Part thriller, part nature ballad, Badluck Way is a subtle love story. Bryce Andrews tells the story of his love for the Madison Valley, its domesticated and wild animals, and its open skies with a wanderlust that is hard to match. Throughout the tale, his efforts to nurture are at sharp odds with his deeds of [animal] murder, about which he spends a great deal of the book reflecting. I can only imagine what some of the characters in the book would say if they read Andrews' account of his year at the Sun Ranch, for surely he is being too kind and loving to certain enemies of the tough ranching crowd (i.e., wolves).

It is always fascinating to read self-enforced hard labor, especially the brand that is very American and Western, where privileged people (i.e., citizens of the developed world, who are usually white and male and come from a comfortable life with several career opportunities) choose to rough it. The kind of back-breaking work Andrews describes and the reasons he counts for doing it (i.e., his love of nature, especially the particular nature of the Madison Valley) seem utterly disproportionate to me. It seems like the Olympic athlete that had to finish her competition despite a broken ankle, or the no-pain-no-gain slogans for the workout maniacs, or some sort of thrill-seeking that cannot be explained away with love of nature or being outdoors. I love nature; I visit it often. It is the extremes that some feel they have to live to truly engage, which is interesting, if not painful to read about. The truth is that there are millions of people who do this sort of work in different shapes and forms, who would rather not. They do it because they have to, because there is no other way for them to make a living, because they do not have a college degree waiting for them. So in that regard, it is both crazy that someone like Bryce Andrews takes on a brutal year in the ranch, and awesome and wonderful.

Recommended for those who love horses, wolves, and elk, and those who enjoy Alyson Hagy's work. Also recommended for those who love four-wheel-drive pick-up trucks, guns, and rifles.

Thanks to Goodreads First Reads and the publisher for a free copy of Badluck Way. ( )

Bryce Andrews leaves Seattle to work on a ranch in Montana. He learns how tough it really is to be a cowboy in this touching memoir.

This is not a fast paced action filled story, but one that shows the tediousness and loneliness of being a ranch hand. We get to see first had how this young man lives each day on the ranch and enjoys nature. He tells about some of the ranch’s past; his dealing with stray cows and their constant combat with a pack of wolves. And when he has to kill one, it haunts for months afterwards. He doesn’t leave the ranch because he couldn’t hack it, but because he heard it was going to be sold to developers and the things would change.

I found this to be a very insightful memoir, but did he really grow and change? I’m not sure; I found it to be reminiscent. And the photos that included were breathtaking. ( )