intention was to use spare language to emphasize the bare bones existence of these settlers, but it leaves the readers adding all the character development for themselves.
Jan 26, 2010
Val
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Read this for book club. Probably wouldn't have otherwise. It was some what disjointed. What the author seemed to do was take a year of Lydia's life and told only of that year. There really wasn't a beginning or an end. Just that year. I didn't think the characters were well developed at all. They kinda seem to populate the book as a backdrop to Oregon.
Dec 23, 2008
Katrina
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Mar 08, 2009
Meredith
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The writing is a little stark, but so was the frontier, so it seemed a good fit. It's one of those stories about life where conditions are so dire, most emotions and desires have to be completely ignored. I did enjoy it, though, as I enjoy stories about the pioneers going west.
Oct 12, 2011
Brittany
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An unsentimental, solid story about homesteading in the Pacific Northwest. I loved the subtle things I learned about the characters - I found myself rooting for Lydia from the start. This book gave me flashbacks to the Little House on the Prairie series, but it was mature and vivid.
Oct 14, 2008
Renee
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Simple book, simple life, simple people homesteading in the harsh hills of eastern Oregon in the mid 1800's. Main character is an independent women homesteading. A lot of discussion of non verbal communication among all the characters which I thought was an overkill-- The nod of the head, the look over the shoulder. The thin upturned quirk of the mouth. Unspoken language just hung in the air, almost out of respect for the homesteading lady. It dragged on but the book had an unusual style- st
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Jan 23, 2011
Savannah
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As austerely written as the protagonist's character, this book is an unsparing and harsh look at frontier homesteading at its most tenuous. One of the best pieces of writing I've read this year, in a deceptively simple little book. Outstanding.
Apr 14, 2009
Carol
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The story of a widow lady moving to an homestead in the rugged mountains of Oregon was a powerful one. I can't imagine taking on a trip like that much less attempt to build a life such as she did. I did enjoy the book.
Mar 22, 2011
Michael
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a beautiful book about a gritty woman homesteading in the raw western frontier in Washington Territory. Gloss is a master of language and place. I've read it 3 times for the poetry and choice of words.
Apr 13, 2011
Bobbie
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Really like the main character Lydia, and would have like to have seen another book continuing on with her story. But I spoke with the author about this and she said she is "done with Lydia." A pity.
Apr 20, 2011
Karen
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Love Gloss, loved this book. The ending left me a little behind, which surprised me, because this book is so solid and artful. It may just take some time to settle with me. Loved it.
Aug 01, 2010
John
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A tight, sere novel that doesn't pull in punches in depicting the hardship of settling the western United States. Beautifully written, with compelling characters and situations.
Aug 02, 2010
Didn't finish. Too much cowboy stuff. Boots. Beans. Horses. Scenery. No conversation. I can admire pioneer women without having to read about them, right?!
Feb 28, 2009
Maggie
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This should be a classic. A widowed woman homesteader in Oregon in the late 1800's and her first year of struggles. There has to be a sequel.
Jan 27, 2009
bookczuk
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An interesting view on what things must have been like back when prineering a new frontier actually meant something!
Oct 24, 2010
Wendy
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It was well written with lots of imagery, but the story seemed incomplete and it was difficult to distinguish the characters and who was narrarating.
Apr 26, 2010
Jess B
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I reread this book once a year. I love the sparseness of the writing style and the descriptions of pioneering life.
Oct 10, 2009
Sandy
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Well written portrayal of pioneer life in Oregon. Gritty, harsh circumstances, with a touch heart peaking through.
Sep 08, 2011
Rachel
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A little slow paced at times. Cool to read something from a local Oregon author with Oregon history.
Sep 25, 2011
Pam
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Poignantly written historical fiction that helps you really envision these weathered characters faces. Amazing the work required to homestead in the old west, especially as a widowed female. Reminds me of a blend of Brokeback Mountain & Laura Ingalls, but not so contrived.
