A New Dawn at Libby Flats: The longest journeys lead back to yourself

by Alan O'Hashi

Libby Flats, a novel by Alan O'Hashi, is a coming-of-age story about how old and new friends confront their differences and discover the power of forgiveness. The story happens during the twilight time of life when long-lost pals are closer than family.

 

The story is a captivating tale of a love triangle, conflicts around race and gender identity, youthful rebellion, and the enduring power of friendship. Becca Pembroke travels for a summer job on the Quiver Mountain Ranch near Lander, Wyoming, in the 1960s, fleeing her stodgy New Jersey lifestyle, including wealthy and egotistical Jack Middleton, whom her mother thinks is Becca's perfect match.

 

While in Wyoming, she befriends Gary, the ranch owner's son, who is more interested in fighting in the Vietnam War than pursuing girls. The two end up working with another hand, Avery Meadows, from Jackson.

 

Becca ends up establishing in-state residency and studying anthropology at the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie to pursue a lifelong interest in returning ceremonial artifacts back to Native American tribes, which leads to significant personal revelations that affect her family.

 

Avery joins her at UW as a wildlife management major. They reunite with Gary upon his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. He enrolls at UW to study journalism rather than returning home to manage his family ranch.

 

Becca's mother cajoles Jack into transferring from Princeton University to UW. His mission is to rescue Becca from the free-spirited Wild West. She shows more interest in Gary, causing a big rift with Jack, which is constantly mediated by Avery. Becca comes up with a Pact among herself and her three acquaintances to keep the peace until a big blow-up between Jack and Gary estranges the group.

 

Gary and Becca end up getting married and have a daughter named Elizabeth. Thirty-eight years later, in 2006, Becca passed away at the Blue Sky Village cohousing community in Boulder, Colorado. Elizabeth reluctantly returns home to Boulder for her mother's funeral.

 

Through the eyes of Elizabeth, Gary, Avery, and Jack, fulfill Becca's Pact at Libby Flats near Laramie by navigating their individual origin stories and memories of their lives, including their shared time in Wyoming interwoven with their reunion in Boulder.

462 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read for me since I’ve lived in Laramie, misspent my college years in the Snowy Range, and have resided close to Devil’s Tower, Wyoming most of my life.

It occurred to me that much of the book centered on tasty descriptions of the food the characters ate and where. That became clear at the end, and is a great benefit of the book.

Avery Meadows was an enigma to me. At first, I assumed Avery was a cis female, but somewhere later, Avery was referred to with he/him pronouns. Later still, there was a conversation with Avery’s father which put that idea to doubt too. I’m going with Avery being nonbinary.

Gary and Becca Steiner live in a Senior housing co-op and if the book is a realistic representation of that lifestyle, I am not convinced it would be for me. On the other hand, if I were widowed, it might be the perfect living situation.

The book was a wonderful exploration of the bonds of friendship and the reckonings we make as we face our own mortality. I was happy for every one of the main characters at the end.