Kickdown

by Rebecca Clarren

"An impressive debut novel."— The Washington Post

Finalist for the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction

When Jackie Dunbar's father dies, she takes a leave from medical school and goes back to the family cattle ranch in Colorado to set affairs in order. But what she finds derails the Dunbar ranch is bankrupt, her sister is having a nervous breakdown, and the oil and gas industry has changed the landscape of this small western town both literally and figuratively, tempting her to sell a gas lease to save the family land.

There is fencing to be repaired and calves to be born, and no one—except Jackie herself—to take control. But then a gas well explodes in the neighboring ranch, and the fallout sets off a chain of events that will strain trust, sever old relationships, and ignite new ones.

Rebecca Clarren's Kickdown is a tautly written debut novel about two sisters and the Iraq war veteran who steps in to help. It is a timeless and timely meditation on the grief wrought by death, war, and environmental destruction. Kickdown , like Kent Haruf's Plainsong or Daniel Woodrell's Winter's Bone , weaves together the threads of land, family, failure, and perseverance to create a gritty tale about rural America.

Genres: Fiction

232 pages, Hardcover

Published September 11, 2018

Reviews

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kickdown, def.: A well will kick or kick down when the pressure of the natural gas overcomes the pressure exerted by the mud column.

Kickdown is the debut novel by Rebecca Clarren, an award-winning investigative journalist writing about the American West for more than twenty years. This book was shortlisted for the PEN/ Bellwether Prize. Kickdown is an oil and gas term where if the drillers don’t put the right amount of mud down, the gas can burp out of the drill rig, a kickdown. In an interview, the author said that she came to this novel about the question of loss of control. She felt that Kickdown was an apt metaphor and title for that kind of concern arising in the oil and gas industry.

The Dunbar ranch has been in Silt, Colorado on the western slope in the shadow of Mount Baldy for generations. After the death of her father, Jackie Dunbar takes a leave from medical school only to discover that the Dunbar ranch is bankrupt, her sister, Susan, is suffering from depression and a nervous breakdown. But alas, there is fencing to be repaired and calves to be born and there is no one but Jackie to take control. However, the oil and gas industry has changed the landscape of this small western town. Because of the dire straits of this family, it becomes tempting to sell a gas lease to save the family land. But the landscape suddenly changes when a gas well explodes on a neighboring ranch, the fallout sets off a chain of events that strain old relationships and forge new ones. An Iraqi veteran steps forward to help the Dunbar sisters. The story is told from the perspective of three characters and the resulting disruption of their lives as their lives become entwined. It is a timely mediation incurred in the face of death, war and environmental destruction. Living in Colorado, I found this to be a poignant book dealing with the environmental issues confronting the state with fracking. Sometimes I felt that the dialog was lacking, perhaps because she is a journalist. That being said, I am looking forward to reading her nonfiction book that weaves the history of the Lakota and her Jewish ancestors going back generations in South Dakota, The Cost of Free Land, Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance.

“From here, the Colorado River, the only thing unchanged, shines the color of used nickels and dimes. A hawk circles above the cottonwoods in a long low dip. The willows on the bank are redding up. The ice has started to crack into thin sheets that couldn’t hold a man. When it rains, tomorrow or next week, the creek will swell and turn the color of shit. Up in the ranches, brown water will fill irrigation ditches and flood fields. This is the way of spring. It has always been something to count on.”

[Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hard, unvarnished look at America’s west during this modern era of climatic change.

I appear to be making my way across the US as I read book after book concerning the middle regions of the nation – and let me tell you, the view is not a happy one. From Julia Keller’s horrifying tale of the meth/opioid epidemic in West Virginia, to Stephen Markley’s book, Ohio, which examines the travesty of the “rust belt, I now have arrived in Colorado with Kickdown, a book that examines the hard decisions facing ranchers in America’s west.

When Jackie Dunbar’s father dies, she leaves medical school to return home to their family ranch. What she finds is a nightmare: the ranch is in disrepair and on the verge of bankruptcy; her sister is in the throes of a breakdown and everywhere she turns she sees the oil and gas companies raping the land. Jackie immediately begins work on the ranch in an attempt to bring it back to life. However, there is a “kickdown” at one of the gas wells nearby and Jackie’s world is immediately and irrevocably changed. A kickdown, by the way, is a build of gas in a well which sets off an explosion into the air which sends firebombs and noxious gas into the atmosphere.

