Ride with Me, Mariah Montana

Ivan Doig has become one of my favorite authors. I've listened to four of his novels, including this trilogy. He is a wordsmith, able to turn a phrase that makes you want to pause the story and savor the phrase. He is also a first-rate story-teller who spins a great yarn while developing full-bodied characters set in an accurate historical context.

This story made me laugh out loud often. But it was also a thoughtful reflection on relationships--family, neighbors, coworkers--and and how our individual stories are part of a much larger web. It was also a hymn of love to Montana. As a Northwesterner who loves Montana (I hike and motorcycle there), it was a kick to hear Jick's descriptions of places I've been and loved.

In the third part of this outstanding trilogy, Doig masterfully answers dangling questions from the previous books, and throws plenty of curves to keep you guessing. I was sad when the book ended; my consolation was that I can listen to all three again!

Scott Sowers narration is superb as well. Spot on!

Do yourself a favor--listen to the whole series! It's an amazing 100-year saga of the McCaskill family in the Two Country of Montana!

I have read & listened to "Ride with Me..." and though I enjoyed both experiences, Scott Sower's voice gave the story a life not found in the printed version.

"English Creek", the predecessor to "Ride with Me, Mariah Montana", was one of those rare novels that spoke to me-I found I identified with Jick. I think Ivan Doig did a great job of portraying Jick in his later years, tying him to the young Jick in "English Creek" and showing how life had shaped him.

He was Jick in my mind!

Jick of course. I would like to hear more about his younger years and the wonderful characters that shaped "English Creek"...Dode Withrow, Canada Dan, Toussaint Rennie, and the tragic Stanley.

Listen to all three books. If nothing else, "English Creek".. and "the Bartenders Tale"

I have enjoyed the other Ivan Doig books I have listened to, but this on was not worth the time. Nothing about the story lived up to my expectations based on the previous books. It was tedious and pointless. Skip this one. It is not worth the time.

Ivan Doig is such a good writer that this non-plot story *still* keeps you interested in all the unusual things that happen on the road: the buffalo-Winnebago tussle, the baloney express gang, and the surprise ending. I loved Doig's description of bison.
However, because there isn't much of a plot to this one, it isn't as stellar as Dancing at the Rascal Fair. So, if you haven't read that one, go do it!

Getting into the mind of Jick MacCaskill.

I don't know that I've ever heard Scott Sower's other work. He did a great job on this!

Jick.