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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
wavering between 3 and 4 stars. 3 ½-stars.
i've been trying to figure out what to say about this book since finishing it last night, and i can't quite sort it out in my head. at times, while reading, i was completely caught up and immersed in the story. but at other times, i felt like the book was lagging under its own weight and importance. for the breadth of the novel, the depth was often shallower than i expected from proulx, especially given the meaty 700+ page count. certainly, i could tell barkskins was a passion project for proulx (alliteration unintentional) - the research covered so many subjects, over such a span of time. apparently, it took nearly 15 years for this book to reach us. so i have great respect for proulx and this project. and yet... i did not love the book as much as i had hoped/wanted to.
what i really liked:
• the structure, following the two bloodlines of rené sel and charles duquet (later, duke). the two men were brought to new france as part of the seigneurial system shenanigans. as indentured labourers (woodcutters, in this case), the habitants would come into their own land after several years of work and poor treatment. sel's line joins with that of the mi'kmaq people and their difficult histories. duquet's story begins what will become an american logging empire.
• the characters were not at all difficult to follow - each was so distinct and well crafted. though there are a lot of them - how could there not be over 300 years of families? - family trees are included.
• how attached i became to some of the characters
• the environmental theme, and settings in new france, the US, europe and new zealand. place as character is something i really get into when reading fiction and proulx brings her settings alive so completely.
and for as much as the moments i really enjoyed, these are where things went slightly sideways for me:
• i was disappointed over how some of the storylines just fell away or felt unresolved, though sometimes proulx gives readers some gruesome demises.
• the proselytizing was sometimes heavy-handed (and i am already inclined to share proulx's worries and frustrations).
• the ending felt odd and a little abrupt to me. had the family lines - after the 'what's going to happen?' intrigue was so built up - come together once again for a juicy dénouement, that would have been super-satisfying.
• the previously mentioned lack of depth.
often, with writers we strongly favour, we are prepared to make allowances or overlook clunkiness when things wobble a bit. but i find the this trickier to do when there is time and the space within a book.
but, having said all of this and, perhaps, sounding like an negative nellie (sorry!!) i did enjoy the book, and hope you will read it too. it just was not the blow-me-down 5-star read i had hoped for. though i realize the fault may be all mine and this a case of not keeping expectations in check.
i've been trying to figure out what to say about this book since finishing it last night, and i can't quite sort it out in my head. at times, while reading, i was completely caught up and immersed in the story. but at other times, i felt like the book was lagging under its own weight and importance. for the breadth of the novel, the depth was often shallower than i expected from proulx, especially given the meaty 700+ page count. certainly, i could tell barkskins was a passion project for proulx (alliteration unintentional) - the research covered so many subjects, over such a span of time. apparently, it took nearly 15 years for this book to reach us. so i have great respect for proulx and this project. and yet... i did not love the book as much as i had hoped/wanted to.
what i really liked:
• the structure, following the two bloodlines of rené sel and charles duquet (later, duke). the two men were brought to new france as part of the seigneurial system shenanigans. as indentured labourers (woodcutters, in this case), the habitants would come into their own land after several years of work and poor treatment. sel's line joins with that of the mi'kmaq people and their difficult histories. duquet's story begins what will become an american logging empire.
• the characters were not at all difficult to follow - each was so distinct and well crafted. though there are a lot of them - how could there not be over 300 years of families? - family trees are included.
• how attached i became to some of the characters
• the environmental theme, and settings in new france, the US, europe and new zealand. place as character is something i really get into when reading fiction and proulx brings her settings alive so completely.
and for as much as the moments i really enjoyed, these are where things went slightly sideways for me:
• i was disappointed over how some of the storylines just fell away or felt unresolved, though sometimes proulx gives readers some gruesome demises.
• the proselytizing was sometimes heavy-handed (and i am already inclined to share proulx's worries and frustrations).
• the ending felt odd and a little abrupt to me. had the family lines - after the 'what's going to happen?' intrigue was so built up - come together once again for a juicy dénouement, that would have been super-satisfying.
• the previously mentioned lack of depth.
often, with writers we strongly favour, we are prepared to make allowances or overlook clunkiness when things wobble a bit. but i find the this trickier to do when there is time and the space within a book.
but, having said all of this and, perhaps, sounding like an negative nellie (sorry!!) i did enjoy the book, and hope you will read it too. it just was not the blow-me-down 5-star read i had hoped for. though i realize the fault may be all mine and this a case of not keeping expectations in check.
Not a gripping read but beautifully written. I agree with most of the long reviews ahead of me. Worth the time invested.
As an aside, all my known ancestors came down into New England from Quebec so I found the first part interesting. The alcoholism and abusive behavior was still present when I grew up in the 1950s.
As an aside, all my known ancestors came down into New England from Quebec so I found the first part interesting. The alcoholism and abusive behavior was still present when I grew up in the 1950s.
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was good but it made me depressed. Lest we forget, the history of America is one of capitalist conquest, the rape and plunder and enslavement of the land, resources, plants, animals and people. Not much has changed either.
adventurous
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can’t say I’m enjoying it and I’m about to give it the flick. It’s taken me over a week to read 139 pages. There are no female characters except two that have been forced into marriages and they contain no story. Maybe it gets better and I loved two of others of Annie Proulx’s book but not this.
Great story of the "taming" of the virgin forests in the newly United States told through two intertwined families.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation