Download Chasing the Rodeo On Wild Rides and Big Dreams Broken Hearts and Broken Bones and One Man Search for the West W K Stratton 9780151010721 Books
Download As PDF : Chasing the Rodeo On Wild Rides and Big Dreams Broken Hearts and Broken Bones and One Man Search for the West W K Stratton 9780151010721 Books
From its roots as the quintessential Western pastime, rodeo has grown to an international, prime-time television sport. Steeped in tradition and the independent spirit of the range, aspiring cowboys and cowgirls are called to its high-stakes, rough-and-tumble fame as they risk their lives for eight seconds of triumph.
In Chasing the Rodeo W. K. Stratton follows this quest for one season of the pro rodeo and bull-riding tours. He explores the history of the chutes -- from rodeo's disputed origins (Prescott, Arizona, or Pecos, Texas?) to its current skyrocketing popularity. But out on the trail Stratton finds more than calf-roping and unrideable bulls, uncovering a culture complete with myths, codes of honor, million-dollar purses, Cowboy Church, and the kinds of legends that make good stories unforgettable.
Just such a story emerges here as Stratton tells of his runaway "rodeo bum" father --Cowboy Don -- whose specter haunts his travels on the circuit. As he learns more about the life that proved too seductive for his father to abandon, Stratton fills in a portrait of the man he never knew but whose legacy he couldn't help but inherit.
Filled with cowboy longing and rodeo dreams, this is a tribute to the characters of the West -- Freckles Brown, Lucille Mulhall (the first cowgirl), Wild Bill Hickock, Lane Frost, and today's superstars like Jesse Bail. In the great tradition of Wallace Stegner and Ken Kesey, W. K. Stratton fashions an expansive tale out of the gritty reality of the life around us. Chasing the Rodeo is a bucking, riveting, glorious ride -- you'll want to hang on for the whole go-round.
Download Chasing the Rodeo On Wild Rides and Big Dreams Broken Hearts and Broken Bones and One Man Search for the West W K Stratton 9780151010721 Books
"This is a remarkable book! It braids together an appreciative look at modern rodeo, a thoroughly engrossing look at rodeo's history and traditions, and an intriguing search for the real man behind the vague imaginings of a child who never knew his biological father.
Stratton's prose is deft and flowing. He led me from his own memories of a legendary bull ride to the party-hearty bars at Pendleton and the lure of the dirt arena. The search for his father never intrudes; it bolsters Stratton's exploration of the compelling urges that rodeo creates in both professionals and fans.
Sometimes poignant, sometimes rowdy, always interesting--this book goes on my shelf of favorites."
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Tags : Chasing the Rodeo On Wild Rides and Big Dreams, Broken Hearts and Broken Bones, and One Man's Search for the West [W. K. Stratton] on . <div>From its roots as the quintessential Western pastime, rodeo has grown to an international, prime-time television sport. Steeped in tradition and the independent spirit of the range,W. K. Stratton,Chasing the Rodeo On Wild Rides and Big Dreams, Broken Hearts and Broken Bones, and One Man's Search for the West,Harcourt,0151010722,405263810,General,Rodeos;West (U.S.).,Biography Autobiography / Personal Memoirs,Biography Autobiography / Sports,Rodeo,Rodeos,Sports,Sports Recreation,Sports Recreation / General,Sports (Specific Aspects),West (U.S.)
Chasing the Rodeo On Wild Rides and Big Dreams Broken Hearts and Broken Bones and One Man Search for the West W K Stratton 9780151010721 Books Reviews :
Chasing the Rodeo On Wild Rides and Big Dreams Broken Hearts and Broken Bones and One Man Search for the West W K Stratton 9780151010721 Books Reviews
- Having grown up in Texas, I easily recognize many names and places and am quite familiar with rodeos. W.K. Stratton brilliantly blends the romantic lure of the rodeo as an expression of the American West with the univeral theme of the quest for identity. The book is a delightful mixture of colorful characters, amusing anecdotes, and sad stories. Mr. Stratton's personal quest mirrors that of all, not just those familiar with the sport or the region. His story's appeal lies in the universality of each human's struggles with issues of identity, values, and sense of place. I heartily recommend Chasing the Rodeo to anyone who appreciates a book that both transports one to another time and place and allows one the opportunity to be inspired by another's personal journey through life.
- As soon as I picked up this book and started reading, I was hooked in about 5 minutes. There are really three stories going on here. The authors search for his unsuccessful rodeo bum of a father that left him as a kid, a history of many different rodeos, and the authors experience attending these rodeos. This is really a well written and entertaining book!!! The stories move along really well, and keep you from putting the book down. My only complaint is that it wasnt longer. But then again, maybe that was a plus, as there really wasnt any lulls in the story. Highly recommend!
- Wonderful and insightful
- This is a remarkable book! It braids together an appreciative look at modern rodeo, a thoroughly engrossing look at rodeo's history and traditions, and an intriguing search for the real man behind the vague imaginings of a child who never knew his biological father.
Stratton's prose is deft and flowing. He led me from his own memories of a legendary bull ride to the party-hearty bars at Pendleton and the lure of the dirt arena. The search for his father never intrudes; it bolsters Stratton's exploration of the compelling urges that rodeo creates in both professionals and fans.
Sometimes poignant, sometimes rowdy, always interesting--this book goes on my shelf of favorites. - Great book. Thanks.
- Kip Stratton wrote a down to earth, easy to follow, poignant tale of finding family. Excellent history.
- This book was not what I was hoping it would be, nor what it was advertised as. I was hoping to get a nice history of rodeo, which it did include to some degree. There was some pretty interesting things about the origins of specific rodeos. That wasn't all of it, though. For a person that proclaimed to like rodeo, it sure didn't come across in this book. He accused stock contractors of lying about the treatment of animals, complained about the rise in popularity to the sport and what it has done to the authenticity, and finished it off by almost becoming apologetic toward the treatment of non-whites in the sport. This book is not good for anyone, outsiders to the sport of the rodeo or the hardcore fans who watch week in and week out. I hope this book was not written to "generate passion for the sport" because if I wasn't a fan, I wouldn't get past this book. In that respect, this book has failed miserably.
- Greatly enjoyed reading this book. The suthor's style made it a very easy and compelling read. It really drew me in even though I've never been a big rodeo fan. Highly recommend it.
