But she isn’t afraid to get even deeper. Anna’s spot of land sits atop oil and natural gas, coveted by a fracking company. So Bolstad courageously tackles the history of mineral rights, environmental impact, and company greed. By the end, I felt I had learned about a whole slice of United States history I had never considered before, and in times like these, learning about America’s history feels particularly vital.
What I find so deeply impressive about Bolstad’s work is how effortlessly she can weave between her research and her emotional investment in Anna’s story while keeping the reader’s head above water. I never felt confused, even as Bolstad dipped into complicated histories and nuanced topics. The flow of her work stunned, as should be expected of someone of her prowess. Bolstad is not only a novelist, but she was also an investigative reporter for Climatewire, a news service under E&E News focused on climate change. In her novel, you can see her expertise in investigative reporting shine. Her ability to stay engaging while imparting these many, often complicated, facts is inspiring, especially to someone (like me!) entering the field of journalism for the first time.
Bolstad’s novel also made me curious about my own family history and what sort of strange stories I might get into while researching my own family tree. While my research is ongoing, there are already so many places that my history gently brushes against Bolstad’s. Although not on the North Dakota prairies, my grandmother’s family grew up right next door, in northern Montana. My grandmother and her parents were also homesteaders, but my family now has no claim to their land. My grandfather also brushed shoulders with oil companies, though he mostly worked as a mechanic. It was fascinating to see all the places that our histories meet. While I don’t feel confident my family’s story would make a good novel, Windfall still felt like a good place to start in getting to know more about my family’s history and what they might’ve gone through.
In my little corner of the internet here at Parker’s Pages, I feel honored to be able to read new things all the time. As much as I read for the sake of bringing you all good content from incredible folks all over the PNW, I also read to keep myself informed and in-touch with what is important (and for fun too, of course!). This book was a good reminder for me of what Parker’s Pages is all about, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you. Travel/research writing may not be everyone’s cup of tea, yet this one still felt crucial to share at a time when history can help us shed light on the future.
If you take anything away from this particular review, I hope it’s this: Our past can be a gateway to our present.
