You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Well, this novel wrecked me. I couldn't even tell you why I picked this from the long queue on my kindle. Maybe the title? When I saw how long it was I thought I'd just give it a chapter or two and see. And now only two days later I'm a sniffly mess over the end of it. Colleen and Rich are two of the most heartbreakingly real characters I've read in a long time, and following them through their troubles in the 70s with the logging companies, the preservation "hippies," the hopes and stresses of growing a family...man. This one really hit me. I will say that the logging business and the technicalities of who owns the tress vs who owns the land vs the structure of logging outfits was confusing and over my head. FIVE stars, for sure.
I REALLY wanted to like this book and at times, I sort of did. The first 50% was just a lot of very slow set up and maybe too many descriptions of wood/trees and excessive logging terms. Around 80% in, it seemed to pick up and it stopped being a chore to read but then at the end, I found myself just dealing with a lot of loose ends. Issues seemed to be introduced and then dropped randomly. The writing was choppy. Multiple times, I went backwards to see if I missed a page because the paragraph after what I had just read didn’t seem to flow.
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Death
Minor: Abortion
I ended up liking this one a lot more than I thought I would. Definitely kept me intrigued and in anticipation of what was to come throughout. I thought the main characters were pretty well developed. Would have been even better if it were a bit shorter and there were less minor characters to keep track of. Overall, great novel focusing around a community and a story that I had not read before.
Really loved this one, more than I thought I would. Closer to 4.5 stars! Transported me to late 70s in northern, northern California and made me deeply feel for the characters, the trees, the place.
Damnation Spring is the story of a couple in crisis after a series of miscarriages and evaluating their path forward. Colleen and Rich Gundersen, living in Redwood Country, cope with their grief differently but in ways that will deeply affect not only their family but their whole community.
While Colleen and Rich are really engaging characters and the fundamental conflict-were the miscarriages caused by the spraying of pesticides-is compelling, the first half of this book is a slog. Davidson engages in some deep world building ranging from introducing many minor side characters, to monologues on the intricacies of logging redwoods. The real action of the story does not truly begin until 50 percent mark, which is incredibly frustrating. There is no need for this book to be nearly 500 pages. However, once you get going, the second half of this book is wonderful.
Davidson is a talented writer who is able to convey the importance of minor moments in a marriage and how two people who love each other approach the same problem differently and sometimes at the detriment of the other. Her story on what happens when a company runs a town is also a story that rings true in many different cases and I think Damnation Spring was a great rendition of that theme. I just am frustrated it took so long to get there.
While Colleen and Rich are really engaging characters and the fundamental conflict-were the miscarriages caused by the spraying of pesticides-is compelling, the first half of this book is a slog. Davidson engages in some deep world building ranging from introducing many minor side characters, to monologues on the intricacies of logging redwoods. The real action of the story does not truly begin until 50 percent mark, which is incredibly frustrating. There is no need for this book to be nearly 500 pages. However, once you get going, the second half of this book is wonderful.
Davidson is a talented writer who is able to convey the importance of minor moments in a marriage and how two people who love each other approach the same problem differently and sometimes at the detriment of the other. Her story on what happens when a company runs a town is also a story that rings true in many different cases and I think Damnation Spring was a great rendition of that theme. I just am frustrated it took so long to get there.
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My favorite book of 2021 so far! I love the writing style. It definitely moves a bit slowly but she develops characters so beautifully. The story was complex and stirred up so many emotions. You definitely find yourself wondering how they're going to get out of predicaments at times. I found myself wanting to throw the book across the room out of anger quite a few times. This is not going to be a feel good happy book at all, but it is just a wonderful piece of literature. Highly recommend!