Coyote Nowhere: In Search of America's Last Frontier [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

John Holt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2004

Complete with beautiful black-and-white photographs of the pristine Northwest.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Holt has written numerous articles and authored 11 works of nonfiction and two novels. His latest is a captivating travel narrative that reveals his passion for fishing and his love of the rugged rural beauty of the West. Recounting his extensive travels through the Northwest, mainly Montana and the area around Canada's Great Slave Lake, Holt provides an interesting look at the history and uniqueness of the area while commenting on the effects of modernization and the rise and fall of populations. His writing style blends humor, suspense, facts, and anecdotes, and his descriptive prose reveals the diverse beauty of the northern high plains, plateaus, and mountains. Holt also details the way of life of its people, captured through research, interviews, and random encounters. Much of Holt's writing delves into the art of fishing, but readers will also get an essence of this particular region of North America. An enjoyable read.DJo-Anne Mary Benson, Osgoode, Ont.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Reviewed with Benjamin Long's Backtracking.

Holt and Long, two Montana writers who set out to find America's Old West buried beneath its twenty-first-century trappings, have produced remarkably entertaining books, effectively combining memoir, travelogue, and history.Holt, the author of 13 previous books (mostly about fishing in Montana), set out with his partner, photographer Ginny Diers, to peel back the modern age and reveal the remnants of the Old West. He found what he was looking for in the lives of a handful of ranchers, Native Americans, and fisherman, all of whom are living like their ancestors might have lived a century and a half ago. He constantly contrasts the West he loves with the West being invaded by vacationers, recreational-vehicle owners, and others who seem determined to destroy what precious little remains of the glorious Wild West. This is a moving book and a heartfelt plea to keep the West alive. Although perhaps not quite so aggressive (Holt's prose is full of scathing remarks about people who thoughtlessly trample over the remnants of the Old West), Long's book is just as passionate. A former newspaper journalist who specialized in natural history and environmental issues related to the western states, Long took to the road with his wife, Karen Nichols (who, like Holt's companion, is a photographer), to retrace the steps of Lewis and Clark from the Missouri River to the Pacific. Like Holt, Long wanted to rediscover the past, to recapture the excitement Lewis and Clark must have felt when they saw grizzlies and beautiful vistas and tall, ancient trees for the first time.These books, separately or together, are sure to appeal to readers with an interest in travel or the American West. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592282598
• ASIN: B001QCX4HC
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,421,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Holt is a writer living in Livingston, Montana with his wife, a photographer, Ginny. They spend much of their time traveling to out-of-the-way, little-known parts of Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. While on the road they camp, fish, canoe, hike and photograph. Other interests include fly tying, cooking, the Chicago Cubs and reading.

Holt's 16 published books include the first title in the Wilderness Adventures Press series Flyfishing Adventures - Montana, Yellowstone Drift - Floating the Past in Real Time, Coyote Nowhere - In Search of America's Last Frontier, Arctic Aurora - Canada's Yukon and Northwest Territories, Hunted: A Novel, Guide Wars, Knee Deep in Montana's Trout Streams and Chasing Fish Tales .

His writing has appeared in publications that include Contemporary Sportsman, The Flyfish Journal, Men's Journal, Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, The Angling Report, American Angler, The Denver Post, Audubon, Art of Angling Journal, Field & Stream, Gray's Sporting Journal, Montana Magazine, and American Cowboy.

