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The Meadow

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'The Meadow' by James Galvin is a poetic narrative that delves into the lives of American farmers struggling to make a living in the harsh environments of Colorado and Wyoming. The book showcases the deep connection between the characters and the land, portraying their resilience and the challenges they face through generations. The non-linear storytelling style weaves together the stories of individuals living in a remote area high in the front range of the Colorado Rockies, capturing the essence of their lives with poetic prose.

Characters:

The characters are deeply intertwined with the land, embodying resilience and the rugged spirit of their environment.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is richly poetic and lyrical, capturing the beauty of the landscape and the depth of the characters' experiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative unfolds through a tapestry of interconnected vignettes, exploring the life and history surrounding a specific piece of land over a century.

Setting:

The setting is a central component, vividly portraying the stark beauty and challenges of life in the high meadow region.

Pacing:

The pacing encourages slow reading and reflection, enhancing the depth of the individual stories.
The real world goes like this: The Neversummer Mountains like a jumble of broken glass. Snowfields weep slowly down. Chambers Lake, ringed by trees, gratefully catches the drip in its tin cup, and giv...

Notes:

The Meadow is set in the Neversummer Mountains along the Colorado-Wyoming border.
James Galvin, the author, grew up in northern Colorado and has a deep connection to the land.
The book tells a 100-year history of a piece of land through short vignettes.
Galvin's writing style is described as lyrical, spare, and poetic.
The characters in the book embody toughness and resilience, often facing harsh living conditions.
Weather, wildlife, and the changing seasons are significant themes in the book.
The story focuses on everyday lives that often go unnoticed in the rugged beauty of the Rockies.
Some readers find the non-linear storytelling challenging but ultimately rewarding.
The book captures the essence of real people living in a stark, beautiful landscape.

From The Publisher:

An American Library Association Notable Book

In discrete disclosures joined with the intricacy of a spider's web, James Galvin depicts the hundred-year history of a meadow in the arid mountains of the Colorado/Wyoming border. Galvin describes the seasons, the weather, the wildlife, and the few people who do not possess but are themselves possessed by this terrain. In so doing he reveals an experience that is part of our heritage and mythology. For Lyle, Ray, Clara, and App, the struggle to survive on an independent family ranch is a series of blameless failures and unacclaimed successes that illuminate the Western character. The Meadow evokes a sense of place that can be achieved only by someone who knows it intimately.

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About the Author:

A beloved poet, celebrated nonfiction writer and novelist, James Galvin is the author of The Meadow. He teaches at the University of Iowa and divides his time between Iowa City and Tie Siding, Wyoming.

 
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