Shadow Ranch: A Moving Family Drama About Grief and an Unexpected Romance Across Three Generations

by Jo-Ann Mapson

The impact of four-year-old Spencer's death has rocked the Carpenter family. For Lainie, the loss of her son is unbearable, and now both her marriage and her very sanity are threatened. Her guitar-obsessed, slacker brother Russell isn't doing very well either, and his own love relationship is rapidly coming undone. Then there's Bop, her fierce and crusty 80-year-old grandfather. When he falls in love with a retired stripper, their earthy romance touches each of the Carpenters' lives in unexpected ways.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Chick Lit

388 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Jo-Ann Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in Fullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped out of college to marry, but later finished a creative writing degree at California State University, Long Beach. Following her son's birth in 1978, Mapson worked an assortment of odd jobs teaching horseback riding, cleaning houses, typing resumes, and working retail. After earning a graduate degree from Vermont College's low residency program, she taught at Orange Coast College for six years before turning to full-time writing in 1996. Mapson is the author of the acclaimed novels Shadow Ranch, Blue Rodeo, Hank Chloe, and Loving Chloe."The land is as much a character as the people," Mapson has said. Whether writing about the stark beauty of a California canyon or the poverty of an Arizona reservation, Mapson's landscapes are imbued with life. Setting her fiction in the Southwest, Mapson writes about a region that she knows well; after growing up in California and living for a time in Arizona and NewMexico, Mapson lives today in Costa Mesa, California. She attributes her focus on setting to the influence of Wallace Stegner.Like many of her characters, Mapson has ridden horses since she was a child. She owns a 35-year-old Appaloosa and has said that she learned about writing from learning to jump her horse, Tonto. "I realized," she said, "that the same thing that had been wrong with my riding was the same thing that had been wrong with my writing. In riding there is a term called `the moment of suspension,' when you're over the fence, just hanging in the air. I had to give myself up to it, let go, trust the motion. Once I got that right, everything fell into place."

Reviews

[Tobeylynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another ARC from ALA. At first I had a trouble getting into this one. I didn't care too much about the first two characters I met – Bop, a controlling rich grandfather, and Lainie, a depressed mother grieving for her lost son. But a friend had liked it so I tried some more and eventually found myself pulled into this sad family, each member trying to find redemption but having difficulty connecting with the others. An unlikely new member of the family unself-consciously pulls them together, where loss makes way for new joy.

[Megalion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about a family reeling from the loss of a son/grandson/nephew at a young age.

I like Jo-Ann's characters, real seeming people with flaws but usually with good hearts. Her books and stories illustrate the problems we have sometimes relating to each other and the world and it's always hopeful to see hers struggle and usually find some way to break thru the barriers.

[Mary Newcomb]

A cute novel, I liked the character development and found the story somewhat compelling.

[Christy Warlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great modern drama type novel but the story stayed pretty slow. That's why I gave three stars.

[Neva Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful family saga.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good domestic story about several generations of the Carpenter family.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from this author. Jumping back and forth between a crusty 80-year old and his adult grandchildren was challenging, but worth it.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Mapson was a nice change from the formulaic ones I was sick of during my last Mapson reading binge in the fall. I found this battered hard back in the United Way bin at the grocery store and my son gave me the $2 to buy it! I didn't think I'd read it despite its age (early 90's) and indeed I hadn't. It tells the usual horse/ woman/ grief/ family story, complete with Mapson's pithy observations and great voice. Nothing spectacular, but a solidly enjoyable read!

I did like Russell, the brother, a lot.

[Bonnie Plested · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good friend and new book-buddy loaned me several of Jo-Ann Mapsons books. After reading a dozen pages of this book, the story was seemed familiar to me. I could remember the cowboy-millionaire randfather, his granddaughter whose son died and the ending. Now that I have children, re-reading this book, pulled strings in my heart otherwise unplayed. Great characters, with a take on the modern western psyche.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got about 6 chapters into this book and never did finish it. I didn't really care for any of the characters and even after 6 chapters, I didn't feel like the story was going anywhere. I did try another one of her books, The Owl and Moon Cafe which I enjoyed MUCH more!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. I really liked Bop but my favorite character was Earlynn. Parts of Shadow Ranch were tedious and I found it wasn't necessary to read every word. I enjoyed the book and I liked the family.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those familiar wtih Mapson's other books, while I enjoyed this one, it wasn't as good as either Blue Rodeo or Hank and Chloe.

[Mikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

a bit explicit but a great story as all her books are. i don't know how i missed this one

[Cws]

F Map

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of my favorites.

[Tupper Malone · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Jo-Ann Mapson for her characters. You feel like you know them, they're your neighbors. Of course, the fact that they're set in Southern California, my home, makes them fun, too.

[Deidre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my fav of her stories

[Isabel C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book discarded after 25 pages. I was disappointed. I've read almost all of her books. This one just couldn't hold my interest.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite book by this author. I almost didn't finish it. Just didn't enjoy the characters or the story.

[Susan]

Colchester Library book sale - 6/25/2011

[Di Massey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt like she got tired of the story and just ended it..... disappointing.

[Norma Bush · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with other reviews. Not worth the time. Too many good books to read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading JoAnn Mapson's books is a wonderful way to delve into lives you wish were friends. And you hate when the story ends.

[Jonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read - great characterization - reading a Mapson book is a wonderful experience.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of her best. Ends abruptly, suddenly tieing up the loose ends.