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Ivan Doig
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This House Of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind Paperback – February 19, 1980

by Ivan Doig (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,362 ratings
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A haunting, magnificently written memoir by Ivan Doig about growing up in the American West

 

Ivan Doig grew up in the rugged wilderness of western Montana among the sheepherders and denizens of small-town saloons and valley ranches. What he deciphers from his past with piercing clarity is not only a raw sense of land and how it shapes us but also of the ties to our mothers and fathers, to those who love us, and our inextricable connection to those who shaped our values in our search for intimacy, independence, love, and family. A powerfully told story, This House of Sky is at once especially American and universal in its ability to awaken a longing for an explicable past.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 19, 1980
  4. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.92 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0156899825
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0156899826
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ivan Doig (1939-2015) was born in Montana and grew up along the Rocky Mountain Front, the dramatic landscape that has inspired much of his writing. A recipient of a lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award from the Western Literature Association, he is the author of fifteen novels and four works of nonfiction.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books Classics; First Edition (February 19, 1980)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0156899825
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0156899826
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.92 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,362 ratings

About the author

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Ivan Doig

Ivan Doig

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Ivan Doig is the author of ten previous books. Seven are novels, including English Creek and Dancing at the Rascal Fair, and three are nonfiction, including the highly acclaimed memoir This House of Sky, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. A former ranch hand, newspaperman, and magazine editor, Doig holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington. He lives in Seattle.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,362 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Varon S.
5.0 out of 5 stars So beautifully written!
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
I loved his writing first, then his story took hold. His story reminded me of Ruth Simmons story and a little of Tara from "Educated". They all had minds that cleared were gifted with language and words.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars More than I dreamed it would be
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
I feel a connection to these lives, having lived for a while a few dozen miles east of White Sulphur. Their story is one of the most powerful I have ever read.
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TheMia
4.0 out of 5 stars A Straight line to future works
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
I love Ivan Doig's language. I love Ivan Doig's language. I love Ivan Doig's language.
My only problem is that I read his later works before this early one. The story is a fascinating look at the life Ivan led in this autobiographical book, and the language is great - but not outstandingly mesmerizing as in later works. Still very happy I read it.
9 people found this helpful
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G F Harper
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, well written
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2024
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The story of three generations living and working in the uncertainties of life in the old/new west. A rare combination of family history and adventure composed of equal parts of biography and the struggles to survive and thrive in a harsh environment.
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Simpss01
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I ever read
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
My first impression as I began this book was how difficult it was to read Doig’s writings. It took a few pages to adjust but when I did, the book unfurled into some of the best writing I have ever experience. Give the book some time and you too will love it!!
6 people found this helpful
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KL
5.0 out of 5 stars Ivan Doig's masterpiece of hard times on the Montana plains will touch your soul
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
I read This House of Sky not long after it was heralded as an award winning book by a Montana author. Then I reread it several times. I loved the story--all true. I loved the time period, a Montana of my parents' young adulthood, depicting the hard life just post-Depression, post-WWII. But most of all, I loved the lyrical language of Doig's straightforward presentation of the story of his life.

He tells how his father approached his disapproving mother-in-law to help raise six-year-old Ivan after Ivan's mother succumbed to her life-long struggle with asthma. This most odd of couples worked together on ranches with scarce food or water for the stock, fought the weather in terrible plains blizzards, thunderstorms and droughts, drove sheep, ran a restaurant, did anything they could do to keep a roof over their heads. Even if sometimes it was only canvas. The two antagonists worked as a team because Ivan needed them to be a team. They gritted their teeth and tolerated one another for so long, that at last they learned to cherish each other.

When I bought This House of Sky for my Kindle, I was facing tough times, frightened by the family budget, terrified of losing our home. So I read it once again to remind myself I might lose my house, as Ivan's father did several times, but like him, I would never lose my home. Home is family. No matter what, family is all that ever really matters. Just roll up your sleeves and start over again. Good advice in any era, any run of hard times. Any family.

This House of Sky is Doig's masterpiece. Though he has written several other good books of fiction, I doubt anything will ever match the drama and raw emotion of his own life. Read it. It will change you. KL
88 people found this helpful
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Betty Donahue
3.0 out of 5 stars Allot of the people in my book club enjoyed the book
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2016
Verified Purchase
Having grown up in MT, I recognized allot of the towns and excited to read this book. The story is interesting enough, just not interesting enough for this reader. Give it a try ! Allot of the people in my book club enjoyed the book. To be fair, the Kindle version of this book left out most of the punctuation and the proofreader left allot spelling mistakes.
2 people found this helpful
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Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Historical Memoir
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2023
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I loved every part of this novel about Doig's life growing up with his Scottish father and grandmother on sheep ranches in Montana. His use of language shows a sophisticated writer telling his story of the hardships of coming of age on remote sheep ranches and the hard working knowledgeable men and woman who made the best of their lives.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Norm Phillips
2.0 out of 5 stars Different strokes for different folks...
Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
I’m sure this style of writing will appeal to some. I just could not stay engaged. I will leave the book for a couple months and try again. I will update my rating if it catches me.
One person found this helpful
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