Kickdown is the debut novel for Rebecca Clarren but it doesn’t read like one. The imagery and prose are intoxicating, the story is taut and vividly told. It is a tale of the growing economic crisis in the US and those who are affected by it most harshly – the people who have worked the land: ranchers, farmers, blue-collar workers. The book examines the tough reality of choosing between the land that you dearly love and the offers from corporations, gas hacks and others who have taken over the land in order to make a quick buck. Admittedly, I am not a fan of those who do this. However, Clarren walks a fine line of presenting both sides fairly well, perhaps too well for someone like me. I wanted more of a defining moment, a bigger stand against those who destroy the land; what we are given is, basically, what those who live in these areas are confronted with every day: a balance between loving the land and surviving. That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy the book, I did very much, and because it is not polarizing I’m sure that it will reach a larger audience.

If you are a fan of character driven novels, those that are told slowly, deliberately and quite fully, then I’m sure you enjoy Kickdown.

Thank you to #Edelweiss, #RebeccaClarren and #IngramPublisherServices for my copy of this book.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Kickdown" is set in Colorado and tells the story of ranchers and townspeople in the town of Silt on the Western Slope. The Dunbar sisters are trying to keep their family's ranch afloat; Susan is emotionally fragile from a stillbirth and the divorce. Jackie left medical school to come home after her father's death. The sisters are struggling with potential bankruptcy, with feeding cattle, mending fences and a myriad of other duties required on a ranch. One night their neighbor (who has sold the gas rights on his land) experiences a kickdown. An explosion occurs inside the well and sends flames high into the night sky. Soon thereafter, the stream on the Dunbar land is bubbling and not like a bubbly brook. Water is scooped up into a bottle; when a match is lit and placed over the bottle, an explosive flame is emitted.

What should Jackie and Susan do? Sell their oil rights and earn enough money to keep the ranch? Fight the oil company and potentially lose their land to pay for legal fees? Or do they just sell the ranch and go somewhere else? But where would that be? Meanwhile, lost loves and the possibility of new loves muddy the water (so to speak) as they struggle to honor their father's wishes, their sisterhood, their individual desires, and their obligation to be good stewards of the land.

I enjoyed this book very much.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

this is a character driven story about two sisters who assume responsibility for the family ranch after their father dies. i appreciate fiction that addresses the environment. in this case it is gas & oil leasing of farmland. rebecca clarren worked as a reporter writing about public & private land use before she wrote this novel; it is evident though not in a heavy handed way. i do wish she had fleshed out her characters a bit more because all had emotional problems that needed more attention. her writing was at its best when she was evoking place or working the land. i will definitely read her next novel.

[Dirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book another star, because I like the framework of the story, its themes, the two sisters who have been separated by miles and diverging experiences brought uncomfortably together in the wake of their father's death with different needs and fears, and how being attached to one particular piece of land--in this instance a family ranch--makes the women wonder what they may be missing in the wider world. But as the novel's acknowledgments note, many of its events were derived from stories Rebecca Clarren had reported on as a journalist in the rural West, and that explains the feeling I got while reading it, that a lot of the scenes seem paraphrased, details gleaned from observations and enlivened with colorful turns of phrase but not really lived in. Beyond making a reader pull the book off the display rack, it doesn't help matters that the inside dust jacket appeals to fans of E. Annie Proulx and Kent Haruf, because then the writing bar is set so ridiculously high that few authors could clear it.

[Joe Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a marvelously written book that is hard to put down to come back to later. No flowery words and very good pacing for a character driven story of resistance to ecological destruction. The struggle to keep the ranch going, the struggle to protect the land, the struggle to find the truth behind the claims of the fracking industry are fully realized contemporary issues of "hardship and reward" (to use one of the author's phrases). One of the characters reflects that "It's only by telling a story backward that it takes shape, meaning becomes clear from chaos." Perhaps, but this story finds meaning to how these struggles unfold without being told backward.

The relationship between the characters, particularly the sisters, is filled with tension and love. The attraction between the characters, the pushing away, the hidden feelings are believable emotional conflicts.

