Customer Reviews

Dancing at the Rascal Fair

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a story of two best friends, Angus and Rob, from Scotland immigrating to Montana in the 1880's to become sheep ranchers, teachers, husbands, and fathers. It begins with them as young men with noble dreams and ideals, and follows them as they mature and build lives on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The descriptions of the land draw the reader to imagine the surreal beauty of Montana in all its seasons and moods, whether forbidding, forgiving, or formidable. "Where the bevels of the valleys met, the creek ran in ripples and rested in Beaver ponds. A curlew made deft evasive flight across the slope below us as if revealing curlicues in the air." (p. 80)

This book entices the reader with paragraph after paragraph of poetic prose. "I could feel the halt of all she had been setting forth until now, the stop of her thought as this new proposal opened, enormous as the future, before her." (p.156) I could turn to any page, and find exquisite sentences, long and languorous, or reverberating with insight and meaning. "I reached her to me, but there was too much in me to speak straight to what she had just said. Adair herself, myself, Anna, past, future, now." (p. 264)

The plot doesn't go the way I wanted or expected it to, almost to the point of frustration at times, but good stories never go just where you want or expect them to. You build expectations of characters you like and who love each other. You want their love to be fulfilled, but sometimes, just as in real life, it simply doesn't happen. Sometimes friendships go bad. Sometimes in life people disappoint or betray you. Doig presents characters who surprise you. You want to reach into the story and shake some sense into them. That's good stuff.

I'm amazed I've not encountered Ivan Doig before. His writing is apparently a secret well kept from the greater public, although he seems to have quite a loyal following among those who've managed to discover his work. Maybe it's because his writing has been clumped into the vast "Western" genre--which properly links him with great story tellers like Grey and L'Amour--but calling Dancing At the Rascal Fair a "western" is about as accurate as labeling Gone With the Wind a "war story".
Doig's characterization is extremely insightful and carefully unveils the heights and depths the human soul can reach with searing clarity. His plot line (which some have called "slow to unfold") is in pace with the time he's depicting. And his imagery is unparalleled. His genius in burning a certain picture into his readers' minds reaps a stunning harvest at the climax of this breath taking depiction of life "under the skin". Highly recommended.

Chronologically the first in his Montana trilogy, "Dancing at the Rascal Fair" makes even flatlanders homesick for the Big Sky Country. Doig puts words together in such a manner that they make complete, correct English sentences. This alone makes the book unusual in modern-day fiction. Then, he grabs your attention with a spellbinding story that has all of the elements that make you want to begin reading and never stop. His beloved Montana comes to life such that you can hear the constant wind, feel the biting cold, taste the dust of the dry years, smell the sheep pens at shearing time, and see the vast expanses of prarie fading into the impossibly rugged mountains. This book grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. Even long after my last reading of it, I am still moved by the passion and power of the story. It is certainly among the best fiction I have read.

What a beautiful book, yet tragic. As usual the writing is simply wonderful. If you love literature, this is a must. The story chronicles the migration of a couple of Scottish families to Montana and the trials and tribulations that they experience. The book is masterful. A must read.

I purchased this after hearing the author and his books discussed on NPR and I wasn't disappointed. I took their recommendation and started this 3 book series by reading the second book, Dancing at the Rascal Fair, first. I loved the development of the characters and their complex choices about family, love, and frienship. The story immediately draws you into the personal lives of the characters and deepens your understanding of what it felt like to be in that particular time of American history. The book covers a familiar theme, young men immigrating from Scotland in the early part of the 20th century to settle in the west and start their families. But it is such a personal, rolicking, adventure and love story that it reads like a new version of western stories. I can't wait to get the next book, English Creek, to continue the saga of the families.

I usually read science fiction, but I picked this up by chance. The writing is remarkable, Doig is a master of beautiful, flowing prose, excellent characterization, and story telling. The plot is very strong yet subtle, and I rapidly flew through the book; I was as hooked as I have ever been. Without giving anything away I just want to say that this is one of the best pieces of literature that I have read in many years.

a fantastic family saga of life on the montana prairie back in the day. everything one could want in a historical novel: realistic, interesting characters, a strong sense of narrative, and a grand presentation of a place in time. this is the 1st book i have read by this author, i now greatly anticipate reading more of his work. my highest recommendations.

I had to start this book four times, but once I did I couldn't put it down. Doig has a very unique style of writing, this novel being one in the first person. Angus and Rob are two characters the reader feels for; the novel does a wonderful job of engaging us in their lives. For Montana history and landscape, this book cannot be beat; Doig's descriptions of the land makes one feel like they are standing there at the time. This is a very beautiful historical account of a much-forgotten piece of American history.

A relative loaned me "Dancing at the Rascal Fair" during summer vacation, and I at first gave it part of an afternoon. "Hmmm. Not bad." Then I picked it up again at bedtime, got hooked, and read far too late into the night. "This guy can write!" Before long, Doig and his Scots characters had invaded my vacation, seduced my complete interest, and dominated my attention. Three things I particularly admired: First, the power of the story. As with the best of literature, Doig's story swept me into it, so that I dreamed the dreams, wondered how life would fare, and rode the tumbling buckboard of existence with the characters. Second, Montana as Doig painted it, played a major role in the interest. There's something "Westerning" about most of us, I feel, and Doig's Montana grips our collective subconscience. And third, Doig's use of language pleased me like the delight of Christmas fudge. The sheer intelligence and artistry of his writing made reading an aesthetic pleasure. Words ought to go

The best novel I have read in a long, long time. It wasn't enough to fall in love with the characters--I lived every day with them. Dancing at the Rascal Fair exemplifies the power of great writing.