Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
~4.5
This book was a little slow to start, but after a while I couldn’t put it down. I fell in love with these characters and really cared about this family. Even though I thought it was slow in the beginning, now having finished it, I don’t think I would change too much about it.
This book was a little slow to start, but after a while I couldn’t put it down. I fell in love with these characters and really cared about this family. Even though I thought it was slow in the beginning, now having finished it, I don’t think I would change too much about it.
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the best book I’ve read in a long time. It’s not just the plot and the characters and the truly heartbreaking themes, it’s the writing. It’s so beautiful, lush and deep and, I don’t know, loamy? Like rich soil. Davidson is a gifted writer and I can’t wait to read more by her.
As for the actual themes, I’ve been on both sides of the herbicide debate, not in forestry but in agriculture. I consider myself to be moderate on its use, though my spouse always finds it strange when I put on heavy duty ppe whenever I spray around the house (a relic from using it in the fields and one that I’ll never lose). Davidson provides a clear and empathetic view of the debate, something sorely lacking not just with this but in the world at large these days. It’s true that these chemicals can be incredibly dangerous to human health. It is also true that discontinuing them without proper diligence leads to people losing everything they’ve worked so hard for over the course of generations. Davidson presents this division with honesty and love on both sides.
I’m writing about herbicides because I’m avoiding the other major conflict in the book. This too, I can write from experience, and this too I can say is perfectly accurate. One miscarriage is a tragedy, multiple is an altogether separate hell. And not knowing why is one of the worst parts. Davidson writes like she knows. I don’t know if she does firsthand or not, but it sure seems like it. I don’t know, but trigger warning for anyone in this terrible club.
Anyway, great book. I don’t love the way it ends, but I don’t think it’s bad enough to change my opinion about it.
*I received a pre-publication version of this book for free from the publisher, but no review was requested.*
As for the actual themes, I’ve been on both sides of the herbicide debate, not in forestry but in agriculture. I consider myself to be moderate on its use, though my spouse always finds it strange when I put on heavy duty ppe whenever I spray around the house (a relic from using it in the fields and one that I’ll never lose). Davidson provides a clear and empathetic view of the debate, something sorely lacking not just with this but in the world at large these days. It’s true that these chemicals can be incredibly dangerous to human health. It is also true that discontinuing them without proper diligence leads to people losing everything they’ve worked so hard for over the course of generations. Davidson presents this division with honesty and love on both sides.
I’m writing about herbicides because I’m avoiding the other major conflict in the book. This too, I can write from experience, and this too I can say is perfectly accurate. One miscarriage is a tragedy, multiple is an altogether separate hell. And not knowing why is one of the worst parts. Davidson writes like she knows. I don’t know if she does firsthand or not, but it sure seems like it. I don’t know, but trigger warning for anyone in this terrible club.
Anyway, great book. I don’t love the way it ends, but I don’t think it’s bad enough to change my opinion about it.
*I received a pre-publication version of this book for free from the publisher, but no review was requested.*
The author is a great writer. She did a great job of immersing the reader in the setting. Unfortunately, nothing much happened throughout the book. A big slow burn. I’m not upset that I read it, but I’m not about to read it again. The ending was a massive disappointment.
I’m going to cut my FREAKING ARM OFF. This book made me feel things. And now all I know is pain. Goodbye.
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is dense in the way that you can’t eat a slice of chocolate cheesecake in one sitting—frustrating slow, deliciously savor-able. A master of “show, don’t tell” & caring about the mundane. Beautiful, achingly so.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What...what do I even say about this book? Ash Davidson, you are a fucked up lady who can WRITE.
The first thing I have to say about this book is that it is LONG. Way longer than necessary. Like the end just kept going and the first third of the book was very drawn out. The first third though, I get that. The worldbuilding in this was totally immersive, and it had to be because PNW logging culture in the 1970s is incredibly niche. So I think that the first third to half is a character study that provides the necessary context in the fall and early winter months to understand the nuances of the actions that the characters take when the plot starts to snowball in the late winter to spring-summer months.
Emotionally, this was a roller coaster. The writing was out of this world to me, but the cover looks way too happy for this ultimately devastating book.
having rich die at the end felt like it undid all the tension that had been so carefully built throughout the very long story. I was hoping for some kind of payoff - and we were about to get it, too. in the last 50-85 pages (I think? I read this digitally), I felt like I was gulping water after being thirsty all day, then the bottom just fell out of my glass.
also the dog stuff? fucked. sick in the head. my mental health during this book was hanging on the thread that is scout the dog, most tender and loyal hound, and Ash Davidson just snipped it (like that other dog's vocal cords 😳).</spoiler
The first thing I have to say about this book is that it is LONG. Way longer than necessary. Like the end just kept going and the first third of the book was very drawn out. The first third though, I get that. The worldbuilding in this was totally immersive, and it had to be because PNW logging culture in the 1970s is incredibly niche. So I think that the first third to half is a character study that provides the necessary context in the fall and early winter months to understand the nuances of the actions that the characters take when the plot starts to snowball in the late winter to spring-summer months.
Emotionally, this was a roller coaster. The writing was out of this world to me, but the cover looks way too happy for this ultimately devastating book.
also the dog stuff? fucked. sick in the head. my mental health during this book was hanging on the thread that is scout the dog, most tender and loyal hound, and Ash Davidson just snipped it (like that other dog's vocal cords 😳).</spoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Miscarriage, Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood
Minor: Colonisation
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slow-moving books can be really hard for me to read so I tend to stay away from them. I picked this one up because it interested me and I'm glad I stuck with it! It's definitely a slow burn but I really ended up invested in Rich, Colleen, & Chub. It was written beautifully and a love letter to nature. It is very emotional and heart-wrenching and I think it would make a great limited series.
I loved Rich and Lark so much, I hated Eugene. I think both of those are just givens.
Read this if you liked One, Two, Three.
I loved Rich and Lark so much, I hated Eugene. I think both of those are just givens.
Read this if you liked One, Two, Three.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infertility
Moderate: Miscarriage