He's is currently completing a collection of essays on native trout species in Montana called Lunar Allure and researching a book on tactics for taking large brown trout titled Stalking Trophy Brown Trout for The Lyons Press.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Road Trip like no other, September 29, 2000

By 

Charles M. Nobles (Tulsa, OK United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coyote Nowhere: In Search of America's Last Frontier (Hardcover)

I have to admit, I thought I was a pretty seasoned traveler on the back roads of America. I have 4-wheeled to the summits of fourteen thousand peaks in Colorado; explored the canyons and slick rock country in and around Moab, UT; and traveled over the Mojave Road, not once but twice, in the east Mojave Desert. I have traveled from coast to coast and border to border, logging many miles on what William Least Heat Moon called Blue Highways, in his first, and in my opinion, best book. But, dear reader, after reading Coyote Nowhere, I now know that I am just a beginner on the journey. Coyote Nowhere is a road trip like no other you have ever been on. It is 26,000 miles in one yeaar in the northern high plains of the North American West that few have seen as up-close and personal as John Holt. The journey stretches from Montana to the plains of northern Alberta, from Wyoming to the Dakotas and the Missouri Breaks. The Purpose of the trip? "Coyote Nowhere will explore and examine the northern high plains from an extemporaneous and contemporary perspective through our eyes and translated into our words and photographs. We're looking for the true west, not the shortsighted vision myopically viewed by most as they whiz here and there along the interstate rarely seeing anything. The west-what we see in the Coors commercials and the SUV ads on television-has been bastardized by too many drive-in espresso kiosks, glitzy ski lodges, swank dude rances and flyfishing guides in pastel waders who serve champagne and caviar in their drift boats. In a word 'Californicated.'" And explore the area he does. Holt, along with photographer Ginny Diers, leave from Livingston, Montana, and travel the back roads, which is a charitable term in many cases, through eastern Montans, Wyoming, and Canada's Northwest Territories, with stops to fish and visit and meditate in some of the most out-of-the way locations imaginable. Travel with Holt and you will visit such towns as Clyde Park, Winsall, Pryor (pop.50), to the Pryor and Big Horn Mountains, the Powder River Country of Wyoming and the town of Ekalaka and the Badlands of South Dakota. The east and west of Alberta is dissected along the way to the Blackfeet Reservation, the Sweet Grass Hills, the Sun River Country to the Solid Sea Islands and back to Livingston. I will not describe in detail how to reach these places because, well, I suspect Holt would never forgive me for telling folks how to find his last frontier. Holt is a witty; biting; sometimes curmudgeon that set out to explore what he believes is America's last frontier. He ultimately believes that our high-tech, high-speed world will not spoil this rugged region. At least that's what he says. In reading the book I wondered if perhaps he made the journey to see this awesome splendor one last time before... This may well be the best road book on the market today. The title is taken from Jack Derouac's classic On The Road. This book may well become for the 21st century what Kerouca's book was for the 60's. If you like Ivan Doig, Norman Maclean, or Wallace Stegner you will treasure this book. Don't look for a travel book for this trip. It's one of a kind.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The dark side of the West, February 22, 2001

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coyote Nowhere: In Search of America's Last Frontier (Hardcover)

If your idea of a great family vacation is to travel to the great outdoors and spend your whole time in overcrowded campsights, ski resorts or tourist towns, then you may want to take a pass on "Coyote Nowhere." Author John Holt won't mind since he doesn't like your kind anyway. Holt spends most of the book extolling the virtures of the pristine and empty West while lamenting that so much of it is being ruined by housing developments, strip mines and golf courses. Of course, economic development is always a double edged sword, but Holt confines his comments to merely ranting impotently against it.

That said, Holt captures some great images and moments in his book. Most of these are his descriptions of the land and the joys of getting back to nature. As a storyteller, he doesn't have the touch of a Bill Bryson, and his narrative wanders unfocussed at times and not in chronological order. Nevertheless, he creates a strong sense of place that is worthwhile for anyone interested in his subject matter.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real West, September 23, 2004

By 

J. Schaid - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coyote Nowhere: In Search of America's Last Frontier (Paperback)

I can't express how much I loved this book. I bought it on clearence at Wall Drug on the way home from a backpacking trip in Wyoming, and I had it finnished the week i got back. It is an amazing book that really brings you to the beautiful land of the west. If you love the west and if you love the land, then you must read this book!