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ashleyjean6's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Original and well written! It's genre defying: historical fiction, ghost story, thriller, academic essay, nature essay, poetry. It is also both a novel, but one made up of many short stories tied together by a place. The book starts during the 1600s and continues to modern day and beyond. Without spoiling things, I can't add much details. Only to say that while the overall tone of each story is typically a combination of sad and bizarre, it is also thought provoking and inspiring in its sheer creativity. Highly recommend. The audiobook was also very well done!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
halkid2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
NORTH WOODS is unlike any book I've ever read. But its distinctive approach to story, exceptional use of language, and thoughtful messages are not to be missed. It's on both The Washington Post and New York Times lists of Top Ten Books of 2023. Though it's not necessarily a book that will appeal to everyone.
Looking at the novel from the ten thousand foot vantage point, it's about one plot of land in western Massachusetts and the assorted people who have lived there over centuries. In many ways, the book reads like a series of short stories (and poems). But the house, with its slow expansion and eventual decay, is not nearly as important as the lives of its residents. Because the message at the heart of the book is the richness inherent in EACH person’s life story and, perhaps more importantly, how much of that richness is lost over time. And this same richness of story is true in every location, everywhere.
These are stories of love, betrayal, jealousy, and revenge. There are even references to connections that live on after death. Whether it's an apple tree farmer planting an orchard, an enslaved woman on the run, twin sisters reconnecting with a childhood friend, a son struggling with mental illness, or a little known artist and his evolving relationship with a writer -- each person's life in this one spot has a way of impacting those that follow. And that together they form a never-ending cycle of human connection that is built into the passage of time.
Author Daniel Mason's skill with language is extraordinary. Both his poems and prose are full of beautifully crafted phrases that evoke detailed images of nature. And throughout the novel, he continually refers to the value of the natural world to all of us.
This is a book that will likely make you think about larger themes. Like isolation, relationship, connection, even reality. This is my first experience with this author. But it certainly won't be my last.
Looking at the novel from the ten thousand foot vantage point, it's about one plot of land in western Massachusetts and the assorted people who have lived there over centuries. In many ways, the book reads like a series of short stories (and poems). But the house, with its slow expansion and eventual decay, is not nearly as important as the lives of its residents. Because the message at the heart of the book is the richness inherent in EACH person’s life story and, perhaps more importantly, how much of that richness is lost over time. And this same richness of story is true in every location, everywhere.
These are stories of love, betrayal, jealousy, and revenge. There are even references to connections that live on after death. Whether it's an apple tree farmer planting an orchard, an enslaved woman on the run, twin sisters reconnecting with a childhood friend, a son struggling with mental illness, or a little known artist and his evolving relationship with a writer -- each person's life in this one spot has a way of impacting those that follow. And that together they form a never-ending cycle of human connection that is built into the passage of time.
Author Daniel Mason's skill with language is extraordinary. Both his poems and prose are full of beautifully crafted phrases that evoke detailed images of nature. And throughout the novel, he continually refers to the value of the natural world to all of us.
This is a book that will likely make you think about larger themes. Like isolation, relationship, connection, even reality. This is my first experience with this author. But it certainly won't be my last.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Mental illness
bug_not_a_feature's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A very interesting concept for a book. Moves kind of slowly. Good vivid nature descriptions.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
sjanke2's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
beckyhalsey's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A fabulous thought-provoking book which featured a very interesting cast of characters
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Violence, and Murder
chloesnotscared's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Colonisation
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
Different than anything I had read before and I just loved it. I loved all the writing formats and styles, I always wanted to know what happened next. And while everything has to end, the idea that nothing really ends is beautiful. I didn't expect the last chapter at all, and in ways I think it relieved more tension than I expected but I also loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Slavery, Kidnapping, and Murder
ellenszostak's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Worth it for the ending!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity
atiek's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I give this book beyond a five point oh. It'll break your heart and allow you to see justice in the same breath. It'll build you back up once broken down. All of the characters's voices are palpable and I strongly recommend listening to North Woods on audio for the best experience. I will be buying a physical copy of this book some day, it is that freaking great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Slavery and Suicide
Minor: War
deedireads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
All my reviews live at https://deedireads.com/.
See, now this is what I want every literary historical fiction novel to be for the rest of time. More books like this please!!
North Woods is super engaging and creative in structure, with the focus on the woods (and a house in those woods, complete with apple orchard) over 4+ centuries. We meet not only the people who lived in the house, but also the animals — and we get not only traditionally narrated chapters, but also songs, newspaper clippings, and more. It’s a tapestry, it’s a patchwork quilt, it’s the circle of life in miniature, and it is equally heartbreaking and delightful (and, at times, quite shocking).
Truly, I just loved this one so much. If you like books that span lifetimes, connect them in super-smart ways, cut to the quick of an excellent character in no time flat, weave in nature, and experiment with structure, run don’t walk!
See, now this is what I want every literary historical fiction novel to be for the rest of time. More books like this please!!
North Woods is super engaging and creative in structure, with the focus on the woods (and a house in those woods, complete with apple orchard) over 4+ centuries. We meet not only the people who lived in the house, but also the animals — and we get not only traditionally narrated chapters, but also songs, newspaper clippings, and more. It’s a tapestry, it’s a patchwork quilt, it’s the circle of life in miniature, and it is equally heartbreaking and delightful (and, at times, quite shocking).
Truly, I just loved this one so much. If you like books that span lifetimes, connect them in super-smart ways, cut to the quick of an excellent character in no time flat, weave in nature, and experiment with structure, run don’t walk!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Slavery and War