Fiction_L Archives Escape to Montana Dates: 3/28/00,10:06 AM  through  4/2/00,7:23 PM  (12 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to March 2000 thread menu   |    Fiction_L Archives Menu

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FROM: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
DATE: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 10:06:32 -0600

Can anyone suggest a title(s) that will fit this description?

Our patron is a woman in her mid 30s who wants to read fiction about a woman
her age, who leaves the rat-race behind and moves to the mountains (or close
by) of Montana to live the simple life. She requested that the time period
be anytime after the 1960s, the main character be in her 30s or 40s, and the
location be Montana or any place with a similar feel. Her main interest is
the changing lifestyle, retreating to a mountain cabin, living more simply,
raising a garden and pets...that sort of thing. It doesn't have to include
romance, but the emotional change the character goes through is important.
She wants more 'literate' fiction, she nixed anything from our romance
section. I did persuade her to try, Sole Survivor by Hansen, even though the
setting is wrong. I got the impression that she is about to embark on this
kind of adventure herself and wants to read anything that will support that
choice.

I have checked the lists from Fiction_l archives and Novelist. Any
suggestions will be appreciated,

Mary Ann Hunter
Saratoga Springs Public Library
Saratoga Springs, NY

FROM: Lydia Werberig <[removed]@ci.carrollton.tx.us>
DATE: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 12:58:15 -0600

This request reminds me of a book recommended by a friend: Wilderness
Mother, by Deanna Kawatski (1994, Lyons Press). A family moves to rural
British Columbia (not Montana) and adjust to the new lifestyle.
Hope this helps!

Lydia Werberig
Librarian
Carrollton Libraries
Carrollton, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: Fiction_L [[removed]@nslsilus.ORG]
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 10:07 AM
[removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org
Subject: Escape to Montana

Can anyone suggest a title(s) that will fit this description?

Our patron is a woman in her mid 30s who wants to read fiction about
a woman
her age, who leaves the rat-race behind and moves to the mountains
(or close
by) of Montana to live the simple life. She requested that the time
period
be anytime after the 1960s, the main character be in her 30s or 40s,
and the
location be Montana or any place with a similar feel. Her main
interest is
the changing lifestyle, retreating to a mountain cabin, living more
simply,
raising a garden and pets...that sort of thing. It doesn't have to
include
romance, but the emotional change the character goes through is
important.
She wants more 'literate' fiction, she nixed anything from our
romance
section. I did persuade her to try, Sole Survivor by Hansen, even
though the
setting is wrong. I got the impression that she is about to embark
on this
kind of adventure herself and wants to read anything that will
support that
choice.

I have checked the lists from Fiction_l archives and Novelist. Any
suggestions will be appreciated,

Mary Ann Hunter
Saratoga Springs Public Library
Saratoga Springs, NY

FROM: ROBIN BEERBOWER <[removed]@OPENGOVT.OPEN.ORG>
DATE: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 13:25:02 -0800

A number of years ago a nonfiction book by Joan Wells titled DOWNWIND
FROM NOBODY was published. While it is not fiction and while it
doesn't take place in Montana, it is a really good story of a woman
and her husband who flee San Francisco to live on 160 acres in the
Blue Mountains of Oregon. The book is a collection of newspaper
columns she wrote chronicling her life while "living off the land." I
loved this book and have read it many times. If it's not available in
your library, I'm sure you can get it through ILL (our copies are
available for loan).

There is also the novel by Elaine Long, BITTERSWEET COUNTRY, about a
woman who marries a veterinarian and moves to an isolated sheep ranch
in Montana.

Robin Beerbower
Salem (OR) Public Library
[removed]@open.org

>>> "Fiction_L" <[removed]@nslsilus.ORG> 03/28/00 08:06am >>>
Can anyone suggest a title(s) that will fit this description?

Our patron is a woman in her mid 30s who wants to read fiction about a
woman
her age, who leaves the rat-race behind and moves to the mountains (or
close
by) of Montana to live the simple life. She requested that the time
period
be anytime after the 1960s, the main character be in her 30s or 40s,
and the
location be Montana or any place with a similar feel. Her main
interest is
the changing lifestyle, retreating to a mountain cabin, living more
simply,
raising a garden and pets...that sort of thing. It doesn't have to
include
romance, but the emotional change the character goes through is
important.
She wants more 'literate' fiction, she nixed anything from our romance
section. I did persuade her to try, Sole Survivor by Hansen, even
though the
setting is wrong. I got the impression that she is about to embark on
this
kind of adventure herself and wants to read anything that will support
that
choice.

I have checked the lists from Fiction_l archives and Novelist. Any
suggestions will be appreciated,

Mary Ann Hunter
Saratoga Springs Public Library
Saratoga Springs, NY

FROM: Judith Hookway <[removed]@roc.rodman.lib.oh.us>
DATE: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 15:39:38 -0500 (EST)

Books which leap to mind are Susan Wittig Albert's herb mysteries wherein
lawyer China Bayles leaves the big city to open an herb shop in a small Texas
town, and a YA novel entitled The Solitary by Lynn Hall. Hope this helps.
Judith Hookway
Adult Services
Rodman Public Library

FROM: Beth McGraw-Wagner <[removed]@bcpl.net>
DATE: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 16:11:06 -0500 (EST)

It's not Montana, but it is an escape from the rat race. I've recommended
this non-fiction title to several people. It's a fast read, but not
superficial. The Road Home by Eliza Thomas.