[Rebecca Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope we have many more novels from Rebecca Clarren. Her many years spent reporting on the rural West shine through. Her characters are deeply human people we care about, not caricatures. She displays profound empathy for the challenges faced in the rural West and why people make the decisions they do, but doesn’t shy away from the consequences of those decisions. She stands beside them, instead of over them. The tender depiction of people and beautiful writing call to mind Kent Haruf. A wonderful novel and one of the best I’ve read this year.

[Darcey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book by a fellow Smithie! Beautifully written story of sisters working a ranch in Colorado in the aftermath of their father’s death. Compelling, realistic characters and portrayal of the Colorado landscape and ranching life. Unexpected page turner!

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested in the ranch Vs. oil plot and glad to see some pull in each direction as ranchers fought to keep ranches profitable and pondered oil leases. However, that was a small part of the whole and deserved more space. The various major characters each had too many psychological problems that were too deep for the space allotted them. Their handling became melodramatic as we flew over the surface of issues and solutions.

[Donia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Saving the environment seemed to be the purpose of this book rather than a story written to entertain. I am very concerned about the abuse of our planet, but I was looking for a novel to take me away for a few hours and I didn't find that in this book. It was dry as a desert.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told from the perspectives of its three main characters, Kickdown eschews easy answers. Ms. Clarren's journalistic background informs her debut novel of resource extractions old and new (ranching and fracking). The book respects the fraught choices that people face in the contemporary rural west. The land is a character onto itself, rendered in beautiful prose. It is family land so the environmental degradation is no abstraction but speaks to the roots of a family who now fear to drink the water.
A veteran of the Iraq war is damaged in his own way. He drinks too much while his marriage falls apart. 2 sisters with scars of their own return to work the land after their father has died, too quickly. What do these sisters owe to their relatives, to this beautiful land and to themselves? The book is a story of redemption. What and who are redeemable and when is the time to leave. Kickdown is an achievement, a depiction of the new rural west that is both timely and steeped in the wisdom of the ages. You should totally check it out.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful examination of the choices facing far too many these days. Jackie and Susan must deal with the conflict between reviving a failing ranch and quick money from selling their land. How many other young people have to decide, when their parents are gone, if they want to keep ranching (or farming for that matter) 0r if they want to start over albeit with funds some might call blood money. Those who do the mining and the fracking have long justified it for themselves but it's the people who own the land that cary the burden. These sisters, and to a lesser extent, Tim Clayton represent a segment of the US that many of us don't know so this is an enlightening- and to Clarren's credit- balanced read. Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC. I hope this reaches a larger audience.

[Paul McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic story. It takes place on the western slope of Colorado, it merges a number of interesting themes: loss, loneliness, mental health- anxiety, depression, PTSD, ranching in the 21st century and fracking going on right next to it, into an incredibly well written book.
Susan has been living with her father who owns the ranch, she is broken from being in a bad marriage and a disconnect from reality, her sister Jackie has to leave medical school to help her dad and her sister.
Ray a deputy with the police department is barely going through the motions as he suffers severe PTSD after serving in Iraq, but it is week to seek help, so Ray drinks most days, which isn’t doing his marriage much good.
This is an excellent book.

[Eric (erics_furiouslyreading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kickdown by Rebecca Clarren
⭐️⭐️💫
When Susan and Jackie’s father passes away, the two of them are left to save the family ranch. Jackie takes time away from her residency and suddenly realizes the spot they are in with the ranch. To save the ranch, Jackie considers a proposal to sell the mineral rights to the ranch.
My opinion entirely here but this novel was lacking for me. The portion of the book that it’s very title is derived from almost seemed like an afterthought. So much more was put into the relationships of the girls and the men they were “courting” that it could have been a book to itself and just left the gas company fight out altogether. Another 100 pages and this could have been a much better read.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The effects of fracking on the environment, the farmers and ranchers, the crops, and the drinking water as seen through the lives of Jackie and Susan Dunbar who raise cattle on the family farm, and Ray Stark a deputy Sheriff.

Tim Layton is busily contacting the landowners, buying up mineral rights all over the place. But, although Jackie sees the sale as an influx of cash that they desperately need, Susan holds out, citing the potential damage to health and property.

This is a thoughtful look at a predicament that is facing more and more communities in America and beyond.

