A Humorous Perspective of Montana’s Present Past
A one-day, 26-mile hike down a mountain without a drink of water; a dog that thrives on chasing down coyotes all summer long; a grizzly bear that pops out of nowhere when you least expect it; and a cook who plays the poker table as well as he handles a frying pan. What do all of these things have in common? They are but a few of the many interesting scenes, people, and animals found in Norman Maclean’s colorful novella USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and a Hole in the Sky. This story comes highly recommended: reading it will surely bring a smile to your face while at the same time you can catch a vivid glimpse of Montana’s fading but still present past.
While there are no laugh-out-loud scenes in USFS 1919, the story’s subtle but ubiquitous humor leaves the reader with a smile that remains for days. Take, for instance, the scene in which the protagonist, Norman Maclean, and his fellow forestry companions adamantly argue with a crew of surveyors from the U.S. Geological Survey about the naming of an as of yet unmapped creek across the border in Idaho. The surveyors are unsure of whether or not they should mark the creek with its given name, “Wet Ass Creek,” given the inappropriateness of the title. Norman and his crew insist that the creek keep its original name. Having a little fun with the federal surveyors—who are, by the way, from out-of-state—Norman and his gang amusedly point out, “There are only five thousand Deer Creeks in the country. Let’s keep the America’s only Wet Ass Creek” (159). The surveyors put it to a vote, and the original name wins out. Norman, who is only 17 in the story, envisions the area surrounding the creek as a new national park—Wet Ass National Park, “where all the pilgrims from Brooklyn can stop their cars in the middle of the road and let their children feed the grizzlies and vice versa” (p. 160). In the end, the joke is on Norman and his crew: when the map is published, the name is shown as “We-ta-se Creek”, bearing little resemblance to the original.
If nuanced “Montana-style” humor wasn’t enough, USFS 1919 offers a vivid view of what life was like in western Montana a little less than 100 years ago. With a multitude of traditions, characters, and scenes that describe a Montana that was carved by mountain men, loggers, firefighters, and women who were as strong as their men, the story places the reader in a portrait of a world that is rapidly vanishing but can still be seen by those with observant eyes. Importantly, the story follows the adventures of 17-year-old Norman Maclean during his last summer working as a fire lookout. Norman’s role-model in the story is Bill, the head ranger in the Bitterroot Valley, who teaches young Norman about the ancient but intricate art of “packing.” As Norman keenly observes of Bill, “with a rope, he was an artist” (128). And in a world where there “were still few roads across the mountains and none across the Bitterroot Wall” (129), this type of artistry was not only highly valued but also necessary for survival in the still untamed wilderness. While the art of packing is not as common now as it was in the Maclean’s story, take a trip into the roadless Bob Marshall Wilderness area just east of Missoula, as ELI teacher Lisa Willis recently did, and you will find that your guide's "packing" skills reflect a tradition that has changed little since the days when Norman and his hero, the ranger Bill, packed animals over the Bitterroot divide. Another part of the story that provides a descriptive reminder of Montana’s past is the scene in which Norman and his crew set the stage to double their money in Hamilton after collecting their summer’s pay. As stated above, the crew’s cook is as skilled at poker as he is in the kitchen; hence, the crew comes up with a plot to hustle the rough poker-playing crowd at the Oxford, the toughest poker joint in Hamilton. The cook does indeed win all the money at the table; however, what ensues is a fight that leaves the cook hiding under the table and young Norman and his crew fighting half the town of Hamilton! While this type of scene is unlikely to occur in this day and age, if you walk on down to the Oxford in downtown Missoula (no relation to the Oxford in the story), you will find an intensely silent group of die-hard poker faces sitting around a game of “texas hold ‘em.” Furthermore, even today it is not uncommon to read about a bloody brawl that has taken place on the cracked concrete outside the Oxford. Indeed, it might be a better idea to observe the infamous locale from across the street!
If you enjoyed A River Runs Through It, you will find USFS 1919 to be a humorous perspective portrayed through the eyes of a young Norman Maclean. Moreover, you will find yourself in piece of Montana’s past that is still present today. Who knows? One day you might find yourself hiking next to “We-ta-se Creek” in need of a “cincha” knot in order to make it back to your car.
