Badluck Way - Review

Badluck Way: A Year on the Ragged Edge of the West

Bryce Andrews © 2013

ISBN 9781476760261

Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

I received a copy of this title through NetGalley, with permission from the publisher.

Badluck Way is the setting down of a year in Bryce Andrews' life. I consider this creative nonfiction, and the publisher states in the front matter that "certain and names and identifying characters have been changed and search and events have been reordered and combined.” This protects both the region and people succinctly presented in this book and also allows Andrews to put events together in a concise reveal of what he perceived.

Set in the Madison River Valley of Southwestern Montana Badluck Way contains images and a map of the area. None of these are as interesting as the rich language used in Andrews' narrative. The sense of place is powerfully conveyed and I visualized the mountains, creeks, Sun Ranch, and the indomitable terrain in which Andrews lived and worked. For readers not from this region of the United States, I feel certain they will be awed by the vast ruggedness just as I (a Montanan) was. The book gives rich description of  unrelenting ranch work and the satisfaction of jobs well done.

In first reading, the beginning of Badluck Way seemed disjointed and rambling. As I moved through the book, I realized that the recounting of Andrews' youth and his travels to Montana and other places, define his character. Knowing about him before he arrived at Sun Ranch illuminates his personal changes and growth.

In several segments of the book Andrews describes the wolves and has done a nice job in eliminating the human elements and presenting a Wolf story. This juxtaposition of Wolf life with Ranch life builds with tension throughout the book. When the clashes of species occur, Andrews presents each conflict with his own inner turmoil about what is happening. He also leaves room for interpretation so the "get rid of the wolves" camps (of which there are many in this state) cannot dismiss his words out of hand; nor can the "preserve nature at all cost" factions. His reporting is thoughtful and articulate.

I enjoyed Badluck Way and from it I will retain images and emotions for a long while.