Bitterbrush Country: Living on the Edge of the Land

by Diane Josephy Peavey

In a mosaic of essays, Peavey shares both her visceral joys in the land and her fears about losing a rural western way of life.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2001

Reviews

[Doranne Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed these beautifully written essays about living on a sheep and cattle ranch in southeast Idaho. Having grown up in the Palouse Hills, and recently traveled through Idaho, including into Hells Canyon, I can relate to many of her themes and messages.

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My current Book Group selection...Turned out to be one to two page blurbs, not even quite stories. While they were interesting, I was predominately left wanting more details and depth. It was a misunderstanding on my part about the book itself, and also a lack of depth on the part of the author in general. On a positive note, it took place around my home town and in a landscape I grew up with. I appreciated reading about things and places I've passed but never knew much about. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to someone, would rather provide them with other titles of similar content.

[Joyce Reynolds-Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated due to the time of publication (2001). But many of the essays within still hold true, especially considering the author and her husband are conservation-minded ranchers. In some regards, progress has been made from this period; in others, not at all.

[Julie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful description of Idaho ranch life in transition, & of the landscape I love.