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Heart Earth Audiobook
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(3.10) - 313 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
National Book Award finalist Ivan Doig had only a vague memory of his mother until he discovered a cache of her letters. They revealed a passionate, can-do woman who loved the lilting rhythm of words. A moving prequel to his acclaimed memoir This House of Sky, Doig's Heart Earth highlights his childhood before his mother's death and eloquently captures the texture of the American West, the fortunes of a family, and one woman's indomitable spirit. "Another profoundly original and lustrous re-creation."-Kirkus Reviews
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"I recently reread both This House of Sky and Heart Earth. If you have read This House of Sky and not Heart Earth, you must read it. It is the "prequel" to his first memoir in that it is about his mother Berneta Ringer Doig. This memoir is based on the letters sent by his mother to her brother Wally during the last year of WWII while he was stationed on the carrier Ault in the South Pacific. As much I as like This House of Sky, I think of the two this one is my favorite. It is such a beautiful love story of his parents short marriage, the family love of Montana and the need to be in the high country and the love of a son for the mother whom he had for such a short time but who gave him his love of words and writing. If you are ever in Montana, visit the Big Belt Country. The railroad is gone, there is not much left of Ringling and Maudlow is a ghost town, but the country where most of this memoir takes place is much as it was, isolated and sometimes harsh, but with a beauty that Doig is so lyrical in capturing."
— Vicky (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Tough and poignant…Heart Earth is a book the repeatedly proves the power of language…Doig uses words like oil paint to create canvasses of enduring value and originality.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“An affecting book, heartbreak in in its recital of the stark severance of a young family’s life, but ennobling in the implacable spirit that infuses its page…[It] endure as [a] magnificent testimonial to the men and women who people it, and [a] classic of the bittersweet history of the American West.”
— Washington Times -
“Doig at his best: fresh, vivid language energizing his keen insight into a woman whose warmth he felt only briefly.”
— Seattle Times -
“A lyrical evocation of the Doig’s gallantly hardscrabble existence and love for the unforgiving Montana mountains.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“In poetic and precise prose, Doig has crafted a worthy complement to his acclaimed memoir, This House of Sky.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“For House of Sky devotees, and for anyone who cares about the West and the ties that bind rugged individuals, this is a book to treasure.”
— Booklist (starred review)
Heart Earth Listener Reviews
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" Ivan Doig's tribute to his mother and his childhood. His phraseology is so polished and evokes a deep humming warmth inside. This one is a real treat. Read this. "
— Sherry, 2/20/2014 -
" After his original memoir, This House of Sky, it was very interesting to revisit his early life from the perspective of his Mother's letters to her brother. I enjoyed reading about the same people again and learning more about them. I especially enjoyed the obvious research that Ivan had done to include information that had not been in his earlier memoir. In this book as in his others, his descriptions of the places and times are as entrancing as his portraits of the characters. "
— Nancy, 2/12/2014 -
" I could read Ivan Doig forever. "
— Carol, 2/8/2014 -
" As always, Ivan Doig's words are poetic. In this memoir, Doig draws the reader into the last year of his mother's life. She died on his sixth birthday. As an adult he receives letters that she wrote to her brother during this time period. From those letters come this beautiful book. "
— Kathy, 1/29/2014 -
" Beautiful story. Wonderful phrasing. Delightful insight to a WWII child looking at the world in wonder. "
— Beckett, 1/11/2014 -
" Very interesting and artistic writing style. "
— Stephanie, 1/3/2014 -
" You think of Doig as Montana, so to hear him lovingly describe Arizona was a treat. This book is about him, his parents, and what he remembers, and learned from his Mom's letters to her brother during the last year of her life. Really enjoyed this. "
— Becky, 12/25/2013 -
" Gave me a lot of insight into his other novels. Definitely read this if you're a Doig fan. "
— Chris, 11/11/2013 -
" Not nearly as beautifully written as it's sequel, this House of Sky, this book makes a pleasant selection simply to complete the story of the author's childhood and short relationship with his mother. "
