Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for the e-ARC.
This was a captivating, raw, emotional memoir of a wildland firefighter. It focuses on the years that River Selby was engaged in that profession, as well providing insight into their life and troubled family life that led them to that profession for nearly a decade in the early 2000s, as well as their struggles with mental health and bulimia. Along the way it explores the natural history of the American West and the way we have mismanaged the land (and fire) that now combined with climate change is leading to evermore destructive wildland fires. It further documents the rough life, low-waged aspect of this seasonal type of work, as well as the misogynistic culture they endured during their time in the service.
As the father of a firefighter/paramedic, I found the details of how wildland firefighters go about fighting fires fascinating.
River Selby’s prose is engaging in a way that while you know they are now in a PhD program and have written this book, their is a bit of that “edge of the seat suspense” that has you rooting for them to succeed, and concerned they won’t.
Finally, I not only appreciated the fact that they included a bibliography, but also a suggested further reading list.
I highly recommend this read!