Reviews

Barkskins by Annie Proulx

celtic67's review against another edition

3.0

This is a vast sprawling book. Covering nations, cultures and the clashes that result. Though I enjoyed this book I got lost in the details. There was so much to take in and a family tree and or a glossary would have been of a help. I also thought too much emphasis was placed on family relationships and not enough given to the effects of the settlers on the native culture and the environment. I think this book would have been better being two or maybe a trilogy. A difficult subject handled by a very competent writer. Though I enjoyed this book I much prefer her shorter fiction.

kaktuskaktus's review against another edition

5.0

Großartig, episch, Game of Thones im Holzgeschäft. Liebe, Rache, Leidenschaft, und sterben müssen sie doch alle.

canaanmerchant's review against another edition

5.0

Long, detailed, sprawling, and yet choppy as lives and stories begin and end in a moment.

I'm exhausted but in a way that makes me feel like it was worth it.

marykatem's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.75

abaugher's review against another edition

5.0

Epic story of the comprehensive, determined, cold-hearted, wholesale destruction of multiple continents' vast forests and the peoples co-existing with them. Deeply moving.

tea_with_tigers2024's review against another edition

This book have given me much trouble.  Three false starts and then I was able to get into it.  I'm a big fan of Annie Proulx, and very familiar with her writing style.  The problem, in my opinion, is when writing about the landscape, and first nation people, this part is engaging, and interesting.  However, when the story moves along the time-line to the descendants of the initial main characters, there's no emotional connection with the characters who are too much in number to remember all the family connections.  It just gets boring, with pages and pages about ledgers and 'The Company'.  This is a first time that I have not finished Proulx's work.  The televised series had great hopes and was captivating, but unfortunately the series did not get a second season for whatever reason. 

spacebee's review

adventurous emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

stonembooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.5

angelamichelle's review against another edition

4.0

Expired off library e-loan before I could finish this epic. Starts w two indentured servants arriving in the vast forests of Canada, then traces generations of their families, one along Indian lines, one a huge timber magnate.

brandia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Historical recount of the new world and the drive to strip a nation of its land and people.