I read this debut EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and Arcade Publishing. pub date 09/05/18

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jackie always knew she wanted to leave her hometown. That is why she went to Denver to medical school. But when her father dies, her sister Susan is left on the ranch unassisted. Jackie takes a leave of absence to take care of things. As they struggle to keep the ranch operating, an opportunity arises to lease their land for mineral rights. When an explosion occurs at a neighbor who had already signed a lease, Jackie sees there is more going on than she realizes. With the help of her sister and a vet, they have no choice except to band together to save their land and perhaps their lives.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5
It ended really well.
Since 2013 I take my vacations out west (from the SE) so I long for this area, Clarren's descriptions sound like they're coming from someone who spent her whole life on the Colorado plains and plateaus. It's also a story of redemption, the redemption of broken people. She told it in a way that was believable and not blowing sunshine up your you-know-what.
However for such a thin book it did take its sweet time getting going and those broken people were hard to read for a minute.
I think of it like a 2m30s song you love that has a long intro. By the time it gets cooking and your head bobbing it's over.
Good book though.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly good read - I really enjoy books about middle America and this was well written and engaging. The characters were believable and I cared about what happened to the Dunbar sisters and Ray - always a sign of a good book. Ray's army past adds depth and the little (wo)man against the big power brokers in this case the gas and oil industry, adds to the book. Great quote:
“People always say that time helps with hard things, but that never helps me.” She blows at the hot tea and takes a sip. “Why would you feel better to know that someday you won’t care anymore about the things that you care about now? I’m sorry it’s hard. That’s all people should ever say.”

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story about a farm in Silt, Colorado, where the dad has died and the two daughters are trying to keep it going. Jackie leaves med school in Denver to come back to Silt, where she connects with Tim from her past; he is now into oil and gas industry. Susan is separated from her husband, moves back and reconnects with Ray, a war vet. There is a gas explosion nearby and their water is tainted.... etc.

[Christine Quinlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story well-told through believable, interesting-enough characters, of the resource conflicts between ranching and fracking in the "new West". Answers and decisions are not black and white, and the book doesn't get too judgey on either side of the environmental ledger. The land itself becomes a character in this book, as two sisters navigate both the gut-wrenching responsibilities and the joys of generational land ownership--both these elements drew me in.

[Holly Collingwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful. From the word choice to the descriptions of ranch lands. I really enjoyed the complex relationship between the sisters and the choices they have to make as they each journey their way through grief.

The topics are hard in this book, but the writing is beautiful and fulfilling.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book it felt authentic like the Author had been there and New some of the farmers and their delemma. I suppose I found all the characters a bit too depressing and damaged or going to be damaged on top of the damaged lakes water holes and dead animals wasn’t much joy . I liked the ending. I think Ray was the best character.

[Debby Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Refreshing Surprise

Ms. Clarren has delivered a unique novel with carefully drawn characters. Her writing style is deliberate, with earthy descriptions that paint a very vivid picture. The two sisters are flawed and struggling in their own, unique ways. While not a "feel good" story, I could not stop reading. Very worth your time!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is adept at evoking unique outdoor spaces and emotional feeling within the environment as well as very rich character development. I thoroughly enjoyed this story - a family drama that felt very contemporary in spite of the setting which felt almost old-school western. Very good read!

[Tara Thomas]

Kudos to my friend, Becca C., who combined her knowledge of natural gas issues and impacts in the west (from years of investigative journalism) into a novel exploring how this industry affects families and communities.

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a incredibly good story!

This was one of those books that keeps you reading until it's finished! Amazing storyline and well written, but then I love anything with ranching and fishing in it! Loved the ending but really hoped the creek got cleared up!

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept waiting to get into a good dialogue of good versus the evil corporate agency but unfortunately it ended so quickly we never got there. It was a quick easy read and I did find the sister relationship interesting, but otherwise it comes in as average.
The best I can do is 3***.

[Suzanne Laing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, thought provoking. Takes a hard look at what really happens when corporations come in to drill, say all the right things, make the environmental impact sound innocuous. And show how tough it is to combat that

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise and themes explored, I just simply wish there was more of it! The characters felt very surface level, as did the conflict. I think this was in part as there was a bit of a distance between the reader and the narrative, and I often felt like I was playing catch up.

[Rachel Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. More than I expected. I found that I cared what happened to the characters, was interested in the story, and it made me think about my own life. Great book