My second personal book is "the blue bistro" by ELIN HILDERBRAND who is New York Times Bestselling author of The Island. This title is the name of restaurant(actually, it's a bar rather than restaurant.) which is the main place in this story.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I didn't finish reading and read by P.86 because I didn't have enough time to finish. I'm sorry. Even so, I want to recommend you to read it as this book is not so difficult to grasp the story even though it has specific vocabularies about cooking or something related to restaurant work. There are many persons in this book, and they have different and interesting character. Some may be similar to yours other may be so far from yours. In addition, as I'm reading, I can't stop reading without something more importance because it makes me excited very much.
Adrienne, main character, needed money because her ex boyfriend had stolen her money. She was searching for new job, then, she found it. It's an assistant manager in restaurant, but she have never worked at restaurant whose name is "Blue Bistro." This restaurant become a main circumstance. She met many people at there,for example, a owner, colleagues, chefs and customers. She started her new life.
As I wrote, she met many people, and she will meet more people. It's an attractive point for me to understand each personalities of people whom she met and worked with. My way to read is comparing myself with themselves. I always think that if I'm in a situation which happens in book, what I do or say and that why a character did or said that in this story. I can get more choices or opinions from the characters.
In this book, events or happenings come one after another, so I can't stop reading. Every incidents has an impact on not only Adrienne's mind or heart but also others.
Nevertheless, this book is love story , Adrienne didn't met a partner until P86. The rest of story should be more exciting and fun! During this vacation, I'm gonna read through it.
My expectation is a owner will be her boyfriend, and they will open new restaurant.
Thank you
Yuuki
My personal book was “Robert E. Lee, A biography Emory M. Thomas.” The Author of this book is Emory M. Thomas who is a History Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia and noted scholar of the American Civil War. The book was published in 1995 and introduces a military view of the Confederate General Robert Edward Lee. In my opinion I only recommend this book for those students who like the American Civil War or studying for military strategies.
ReplyDeleteI recommend this book for people, like me, that studies American Civil War. This book explain in details what was the way of thinking of this fabulous Strategies Genius, what was the battlefields and what was the sources that General Lee had to guide his army. The details of the age and politics are magnificent. For this I recommend this book for the people who like study American Civil War.
I recommend this book for militaries strategies researchers. This book tells for reader so many details of the battles, what was the disposal of the Confederate and the Union soldiers, canons and cavalry. For these people this book is amazing to ready.
However, I don’t recommend this book for students who not like studying this type of history or don’t like study war strategic. This book contains many details that can be misunderstood for these students or can be easily got boring on the page 10.
For students who like American Civil War or Study Military Strategic I recommend this book. Therefore, for students who not like these type of reading I sure not recommend this book. For me this is was an amazing book that helps me to understand better the General Lee and understand why the Confederates States of America lost that war and had been it side one great strategic man. With this book I could understand what was the real motive that Robert Lee chooses to fight on The Confederate Side.
"If I could wake up in a different place, at a different time, could I wake up as a different person?"
ReplyDeleteMany people think that if you saw film first and only then read book you're making big mistake. It is true for many reasons, but not with this book. I saw David Fincher's film three times before i read book. Chuck Palahniuk, 'Fight Club'. Saw the film? You have to read book!
"The first rule of Fight Club is, you do not talk about Fight Club."
"The second rule of Fight Club is, you DO NOT talk about Fight Club."
You will have time to learn all of these quotes because repeats are very usual for this book. I think that you don't need explanations that art is not mechanistic repetition: each time the same words take on additional shades of meaning, each time they make the reader to wake up in the text with a trembling sense that he almost thought of something real, something important. The narrative often slips into the stream of consciousness when you do not need explanations and quotes, when you immersed in text with the head.
Successful employee of the company (from whom this story is telling) meets once a cynic named Tyler, and from this his whole life changes. His apartment is blown up, and he frightening and not understanding tries to find the help from his new friend. He suddenly lost all that he loved, for what he was spending his strength and energy (clothing, furniture, cutlery, stainless steel, a collection of various varieties of mustard in the refrigerator, a stylish coffee table, paper lanterns, covered with unbleached ecologic paper. "You buy furniture, you tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. buy the sofa, then for a couple of years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled, then the right set of dishes, then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug.
Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things that you used to own, now they own you."), but he doesn't hurry to rebuild their lives anew.
They have nothing to lose, only their 'Fight Club'. Worse then they have couldn't be. It could be worse only for those people, who are depend on their things, furniture, flats.. Unhappened revolution is terrorism. That is Tyler doing.
Clear phrases, rhythm and tension. I find this story very interesting and there too many things to think about. And of course global cynicism: "Marla said she wanted to get pregnant. Marla said she wanted to have Tyler's abortion." Palahniuk - a product of our time, where is no place for feat, where the action won't win the word. Perhaps this is better... The reader will understand, because he also was born in this brew and he continues to brewed in the brew. And so, where to go? Or do you like the alternative that proposed by Tyler? :)
"If you don't know what you want," the doorman said, "you end up with a lot you don't."
Hi everyone :D
ReplyDeleteMy personal book is “The Alchemist.” The autor of this book is Paulo Coelho who is a Brazilian novelist. This book was published in Portuguese in 1988. After five years, it was published in English. This book has been translated into over 67 languages and sold more than 65 million copies. More than 150 countries have sold this book. The alchemist is really famous book in the world. I highly recommend to read this book because this book made me to think about how to be success, what is the meaning of loosing something, and what is the your life.
First, this book can give you an idea how to be success. The main caracter of this book is Santiago. One day, he saw a dream about treasure. The dream told that treasure is in the pyramid. Therefore, this book of main story is that Santiago try to go to the pyramid to find the treasure. In the story, he confronted some difficult situations, but he didn’t get out of difficulties. He made every effort and did do his best. This book taught me that never give up if I want to be my dream comes true.
Second, this book can tell you about how necessary losing something from you. Santiago’s all money was stolen by thief when he was on the way to Pyramid. He lost all his money, but he could learn that he must readjust his perspective on his surroundings. After he lost his money, he worked at crystal shop to get money for go to the Pyramid. He spend much time to work there. He lost much time but he earned much money. Therefore, he lost something importants, but he got something important. This book taught me that you cannot get everything. You can get something instead losing something.
Third, this book make you to think about what is the your life. There are many good and bad happen in this story. Also, there are many people from different cultures, people believe different religions, and people have different dreams. This book made me thinking about what is the my life: who am I, what I want to be, what should I do and so on.
The Alchemist is a great book. This book was very fast reading. I didn’t write any thing about this book’s story because I really want you to read The Alchemist. There are a lot of good phrases for the people’s life. The Alchemist may influence to your life after you read the book. This book made me to think about many things such as to be success, loosing something, and my life. You may feel different way as me, so try to read The Alchemist!
Thank you,
Yuna
I read the book of Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist. This book is a memorable, meaningful, magical little volume. “To realize one's destiny is a person's only obligation” this can be easily the main idea of the book, but the reality is far beyond that. The Alchemist is a story both simple and wise, it can make you think about life in a completely new different perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe Paulo Coelho's book is about a young shepherd called Santiago that lives with is flock in Andalusia, Spain. His only desire in life is traveling and he thinks to have achieve that goal when all his life turns upside down. After visiting a Gypsy and an old king, Santiago leaves all he've got behind is back and start his magical journey to the pyramids of Egypt. During his journey the realize his own Personal Legend, he'll affront so many difficulties and he'll know what does it mean to lose everything. In this enchanting fairy-tale, Santiago will makes you think about so many aspect of your life that may not be aware of.
I highly recommend this book for two main reason. First, this amazing novel is perfectly comprehensible with no such tricky words, it'll be immediate and makes you want to read this book all in one breath. Second, I think it's rare this day found a so beautiful novel, seriously, this book makes you think, smile, and surprise yourself every page you'll go through. You'll discover a new world that is hidden from your eyes, but that is there ready to be found.
Like the American publisher said in a letter to the author, “ reading The Alchemist was like getting up at dawn and seeing the sun rise while the rest of the world still slept”, if you'll trust about the book, you certainly won't regret.