Twenty Miles From A Match: Homesteading In Western Nevada (Bristlecone Paperback) (Paperback)

by Sarah E. Olds (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Twenty Miles From a Match, originally published in 1978, is the autobiography of an indomitable woman and her family's twenty years of adventures and misadventures in a desert wilderness. In 1908, a venturesome woman named Sarah Olds packed up her brood and went homesteading west of Sutcliffe on Pyramid Lake. Her ailing husband said, welcoming her to their new home, "There, old lady. There's your home, and it's damn near in the heart of Egypt."

Olds tells of the hardships, frustrations, poverty, and other tribulations her family suffered from shortly after the turn of the century until well into the Great Depression. Through it all, however, runs a thread of humor, cheerfulness, and the ability to laugh at adversity.

Twenty Miles From a Match is a story for everyone who has thought or dreamed about homesteading in a setting far removed from the bustling lifestyle in an urban area. It is a true story, told simply and honestly and with delightful humor.

About the Author
Sarah Olds died in 1963 at the age of 88. The foreword was provided by her daughter, Leslie Olds Zurfluh, the fourth of Sarah and A. J. Olds's six children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: University of Nevada Press (January 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874170524
• ISBN-13: 978-0874170528
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #798,254 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read..., September 29, 2007

By	S. Hamann "lilacllama" (Blaine, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The struggles and hardships survived by this family should make us think twice about whining when we've had a bad day at the office, the dog throws up on the carpet, there's a traffic jam on the way home, the cable guy is four hours late, or any of the other happenings we find annoying in our modern lives. (how about that three-day trip to town and back?) As an animal lover, I skimmed over the semi-graphic descriptions of trapping animals. Other than that, an enthralling read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book!, March 23, 2006

By	Mary Ann Delahunt (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was turned on to this book by the authors great nephew. This woman's tale of hardship, perseverance and determination is one to be admired by all. An easy read and a wonderful adventure.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic reading, December 2, 2007

By	Susan Steen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a real page turner. Once I started reading it I could not put it down. It was satisfying from beginning to end and I did not want it to end. I highly recommend it.