As a former wildland firefighter who also worked on a hotshot crew, I found Kelly's book to be deeply immersive and moving. Her voice is intimate, warm, and honest. Ramsey brings the reader not only into the world of wildland firefighting but into the particular experience that is being a woman on a hotshot crew. She was the sole woman her first year, and one of two during her second. I loved reading about the ways in which she navigated her position on the crew, befriending many of the men she worked with. It's difficult for a writer to manage such a large cast of "characters," but Ramsey does it beautifully. There are two other storylines here, both of them equally absorbing as the primary narrative. I definitely recommend this book to any reader who loves unputdownable memoirs and wants to feel a connection with a warm-hearted writer. Definitely more than worth a read!
This is an achingly beautiful book, gorgeously written. Kelly's vulnerability and introspection shine throughout the book, and she is most introspective about her own humanity. You don't have to be a wildland firefighter or know much about wildfires to love this book. As a former wildland firefighter, though, Ramsey brilliantly captures the many aspects of the job -- the physical demands, mental challenges, and navigating the extremely demanding work with our personal relationships. Her writing is honest, candid, sad, and funny. I found myself nodding my head "Yes, she nailed this part!" and also shedding tears when she deftly invites the reader into her pain. Buy this book for yourself and the young women in your life.
This is gritty, fascinating look at the life of a wildland firefighter and inadvertently a reflection on the costs of climate change. Ramsey relates her life and how she came to work two seasons as a hotshot. Rich with technical details, she also conveys the sweat, the adrenaline, the grind, the exhilaration, and the craving to belong to the team as “one of the guys”. It is an amazingly difficult job, made even harder by trying to prove oneself as a woman in a male dominated profession. My favorite quote from the book was “That’s just fire. You love it. You hate it. You feel everything about it. That never changes.”
This memoir had both thrill and heart. Not only are you transported into the underbelly of the wildfire fighting world, but you are taken on a powerful journey of self- discovery and belonging. Ramsey’s voice was honest, engaging, and inspiring. Despite having no prior knowledge about wildfire fighters, I was hooked and couldn’t put this book down. Highly highly recommend!!!
Wildfire Days is an honest and gripping book that pulled me in from the first page. Through the author’s personal story, I gained a deeper understanding of the vital (often overlooked) role firefighting plays in this country.
This book is beautifully written. It is very moving, I was on the verge of tears several times. Kelly shares her story so selflessly, I felt like I was there. I learned a lot about what hot shots endure for such little pay, and how we need to manage our forests so much better. I love how Kelly weaves past experiences into current trials and how strong she is. Kelly is a great example for men and women. Highly recommend this book.
Summer of 2020 amidst blazing temperatures exceeding 110 degrees, I mournfully and nervously gazed out from my back deck toward the mountains afire from a ravenous Arizona wildfire -- the Bush Fire -- that gobbled up 193,455 acres of spectacular Saguaro-studded landscape. I worried about the brave hotshots and wildfire crews fighting the blaze. How on earth did they do it and what courage and muster must it take? Kelly Ramsey's brilliant account of her two years on that fire plus some of the worst wildfires in California history answered my questions and gave me tremendous respect for the work of these courageous individuals. Her beautifully written story flawlessly weaves in the added challenges of personal relationships, being a woman in the man's world of wildland firefighting and carrying the tragic long-lasting psychological burden of a struggling, dysfunctional, alcoholic father into adulthood. I did not want this book to end.
"Wildfire Days" is the exact memoir I like to read. It beautifully weaves together the intensity of fighting wildfires with deeply personal storytelling. Ramsey's feminist perspective brings a fresh voice to the traditionally male-dominated world of hotshot crews, while her skillful paralleling of professional challenges with personal trauma creates a compelling narrative that feels both intimate and universal. This book reignited my passion for reading - it's the kind of memoir that reminds you why storytelling matters and leaves you hungry for more books that combine raw honesty with gorgeous prose.
This was a page-turner. I got hooked by page 10. Behind the ashes, pain, smoke, and exhaustion lies a story of love, family, community, and authentic pride. "Our deepest wounds were the fertile soil of our growth. New life tended to spring from bitterest ash" (p. 329).
Wildfire Days: A Woman, a Hotshot Crew, and the Burning American West is a gripping memoir. Ramsey tells of her fire-fighting days with a "hotshot" crew of all men. Being the only woman, she has a unique perspective for a variety of reasons. She deals with being the only woman on the crew, missing home, and past trauma of her dysfunctional family and childhood. Because of the many strands to this book, it is an inviting read for so many different reasons. Ramsey's voice is very genuine and natural, while sprinkling in factual bits and pieces of what it is like to fight wildfires. Truly a fantastic read overall.
