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*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity.*
WINDFALL by Erika Bolstad is many things. It is an investigation into the North Dakota oil industry, an observation of the historic 2008 Bakken oil boom and it's inevitable downfall, commentary on climate change and it's relationship to oil/natural gas use, a heartbreaking narrative about a woman's struggle with IVF, and the story of a family's hope for a windfall through several generations. This story is not about a woman living on her homestead or an adult version of Little House on the Prairie.
However, that doesn't mean that Anna and her story is merely a means to pull readers in. Anna's short journey provides a beautiful and grounding connection to all of the topics Bolstad writes about. While Anna spent a limited amount of time with her family on the frontier-- she was committed to an asylum shortly after the birth of her only child most likely due to postpartum depression or psychosis-- the impact her story has on Bolstad and her family lasts at least three generations.
Almost considered family lore, Bolstad originally set out to discover more about Anna and instead began unraveling the complicated truth behind mineral rights and the affects of the oil industry in North Dakota. Bolstad is a highly skilled and talented journalist, which easily carries over to this much more personal book through her meticulous research and thorough investigations. She truly leaves no stone unturned, and somehow always manages to bring the story back to Anna and her land.
WINDFALL is the rare type of book that continues to get better long after you've read it. It was a joy to experience, and I am certain that almost everyone will find some part of this book to love.
WINDFALL by Erika Bolstad is many things. It is an investigation into the North Dakota oil industry, an observation of the historic 2008 Bakken oil boom and it's inevitable downfall, commentary on climate change and it's relationship to oil/natural gas use, a heartbreaking narrative about a woman's struggle with IVF, and the story of a family's hope for a windfall through several generations. This story is not about a woman living on her homestead or an adult version of Little House on the Prairie.
However, that doesn't mean that Anna and her story is merely a means to pull readers in. Anna's short journey provides a beautiful and grounding connection to all of the topics Bolstad writes about. While Anna spent a limited amount of time with her family on the frontier-- she was committed to an asylum shortly after the birth of her only child most likely due to postpartum depression or psychosis-- the impact her story has on Bolstad and her family lasts at least three generations.
Almost considered family lore, Bolstad originally set out to discover more about Anna and instead began unraveling the complicated truth behind mineral rights and the affects of the oil industry in North Dakota. Bolstad is a highly skilled and talented journalist, which easily carries over to this much more personal book through her meticulous research and thorough investigations. She truly leaves no stone unturned, and somehow always manages to bring the story back to Anna and her land.
WINDFALL is the rare type of book that continues to get better long after you've read it. It was a joy to experience, and I am certain that almost everyone will find some part of this book to love.