I'm surprised to see that so few on LT have this book and none have reviewed it. It's about a family and their land, a common theme, but it's not a common book. I found it to be raw and rage-filled and also filled with the beauty of the land, and the joy and heartbreak of ranching. It's clear the author knows of this life. A side theme that is very well done is involves the history of the Nez Perce and their claim to one of the family ranches, the sacred place called "Heart of the Beast".

I enjoyed Weatherford's very descriptive and urgent writing. It provided a sense of tension in the most mundane scenes. At times I thought she reached too far for her metaphors, other times they were so good as to help me enter the world she created. I will recommend this book to my friends, and hope others on LT will discover it. I'd be interested to read other reviews. ( )