Title: It Was Nevada
Author: Tony Lesperance
Publisher: Author Reputation Press, LLC
ISBN: 9798888536520
Pages: 754
Genre: Contemporary Literature & Fiction
Reviewed by: Alyssa Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
The need to preserve our planet is a fight which has many sides to it. Not only do environmentalists want to preserve the planet entirely and help stop climate change, but farmers and ranchers are fighting to keep their livelihood in check and stop big business and government overreach from seizing their lands and commercializing farming in general. Learning to work the land and utilize its natural resources to survive is a long-held study and practice of mankind, and there are those who are willing to fight to preserve that right.
This is the message and struggle of protagonist Terry Hope in author Tony Lesperance’s It Was Nevada. This contemporary drama hones in on the fight to keep Nevada’s agricultural work afloat. As more and more urban development projects turn their attention on one of the nation’s most rural states, Terry’s dream of owning a cattle ranch becomes complicated as he becomes a professor at the University of Nevada, and discovers the dirty politics and federal overreach putting the state’s agriculture in jeopardy. Through his work with his longtime friend Pete, part of the Basque people, the protagonist finds himself in the middle of Nevada’s agricultural history, as the largest industry of the state faces a battle for its very survival.
The author did an incredible job of balancing out the more informative and historical aspects of the overall narrative with the rich character development and heart of the narrative. This book, while long, packs a punch as the reader is treated to a fair deal of powerful imagery used in the author’s writing style, allowing the reader to feel transported to the struggle or this industry. The heart and passion for which the writer puts this story into perspective allows the reader to feel the author’s own life experiences and studies about this industry to shine through on the pages.
This is the perfect book for those who enjoy contemporary reads, especially those with a blend of drama, character growth, and non-fiction elements as well. The history and culture that was explored throughout this novel was not only reflected in the author’s writing style, but the descriptive nature made these characters and scenes feel far more alive and engaging on the pages. The shocking twists and turns in the story of Terry Hope and his struggle to not only pursue his dreams, but to save a dying industry in the process, made this a momentous and exhilarating journey.