"The author of this lucid, elegant memoir was a pioneer both literally and figuratively: Raised on a Montana homestead, she became a trailblazing woman in the academy."—Ms. Magazine
"[This Is Not the Ivy League is] a fierce and unsentimental book that stands eloquent testament to the high price that women of a certain generation had to pay to pursue their dreams."—Kirkus Reviews
“Blew’s unflinching self-scrutiny is to her credit, and it’s hard not to be sympathetic. . . . There’s something fascinating about the notion of the anti-memoir. Paradoxically, it’s honest. Who can justify her own life? When a snooty Northern Montana College professor would say, ‘At Yale, we used to . . . ,’ Blew’s colleagues would hoot, ‘This is not the Ivy League!’ It makes a terrific, defiant title.”—Louisa Thomas, New York Times Book Review
"Blew is a wonderful writer whose work has never reached the audience it deserves."—Diane Leach, PopMatters
"Blew's memoir is an honest, tense, and balanced behind-the-scenes account of defying tradition and accepting blame. Her settings are atmospheric, her scenes are rebellious and her story will inspire anyone in pursuit of goals that seem out of the box."—B. Lynn Goodwin, Story Circle Book Reviews
"Though Blew says she can't fathom Derrida, postmodernism permeates her craft. She offers groups of snapshots, a kaleidoscope of memories, a brave new quilt. . . . It is not the rags-to-riches story we expect of the classic memoir, but a more lyric, hard-won, and loving testament."—Lois M. Welch, Western American Literature