Reviews

The Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss

markcummings's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

alicebme's review against another edition

4.0

Lydia makes me think of a super thin Marilla Cuthbert (a la Colleen Dewhurst). I quite enjoyed this book and think somewhat differently about mules and (dare I say it) goats.

heidisreads's review against another edition

5.0

In this strong, carefully honest story of a woman in the west, Lydia Sanderson loses and gathers herself along Jump-Off Creek; the details of life in Oregon's Blue Mountains are so intimately portrayed, readers will find themselves forgetting where they are.

pattydsf's review against another edition

3.0

I know I read this book before. I even had or have a copy signed by the author who I heard speak at PLA in Portland, OR. But I really did not remember the story as it actually is. This is a perfect example of reading a book at the wrong time. All I remembered was the story was hard to follow.

This time round, that was definitely not true. Gloss' style is spare and her characters are living very hard lives, but the story is clear. In my opinion Gloss does an amazing job of showing how hard life was when this country was settled. She also shows us what change does to people living hand to mouth. This may be an appropriate book for our times.

I am so glad I revisited this book. I saw the story in a whole new light.

19paws's review against another edition

3.0

I wanted so much to love this and I almost did. The parts about Lydia, who has taken up homesteading on her own in the 1890s, were wonderful. I could have read forever about her efforts to carve out a home and livelihood in the mountains of Oregon. But at least half of the book was devoted to her neighbors—mostly men—and I wasn’t interested in them. I wanted more Lydia!

abauer's review against another edition

4.0

A slice of life novel set in the 1890s Blue Mountains of Oregon, The Jump-Off Creek chronicles Lydia Sanderson's first nine months on her newly-purchased homestead. Contrary to the description, the book covers multiple perspectives, mainly that of Lydia and her neighbors Tim Whiteaker and Blue Odell. It's very much a character-driven novel, and despite a certain lack of emotional depth, I was very invested in the characters. And because it's a "slice of life" novel with a seemingly arbitrary beginning and ending, I wanted more at the end. Overall, I enjoyed it. It's an easy read, and it offered a detailed and interesting historical perspective that I don't often read.

karissakate's review against another edition

2.0

I appreciate the writing style of this book, but it just wasn't for me. I just couldn't get engaged with the characters like I wanted to.

hmuraski27's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

jan2bratt's review against another edition

4.0

Loved the sparse prose and setting of this book. Very harsh lives these people live, the author does not pretty things up, does not romanticize the story. Love reading about it but wouldn't want to actually have to live this way!

bobbo49's review against another edition

4.0

A beautifully written story of a single woman struggling to homestead in the mountains of eastern Oregon in the late 1800s. The writing captures perfectly the incredible challenges of mere survival, let alone accomplishment, as the rugged west was being settled. Excellent book club read.