Pre-numbered label used for registration.

This book holds my heart where none other does. I worked for the author, Spike Van Cleve on his ranch. The book makes you feel as if you are sitting at the ranch drinking a cup of coffee and listening to his stories. He was a great storyteller and you almost become part of the story.

And the best part is the stories are mostly based on fact and actual history. I hope you like this as much as I do.

States Round Robin - mailing order

Idpaulson - California
denny08 - New Mexico
lilmztaz - South Carolina
glade1 - North Carolina
phillycarol - Pennsylvania
awakeagain - New Jersey
DP31 - Illinois
mellion108 - Michigan
mngirl2005 - Minnesota
still-legbamel - North Dakota
...then back to 1stlite - Montana

Going in the mail today to ldpaulson.

Arrived. Part of the States Round Robin.

Mailed to denny08.

This book will be first in the states ring.

I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely not something I would have picked up and read on my own. Thank you 1stlite for sharing something so different from my norm.

Sending to lilmztaz tomorrow!

putting at the top of my hubby's TBR pile thanks so much for sharing, but this wasn't my husbands type of book.he couldn't get into it

Received in the mail today. It's behind a couple of others. More later...

I enjoyed what I read of this book but it was going a little slowly for me and I'm feeling the pressure of other bookrings. I read about 2/3 of it but I'm going to pass it along to phillycarol without finishing it.

I liked Van Cleve's voice once I got used to it. There is not a great deal of coherence to the storytelling; it is really just a collection of anecdotes. But they are entertaining and at times touching (his story of the work horse team who were such soul mates made me cry). Most of the time I was reading it, I was thinking I wish my dad were still around because he would enjoy these tales, and could probably add some rowdy ones of his own. (He was a native Floridian in a time when Florida was still pretty wild and he did a lot of crazy stuff including working in a rodeo for a while.)

I think this book also gives a beautiful picture of Montana, as described by someone who obviously loves it. And that's part of what this round robin is about!

Thanks for sharing it, 1stlite. I'm sorry I didn't finish it but I did enjoy what I read.

Update: Mailed to phillycarol via media rate on 12-22-05.

Just received yesterday. I have one book to finish before this one. Will get to it shortly!

This book had some enjoyable stories but I found that it's not one that you can read straight through from start to finish. I liked reading a story here and there. I definitely got a good feel for Montana and the area that the author describes.

I'll get it in the mail to awakeagain tomorrow.

Rec'd as part of the States Round Robin.

This reminded me of sitting at Grandpa's knee hearing his stories of his time.

I started out reading it straight and soon realized that it was better read as short bits and pieces.

Ready to send on to DP31

Received this last week. Will put on my pile to be read.