Lush Hopes in Dire Times

By Fran Withrow 07.2020

There are some books that are so gorgeously written, so thoughtfully and masterfully crafted, that I close the last page with a sense of helplessness. How can I review this book in a way that does justice to the author?
Just such a book is “Deep Creek,” Pam Houston’s exquisite collection of essays centered around her ranch in Colorado. A traumatic childhood eventually leads Houston to develop a deep love for nature, and culminates in her eventual purchase of a 120-acre home. Though Houston travels for much of the year, the ranch in sparsely populated Creede, Colorado is where her heart is.

In a simple yet compelling voice, Houston talks about her beloved animals: her deeply devoted dogs, her sheep, her ancient horses, and her spunky mini-donkeys. She also unites her deep appreciation for the grandeur of the mountains around her with her love for the native wildlife who share her space.

The chapter about the six-week forest fire that rages through her area is one of the longest sections of the book, but I raced through it, engrossed. Would her ranch fall to the flames? What about her sheep and her chickens?

 Interspersed throughout the main sections of the book are shorter essays: her “Ranch Almanac,” which focus on specific ranch animals. I found these more personal musings absolutely riveting.

 Houston loves her ranch, but also travels regularly to teach and to travel to the wilder parts of the world. She says it is in these more untouched places that she feels truly at home. Her account of a “once in a hundred lifetimes” sighting of a migrating group of narwhals and her paddle boarding experience with a gentle manatee are heartwarming.

As she travels, Houston repeatedly bears witness to the dying earth. She realizes that just by being alive, she is contributing to our planet’s demise. Yet her description of how she finds both utter joy in the earth’s incredible beauty as well as sorrow over what we are doing to destroy our home is perfectly painted.

Houston repeatedly acknowledges the dichotomy between being alive in this world and destroying it: observing the heartbreaking beauty of aspens growing among the charred forests as well as the potential demise of polar bears. How does one live with such a juxtaposition? Houston ponders how one finds hope for the earth that may be facing its end days, or “at least of the earth as I’ve known her.”

How indeed.

 Her deep respect for the land she lives on as well as for the larger world shine through each page. There is an undercurrent of lush hope and love for life running throughout the book. From saying goodbye to her beloved dog Fenton to digging a path through the snow to get to her horses, Houston’s appreciation for all creation is powerful. Her writing makes me realize that I need to cultivate more intentional awareness of, and gratitude for, this planet we call home.