This House of Sky

Landscapes of a Western Mind

By: Ivan Doig

Narrated by: Ivan Doig

This House of Sky is Ivan Doig's story about growing up in Montana. When Doig was six, his mother died, leaving his father, rancher and cowboy Charlie Doig, and maternal grandmother, the stalwart Bessie Ringer, to raise him. Times were hard and work was difficult. But they found the strength to endure in their love for one another and a gritty determination to survive. They were, Doig believes, relics of an earlier time and another lifestyle - uncomplaining, unquestioning, accepting the western land with all its hardships and beauty.

But Doig's Montana isn't bleak - it's filled with humor, laughter, and funny, memorable characters whose lives are played out against this big, wild land. Lacing his vivid narration with poetic interludes, Doig masterfully crafts a remarkable memoir. This House of Sky speaks many truths about family, love, loss, and the landscapes that mold us all.

©1989 Ivan Doig (P)1989 HighBridge Company; 16 9; 2000 HighBridge Company

Seeing is beleiving

Until I moved to Montana, I don't think I could imagine or believe that Ivan Doig was talking about his, not his grandfathers life. Now, I have no doubt. If your longing for wide open spaces come visit Montana.

Excellent writing —engaging

Beautiful account of a way of life and love of the land and a people who gave their love and lives for it.

Sky

What a hard life! Amazing how they managed to keep going with such horrendous weather! Truly tough people.!

Disappointed

I read two of Mr. Doig's other books, English Creek and Dancing at the Rascal Fair. They were far superior to this book. He is a great writer and has inspired my own writing, but I was terribly disappointed in what I believe is his first book.

A digested version.

I so wish I had listened to this first. Now I must relisten to all.

Powerful story about rural communities

What a insightful story into a time and life of a young Montana man and family.

This appears abridged

I love Ivan Doig. His writing is important to me. I often read books in text and audio at the same time as I like to flit between media. This audio version appears to leave out great swathes of the text of the book itself. That is annoying. It is fun to hear Ivan Doug’s voice though. I would not have bought this if It had been clearly labeled as abridged so…I’m calling BS.