— David, 11/6/2013 -
" I usually like/love Doig's books, but this is definitely my favorite. It's the story of his mother, who dies young. The writing is incredible--sometimes I would reread a paragraph because I was so touched by it. At a reading he gave, Doig mentionned that this was his favorite also. Heartfelt. "
— Carol, 8/9/2013 -
" As aptly stated by the Washington Post Doig's work makes readers recall why they love to read and reminds writers why they ever wanted to write in the first place. My favorite Doig saga to date. "
— Lori, 6/14/2013 -
" I have read most of Doig's books and enjoyed them. This one adds nothing to the "based on truth" history. Fair enough as he labels this one "a memoir." That is just what it is and nothings more. Doig loves to talk about himself and his family but his writing is consistent and somehow, soothing. "
— Peg, 4/4/2013 -
" Wow. This short book -- a memoir about Doig's short time with his mother -- is so beautifully written that I want to listen to it again just to experience the poetry in the writing. "
— Amy, 5/6/2012 -
" This is a prequel to Ivan Doig's THis House of Sky. After reading Whistling Season by the same author I wanted to read more about his roots in Montana. So far, it is typical of his writing - an wonderful meander through life. I'll keep you posted "
— Cathi, 4/13/2012 -
" I love all of Ivan Doig's books - he paints the Montana picture with true colors and shades. "
— Zara, 4/9/2012 -
" Non-fiction story of Doig's mom and dad. Not as good as "Dancing at the Rascal Fair," but good. "
— Andrea, 3/2/2012 -
" This was a beautiful western memoir, written almost like a love story of the authors' parents. The only real problem I had with it was that every now and then the detailed language and description bogged me down. "
— Karen, 3/1/2012 -
" A lovely coda to House of Sky! "
— Paddy, 11/25/2011 -
" As far as memoirs go, I enjoyed. "
— Clinton, 10/24/2011 -
" Letters were found when Ivan was going through his Mom's effects; nice bit of family history as his father worked as a miner in the Western U.S. "
— David, 3/18/2011 -
" As far as memoirs go, I enjoyed. "
— Clinton, 2/5/2011 -
" Gave me a lot of insight into his other novels. Definitely read this if you're a Doig fan. "
— Chris, 1/28/2011 -
" A lovely coda to House of Sky! "
— Paddy, 10/7/2010 -
" Not nearly as beautifully written as it's sequel, this House of Sky, this book makes a pleasant selection simply to complete the story of the author's childhood and short relationship with his mother. "
— David, 9/12/2010 -
" Ivan Doig's tribute to his mother and his childhood. His phraseology is so polished and evokes a deep humming warmth inside. This one is a real treat. Read this. "
— Sherry, 7/29/2010 -
" You think of Doig as Montana, so to hear him lovingly describe Arizona was a treat. This book is about him, his parents, and what he remembers, and learned from his Mom's letters to her brother during the last year of her life. Really enjoyed this. "
— Becky, 7/16/2010 -
" I usually like/love Doig's books, but this is definitely my favorite. It's the story of his mother, who dies young. The writing is incredible--sometimes I would reread a paragraph because I was so touched by it. At a reading he gave, Doig mentionned that this was his favorite also. Heartfelt. "
— Carol, 4/16/2010 -
" As aptly stated by the Washington Post Doig's work makes readers recall why they love to read and reminds writers why they ever wanted to write in the first place. My favorite Doig saga to date. "
— Lori, 8/2/2009 -
" This is a prequel to Ivan Doig's THis House of Sky. After reading Whistling Season by the same author I wanted to read more about his roots in Montana. So far, it is typical of his writing - an wonderful meander through life. I'll keep you posted "
— Cathi, 5/12/2009 -
" Very interesting and artistic writing style. "
— Stephanie, 3/19/2009 -
" As always, Ivan Doig's words are poetic. In this memoir, Doig draws the reader into the last year of his mother's life. She died on his sixth birthday. As an adult he receives letters that she wrote to her brother during this time period. From those letters come this beautiful book. "
— Kathy, 3/1/2009
About Ivan Doig
Ivan Doig (1939–2015) wrote over a dozen books, including the Indiebound bestseller Work Song, the classic memoir This House of Sky, and the acclaimed Montana trilogy. He has been a National Book Award finalist and has received the Wallace Stegner Award, among many other honors.
About Tom Stechschulte
Tom Stechschulte (1948–2021) was an acclaimed narrator and winner of the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He had been a college athlete and business major when a friend dared him to audition for a play. He got the part and traded the locker room for the dressing room, eventually taking him to New York City and to recording audiobooks.