Scan barcode
readingundertheradar's review
5.0
This is one I can tell I will be thinking about for a long long time. So powerful and thoughtful and unsettling and lovely.
natesea's review
3.0
🌟🌟🌟
-
“Maybe this was what her father had been trying to tell her. In his plainspoken way, he was reminding her that change was both inevitable and unstoppable. That little ripples could cause greater waves, unfurl into unexpected patterns. He was telling her not to dwell on the past or fret about the future, since every moment was followed by another, some wonderful, some terrible, all unpredictable and unknowable before hand, all essential components of the complexity of a vast and marvelous world.”
-
Abby Geni’s second book had high expectations after her astounding debut, but The Wildlands is a stumbling follow-up. The first third is engrossing, showing Geni’s ability to put you in the chaos of Cora’s and her family’s life. However, the rest is a bit of a mess. The characters fall flat, the plot too contrived, the events inauthentic. Cora keeps you reading, though, her perspective the most endearing... if only to get you through to the end. Hopefully Geni’s next book will return to the magic this one only shows glimpses of.
-
-
“Maybe this was what her father had been trying to tell her. In his plainspoken way, he was reminding her that change was both inevitable and unstoppable. That little ripples could cause greater waves, unfurl into unexpected patterns. He was telling her not to dwell on the past or fret about the future, since every moment was followed by another, some wonderful, some terrible, all unpredictable and unknowable before hand, all essential components of the complexity of a vast and marvelous world.”
-
Abby Geni’s second book had high expectations after her astounding debut, but The Wildlands is a stumbling follow-up. The first third is engrossing, showing Geni’s ability to put you in the chaos of Cora’s and her family’s life. However, the rest is a bit of a mess. The characters fall flat, the plot too contrived, the events inauthentic. Cora keeps you reading, though, her perspective the most endearing... if only to get you through to the end. Hopefully Geni’s next book will return to the magic this one only shows glimpses of.
-
sklewi's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lexiscee's review
4.0
I’m not too fond of prologues, but I found the prologue of The Wildlands to be the perfect introduction to the book. It describes, in detail, Cora’s first memory: the category 5 tornado which destroyed her childhood home and left her, and her siblings, an orphan. I loved Geni’s descriptions from the start. When Cora looks outside before the tornado strikes, the sky has turned green: “…I glanced out the window and saw the Oklahoma sky soaked with a new color. Damp jade. Split pea soup. Moss on stone.”
I was involved in each character’s storyline, especially Cora and Darlene’s, but also Roy’s and even Tucker’s, despite his violence. Geni captures emotions well, whether through her character descriptions or the descriptions of the harsh and barren Oklahoma landscape. She paints a picture of loss, poverty, and family. Many scenes in this book are vividly dark and disturbing, and Geni does a good job of showing how they affect Cora both psychologically and physically. Geni’s writing style mimics the sense of loss that follows the characters throughout the book. Despite the plot, The Wildlands is more of a character-driven story.
Cora’s relationship with her sisters feels raw, real, and appropriate for a nine-year-old. Her relationship with Tucker, however, is borderline obsessive. I couldn’t blame Cora for this, considering her painful childhood, but it was still disturbing at times.
I’m an animal lover, and I found Tucker’s theories about animals and mass extinction interesting yet terrifying. Seeing his thought process was an interesting insight in how someone’s interests can turn into a dangerous and radical obsession. The scenes with the animals towards the end of the book are surreal and poetic.
I understand why Geni includes the epilogue, but I felt like it was unnecessary. The book ended on the right note, but the epilogue drew away from it.
All in all, this was a well-written and thought-provoking read.
VERDICT: 4 and ½ out of 5 books
I was involved in each character’s storyline, especially Cora and Darlene’s, but also Roy’s and even Tucker’s, despite his violence. Geni captures emotions well, whether through her character descriptions or the descriptions of the harsh and barren Oklahoma landscape. She paints a picture of loss, poverty, and family. Many scenes in this book are vividly dark and disturbing, and Geni does a good job of showing how they affect Cora both psychologically and physically. Geni’s writing style mimics the sense of loss that follows the characters throughout the book. Despite the plot, The Wildlands is more of a character-driven story.
Cora’s relationship with her sisters feels raw, real, and appropriate for a nine-year-old. Her relationship with Tucker, however, is borderline obsessive. I couldn’t blame Cora for this, considering her painful childhood, but it was still disturbing at times.
I’m an animal lover, and I found Tucker’s theories about animals and mass extinction interesting yet terrifying. Seeing his thought process was an interesting insight in how someone’s interests can turn into a dangerous and radical obsession. The scenes with the animals towards the end of the book are surreal and poetic.
I understand why Geni includes the epilogue, but I felt like it was unnecessary. The book ended on the right note, but the epilogue drew away from it.
All in all, this was a well-written and thought-provoking read.
VERDICT: 4 and ½ out of 5 books
jennyshank's review
4.0
https://www.dallasnews.com/arts/books/2018/10/23/nature-inspired-new-novels-wise-ways-science-storytelling
Dallas Morning News, October 23
The McCloud family of Mercy, Okla., becomes known as "the saddest family in Mercy" after the four children are orphaned when their mother dies in childbirth and a tornado flattens their farm, killing their dad. The oldest sibling, practical, resourceful 18-year-old Darlene, accepts all media interviews that offer money. Darlene's brother Tucker resents her for selling their story and runs away.
This is enough calamity to fuel a whole book, but it's only the beginning as The Wildlands clips along with its eventful plot, detailed in sensitive prose that ponders nature, adaptation, survival and the mysteries of family ties. Darlene thinks nothing worse can happen, but as her dad used to say, "And then something else happens."
When an explosion rocks Mercy's cosmetics factory, freeing its animal test subjects, and then the youngest McCloud disappears, Tucker is suspected. Abby Geni creates arresting tableaus of nature juxtaposed with the trappings of modern life as a wild spree sets horses, dogs, ostriches and polar bears loose across Texas, New Mexico and California. (Counterpoint, $26)
Dallas Morning News, October 23
The McCloud family of Mercy, Okla., becomes known as "the saddest family in Mercy" after the four children are orphaned when their mother dies in childbirth and a tornado flattens their farm, killing their dad. The oldest sibling, practical, resourceful 18-year-old Darlene, accepts all media interviews that offer money. Darlene's brother Tucker resents her for selling their story and runs away.
This is enough calamity to fuel a whole book, but it's only the beginning as The Wildlands clips along with its eventful plot, detailed in sensitive prose that ponders nature, adaptation, survival and the mysteries of family ties. Darlene thinks nothing worse can happen, but as her dad used to say, "And then something else happens."
When an explosion rocks Mercy's cosmetics factory, freeing its animal test subjects, and then the youngest McCloud disappears, Tucker is suspected. Abby Geni creates arresting tableaus of nature juxtaposed with the trappings of modern life as a wild spree sets horses, dogs, ostriches and polar bears loose across Texas, New Mexico and California. (Counterpoint, $26)
sgrossi28's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25