FROM: "Jeffrey, Denise" <[removed]@Central.tased.edu.au>
DATE: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 08:35:37 +1000

Its not Montana, but:

Swander, Mary - Out of this world : a woman's life among the Amish

is about leaving the rat race.

I think the author had a medical condition which would be alleviated by a
simple, wholesome diet. She moved into the Amish community to gain
information about how to make this lifestyle change.

Denise

Denise Jeffrey,
Selection Librarian,
State Library of Tasmania,
91 Murray St.,
Hobart 7000

Phone 61 3 6233 7049
Fax 61 3 62337506
Email [removed]@central.tased.edu.au
http://www.tased.edu.au/library/readalik/index.htm

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Beth McGraw-Wagner [[removed]@bcpl.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, 29 March 2000 7:11
> [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org
> Subject: Re: Escape to Montana
>
> It's not Montana, but it is an escape from the rat race. I've recommended
> this non-fiction title to several people. It's a fast read, but not
> superficial. The Road Home by Eliza Thomas.
>

FROM: Christine Perkins <[removed]@jcls.org>
DATE: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 15:46:07 -0800

While it's set in Wyoming, not Montana, Gretel Ehrlich's _The Solace of
Open Spaces_ is a collection of essays about her life-changing move to
Wyoming to become a sheep rancher (farmer?). She was even struck by
lightning there and wrote a book about that experience, too. Non-fiction,
but very poetic.

--Christine Perkins
***********************************
Christine Perkins
Young Adult & Reference Librarian
Medford Teen Library
Jackson County Library Services
Medford, Oregon
(541) 774-6412 / [removed]@jcls.org
***********************************

FROM: "Waznis, Betty" <[removed]@sdcl.org>
DATE: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 10:33:28 -0800

Yes, the book about her being struck by lightening is A Match to the
Heart. I also thought of this excellent title when this topic came up -
would fit your customer's interest, I think.

Betty Waznis
San Diego County Library
------------------------------

Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 15:46:07 -0800
From: Christine Perkins <[removed]@jcls.org>
Subject: Escape to Montana

While it's set in Wyoming, not Montana, Gretel Ehrlich's _The Solace
of
Open Spaces_ is a collection of essays about her life-changing move
to
Wyoming to become a sheep rancher (farmer?). She was even struck by
lightning there and wrote a book about that experience, too.
Non-fiction,
but very poetic.

- --Christine Perkins
***********************************
Christine Perkins
Young Adult & Reference Librarian
Medford Teen Library
Jackson County Library Services
Medford, Oregon
(541) 774-6412 / [removed]@jcls.org
***********************************

FROM: aaron smith <[removed]@oplin.lib.oh.us>
DATE: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 09:46:35 -0500 (EST)

Two authors came to mind for me when this query was posted, and after
reading some of the other responses, I think I'll toss these into the mix.
This genre of "mid-life Bildungsromane" could also include fiction and
non-fiction by Annie Dillard (Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Holy the Firm) and
Doris Grumbach (Fifty Days of Solitude).

Thanks to all of you for your rich input ...

Aaron

FROM: Viccy Kemp <[removed]@ci.carrollton.tx.us>
DATE: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 09:47:31 -0600

I remembered reading this for our Book Club in December 1999. It's not
Montana, but it deals with a woman who lives her hectic city life to live in
her mother's cabin up the mountain in West Virginia. She slowly adjusts to
the slower pace. The book is "Bingo night at the Fire Hall" by Barbara
Holland. A very easy and fun read.
HTH
Viccy Kemp
The opinions are my own; the library wouldn't want 'em!

> -----Original Message-----
> From: aaron smith [[removed]@oplin.lib.oh.us]
> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 8:47 AM
> [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org
> Subject: Re: Escape to Montana
>
> Two authors came to mind for me when this query was posted, and after
> reading some of the other responses, I think I'll toss these into the mix.
> This genre of "mid-life Bildungsromane" could also include fiction and
> non-fiction by Annie Dillard (Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Holy the Firm) and
> Doris Grumbach (Fifty Days of Solitude).
>
> Thanks to all of you for your rich input ...
>
> Aaron

FROM: "Nina Kennedy" <[removed]@nspl.lib.in.us>
DATE: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 10:51:19 -0500

Dear Mary Ann,
I really enjoyed reading Bean Blossom Dreams : A City Family's Search for a Simple Country Life, by Sallyann Murphey. While not about Montana, it is about a couple on the fast track in their careers who decide to leave it all and move to Bean Blossom farm, in the hills of southern Indiana. Written by Mrs. Murphy, it is really a memoir of adapting to a new life and learning the simple pleasures of daily contact with the community and environment (she quotes the Shaker poem, Simple Gifts, in the dedication at the beginning of the book.
Nina Kennedy
Noblesville Southeastern Public Library
Noblesville, IN

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
DATE: Sun, 2 Apr 2000 19:23:47 EDT

In addition to the recommendations already made, other possibilities might
include the novel "Pleasure of Believing" by Anastasia Hobbet which is about
a woman who inherits prime ranch land in Wyoming. Her commitment to the
land, however, differs from her family's and she decides to turn the land
into a hospital for injured raptors. Also, although it is nonfiction and
begins in 1959, Annick Smith's memoir "Homestead" might be one to consider.
Smith and her husband moved from the midwest to start a ranch in Montana's
Big Blackfoot River Valley. Shortly after the move, she became a young widow
with four boys to raise. Besides making a new life for her family, she
became an eloquent champion for preserving the wilderness near her home.
Smith was a co-producer of the movie, A River Runs Through It.
Cathy Stepanek
Batavia Public Library
Batavia, Il

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