Customer Reviews

No Grass

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was fantastic. Such a hardworking American family. Seems that these days many of our youth are entitled and don't even know the meaning of a hard days work for honest pay. I don't have children but if I did this book would be required reading. I laughed and cried through the entire book. Shawna's sharp sense of humor is threaded through it all. Bravo to her parents for raising such a confident, strong and independent woman! I believe her Father's motto of "Get It Done" stuck with her through her entire life. It carried right over into her career as a firefighter. While the others were trying to figure what the plan should be she was already working on implenting one and "getting it done"! I also believe what he told her about "the sun will rise tomorrow" came into play while dealing with the devastating loss of her husband.
I highly recommend this book to one and all!!

Having worked in "Manland" forestry/firefighter for 30+ years it was refreshing to read Shawna's book. From front to back it was a page turner. It brought back many memories...Her childhood was the best! Very insightful and thought provoking. Hope she can overcome her anger but that too will take time.

This is an amazing book. I read it over a year ago and it has still stayed with me. It is self published, I think, but please don't let the lack of an editor stop you from reading it. It's am amazing book with an exceptional timeline and heartfelt, honest writing. Shawna is an amazing woman.

This book is a rough-cut gem that needs some polish. With the help of a copy editor and publishing house, this self-published book could be a strong force in the realm of firefighting memoirs and life lessons. Looking past the errors, this a book full of true grit, substance, and a genuine look at a wholly western woman. Shawna Legarza is tough. Ranch-bred, trail-honed, and cured on the firelines of North America, Shawna faces life at its hardest angle. Shawna juxtaposes images from her childhood days ranching and working in her family's meat processing business, to her hard-earned climb up the ranks of wildland firefighting to become superintendent of an elite crew. None of this compares though, to rugged challenges she faces "settling down" for the American dream of home ownership, marriage, and pursuing "the good life." Though life may not have been so "good" for Shawna... her writing is full of true, gritty greatness.

A great look inside the will, determination, and perseverance of an incredible leader dealing with work and life challenges. As a wildland firefighter it is easy to relate however this book would be good for all readers to gain insight into life choices and tribulations.

A very powerful, moving, inspirational and thought provoking book.

A true leader in wildland fire!

There is a book signing at Great Basin College, Elko, Nevada will be Saturday Sept. 5th, 2009. 10:00 - 16:00

Heartfelt, incredible, humorous, intelligent, profound and real all blend together to take you on a journey through the eyes, years and heart of Legs. Her story will captivate you, produce laughter and tears, and take you into the world of wildland firefighting; the drama, love, passion and pain that very few outside of the firefighting community know. Legs is a physically petite woman with a personality and and an energy for life that is bigger than all outdoors. Once you open No Grass, you will not want to put it down as you travel with Legs on a journey.... that you will never want to forget.
On behalf of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation of Boise, Idaho, I recommend the book "No Grass" by Shawna Legarza. If you have the privilege of hearing her speak, don't miss a word that she has share.
Sherrie Kvamme
Director of Family Outreach
[...]

In this book, Legs (the author's nickname) juxtaposes her childhood on a Nevada ranch with her experiences as a wildland firefighter. The stories are compelling, funny, inspirational, and heart wrenching. The author is well known in the wildland fire community as a tough-as-nails, no nonsense, get the job done no matter what it takes firefighter. In this book, Shawna illustrates how her work ethic was developed at a young age on a ranch, and how growing up on the ranch with two extremely hardworking parents serves her so well wildland firefighting.

We also get to see the kinder, gentler Shawna as she opens up in the book explaining what it means to be a woman in a subset of the wildland fire community predominantly occupied by males. She illustrates the difficulties of being a wildland firefighter in love and loving a wildland firefighter. Shawna also discusses her need to hide her "female emotions" at times, and the difficulties surrounding that need.

The author's ability to paint the picture for her readers takes us to the places and events she experienced with all of the associated sensory cues intact. And while the book contains a few repetitive paragraphs and phrases, along with several typos, these are easily overlooked due to the solid content of the book.

I thank the author for putting herself under the microscope for us all to see; being under the microscope is often a very scary and lonely place to be. Her experiences, and therefore this book, contain several valuable life lessons that everyone, women, men, young, old, firefighter or not, could stand to learn.

In short, buy the book; read the book. You will enjoy it and learn much.

What a great book! Throughout the book I laughed, cried, and experienced an amazing life and wanted more! This book gives an incredible account of a truly aspiring individual who continually strives to be a better person than the day before. "Keep on Keeping on" is something to live by. Thanks for the book and sharing your thoughts Legz....truly an emotional and inspiring story. Regardless of whether you are in fire, worked fires, or enjoy anything about the wildland fire culture....this is a book that you must read! Experience the story!

Wow,even if I had not known Shawna this is a book I would probably have picked up and read. It is a heartfelt sharing of her life and how she has dealt with the trials of her chosen career which in turn made her able to deal with the death of her husband. I admire her for her courage to put her life on paper, it certainly is an interesting one. I know anyone who has faced challanges in their life will get something out of this book. Way to go Legs and thanks.

Moliver

This is a book you will not put down....I laughed and I cried....I felt like I was there on the ranch with Shawna when she was growing up and deciding what direction she will go in life. We all feel these emotions at some point and after reading her book you realize that its ok if you don't follow the "script" and if life seems to be too much too handle then ask for help...someone will always be there who will listen. Shawna....thank you for writing your book and sharing your life with us...

Kelly...aka...Ellie Mae