The Watershed Years

by Russell Rowland

A much anticipated sequel to Russell Rowland's highly acclaimed first novel "In Open Spaces". "The Watershed Years" takes place immediately after World War II following the lives of the Arbuckles, a ranching family on the vast plains of eastern Montana.

Genres: Fiction

253 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2007

About the author

I'm a Montana native, and I returned home in 2007. My first novel, In Open Spaces, made the San Francisco Chronicle's bestseller list. I got my MA in Creative Writing from Boston University in 1991, and have been a MacDowell fellow and a fortune cookie writer. The Watershed Years, the sequel to number one, was published in 2007 and was a finalist for the High Plains Book Award. In 2012, WEST OF 98, an anthology I edited with Lynn Stegner, was released by the University of Texas Press. And in 2012r, my third novel, High and Inside, was released by Bangtail Press and was also named a finalist for the High Plains Book Award. In April 2016, Fifty-Six Counties: A Montana Journey came out. This is my first non-fiction effort, about my travels to every county in Montana and what I learned from this journey.

Reviews

[Julene · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time between reading the author's first book and finally getting to this book, which is a continuation of the Arbuckle family story. Once I finally picked it up I could not put it down. It continues the journey with its mystery twist, did the sister-in-law really kill the father? Will Blake and Rita be forced off their family land? It resolves neatly by the end of the book. I think the first book covering the earlier time was more intense, but this book stands on its own and there is plenty of tension living on a farm; in particular the winter storms in a couple of scenes where toes are lost and promises are made.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story continues the saga of the Arbuckle family which began in 'In Open Spaces' as the author traces the family story following the end of the Great Depression until the eary 1950s. This book is fantastic. I feel like I really know the characters, or at least know some people just like them.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of 'The Watershed Years' and 'In Open Spaces'. They are worth your time to read.

[Courtney Oppel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too often, it seems, a writer will put out an amazing novel and then follow it up with a weak sequel just to fulfill a contract with the publisher. This is not that kind of sequel--Rowland starts strong and ends strong. If you loved the first book, In Open Spaces, you'll definitely want to read this one.

[Matt Mesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to Rowlands “In Open Spaces”, this book continues the story of the Arbuckle family. This group of brothers and wives are ranchers in post WW II Montana and the book moves along nicely with the subtle intrigue and malcontent of the family. The book is easy to read, is rural and lighthearted (particularly regarding the ranch hand Oscar), yet simmers with an underlying tension within the family. Well done.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerizing

This book is so moving and eloquent in an understated way, just like the people of Eastern MT. The dramatic twists on the plot will leave you shaking your head, and if you have ever experienced ranching life in E. MT there are passages that will make you laugh out loud and others that will bring tears to your eyes. The family dynamic is sick and crazy, but at the same time more normal than one would care to admit. I think anyone who appreciates the western landscape and has ever dealt with a family business venture would thoroughly enjoy this book. Anyone with a ranching background will love this book. But make sure to read “In Open Spaces” first!

[S Sande · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sequel to his first novel IN OPEN SPACES, the book presents a look at 'good' years on the eastern Montana farm. And tells the age old story that good crops, good hay & good income don't necessarily mean good harmony on the farm. A little lame in the storytelling in the middle but Rowland's masterful use of words and phrases to paint a picture are spot on in the beginning fourth of the book and again int the final fourth - making the read worth it.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed reading the book for the second time as I had the third book Arbuckle waiting to be read,glad I refreshed my memories of the finer details as I have finished the third book. Hope he brings the story of the second book up to date as to what happened to Bob and Helen and to who got the ranch finally. Great writer! Highly recommend all three books.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in a trilogy, this book revisited characters and a setting I had grown to love in the first book. It was good to have some plot lines wrapped up, but this second book wasn’t quite as good as the first. Just a little less heart, I suppose.

[Skyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Montanan. An enjoyable, fast read.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story. I could not put it down.

[Andy Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The strength of this book was its depiction of life in small ranching communities in Montana in the late forties. You felt as you were living back then and the author, Russell Rowland, does an excellent job focusing on the details of life on living on a Montana ranch in the late forties as it recovers from the depression.

The weakness of the book was its character development. It has good guys and gals and bad guys and gals and not much in between. The lack of "gray" in its characters is even more off putting given that the characters are related, grew up in the same family with the same backdrop of tragedy. The plot is at times off putting, the novel starts off with the hero marrying is missing brother's wife, the father is possibly murdered with family members as suspects but not with a lot of introspection about those possibilities.

I loved reading about life of that time and place and for me it was worth the shallow character development and somewhat contrived plot but I can't recommend it highly given those reservations

[Scott Bischke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russ is a high school friend of mine which at this point is immaterial--this is a brilliant story and Russ qualifies as one of my favorite writers, period.

The book is a perfect accompaniment to his critically acclaimed IN OPEN SPACES. While Russ's focus is Eastern Montana rather than the Rocky Mountain Front, he is the Ivan Doing of our times --better by my reckoning.

I was reading THE WATERSHED YEARS while in Scotland--and usually I read books of the place when we travel. So yes while the story indeed takes place in Eastern Montana, not Scotland, the main protagonist's last name is Arbuckle and that could be a Scottish name, right? Couldn't it?!

I wrote these thoughts when about 75% finished with the book and can only say I don't hanker much to Helen (note, that didn't need a spoiler alert since deliciously I have no idea where Russ is going to take the story).

PS. I finished the book on the plane back from Scotland and the last 25% did not disappoint! Get this book--a most excellent read!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Watershed Years, the sequel to "In Open Spaces" continues telling the story of the Arbuckle brothers from the perspective of Blake, the middle brother. Rowland continues to wow with his story of this Montana ranching family. While "The Watershed Years" continues to unravel what happened to the oldest brother while portraying ranching realistic, there's a few bumbles in this book. The author often seems a little too "friendly" with the characters. The stumbles in the book seem to fade away by the climax, when the allegations in the first book come to light in the second book.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was anxious to read this sequel to Open Spaces because there were some unanswered questions from the first novel. This one read fast....all took place in a year versus the other that spanned about 20 years (and caused me to constantly flip back to see what year I was in); however, I can't imagine men, like my dad, liking this one much. It was more about the family drama than life on a ranch in Montana. I enjoyed it, but will tell my dad not to bother, since it was his library book he never got to. :)

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in the sequel. The writing was slight and not up to the quality of In Open Spaces.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Rowland's style of writing in this..lots of dialogue and action with few words. Speaks Montana to me!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as open spaces but worth reading.

[Arlene Corbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Some parts were a little disjointed I live the EASTERN MONTANA scenery!!!

[Rose Blum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost as good as In Open Spaces...