Going Over East: Reflections of a Woman Rancher

by Linda M. Hasselstrom

This updated paperback edition includes a new epilogue that shares the author's present-day story.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

About the author

Linda M. Hasselstrom is an award-winning poet and writer of the High Plains whose work is rooted in the arid landscape of southwestern South Dakota. She writes, ranches, and conducts writing retreats on the South Dakota ranch homesteaded by her grandfather, a Swedish cobbler, in 1899.

Her website, www.windbreakhouse.com, provides details about her writing retreats, online consulting and her published poetry and nonfiction.

Contact her at info@windbreakhouse.com

Reviews

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Hasselstrom is an incredible writer, beautifully capturing the details of the landscape and the lifestyle of a rancher in the arid west. But this book is more than a naturalist's view on the ranching environment of South Dakota. It is more than a collection of stories of ranch life--and ranch life as a rancher's daughter, not son. "Going over East: Reflections of a Woman Rancher" is filled with moments of exquisite wonder, honest challenge, and uncertain future that will make any reader stop and look a little more closely at their own story and the setting in which it takes place.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An account of a life in South Dakota as a rancher, the author reflects upon the value of life, of choices people make, of the hardships and benefits of living off the earth. It seemed like she focused more on the negative than the positive. Of how people who don't live that lifestyle, don't know what they are talking about.I do agree with that sentiment, but feel a different approach would gain more agreement.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going Over East is a series of short essays on the history of the area, her childhood on the ranch, the current state and future of ranching in America, and other reflections on rural culture, environmentalism, and more.

The book is tied together by the story of Linda 'Going Over East' to a far pasture to check on the cattle with her husband and his son, with each chapter beginning at a new gate they must pass through to reach that pasture, and stories which flow from the conversation, the location, etc.

This is a highly readable and enjoyable account of modern day family ranching (and more); I heartily recommend it.