American Fire

De: Andrew Erkkila

Narrado por: Natalie Stanfield

Wild and uncompromising, Tanya, a veteran hotshot on an elite New Mexico wildfire crew, is fighting for her livelihood. Blacklisted from her job, estranged from her family, and threatened with the loss of her home, Tanya must prove herself to battle-hardened Bronson, the crew’s superintendent. Yet when Tanya discovers Bronson’s disturbing secret, she must find a way to save the crew without betraying his trust. As wildfire closes in on the crew and the only home she’s ever known, Tanya must find the courage to face what she most fears. Their survival depends on it.

American Fire is the harrowing tale of wildfire, and the story of the men and women who fight them, who burn in the fires of their own exhaustion, seeking love, friendship, and significance in the shrinking wilderness of the American West.

©2024 Andrew Erkkila (P)2024 Andrew Erkkila

Authenticity

Andrew Erkkila’s American Fire is a compelling and raw portrait of wildland firefighting, offering readers a thrilling and immersive look at the challenges and dangers faced by those on the front lines. What stands out most in this book is the authenticity with which Erkkila brings the characters to life. Each firefighter feels real, with flaws and strengths that reflect the true nature of those who dedicate their lives to battling wildfires. The nuances of their personalities, from seasoned veterans to rookies, give a profound sense of the emotional and physical toll the job takes on them.

A Striking Inside Narrative

This sharply written novel takes the reader deeply within the world of western firefighters. The story is told through the first person narration of its despairing, and alienated female 30 year old protagonist, who has been a firefighter for seven years, addicted and sometimes torn apart by the supremely tenuous occupation she has chosen. As she experiences one dangerous challenge after another, often desperately fighting against her fears, she sometimes reminded me of Camus' Sisyphus repeatedly climbing his mountain, and then reflecting about the meaning of his life as he descends only to climb its hard, hard path again. In short, faces so many extremely difficult challenges vividly described by the author who knows this world first-hand, Thus he novel not only l lives in exciting physical action, but also in the accumulating depth of her consciousness as she thinks about her job and her life: this encompasses her many fears, her lack of faith that the outside world makes sense, her alcoholism, her lost sense of place and family, her inability to love anyone, and her thoughts about killiing herself. But she also stubbornly chooses life over death by choosing to embracing life at its most primal and precarious, by risking it over and over. Finally, I read and listened to this novel, and found both experiences very rewarding.

Easy listen, great story that's hard to put down!

This book gives the reader an inside look at what its like to be a hotshot firefight in the southwest, from a young woman's perspective. The main character is a very flawed individual, a real mess, but shows compassion and admiration for her team members and squad leader in a manner that makes the reader want to get her a therapist, but also relate in a very human way. Theres action, engaging dialogue, logistical challenges, and deep character development that makes you sit in the car until the end of the chapter! I have been recommending this book like crazy, hope you enjoy as much as I did.

Excellent read!

Loved the humor in this book. It also gives you such an insight into the world of wildland fire. Enjoy the ride inside Tanya’s head!

Thrilling, gritty and sublimely beautiful

Perfectly threads the needle between the exhilarating job of working fire and the sublime mediations born from the edge of destruction. The story is grounded so firmly in the detail and minutia of working a fire that the stakes felt terrifyingly real and visceral; and yet the author finds time for exploring ephemeral insights about the self, the American west, mortality, community and the grandeur of nature.