Reviews

Barkskins by Annie Proulx

tea_with_tigers2024's review against another edition

This book have given me much trouble.  Three false starts and then I was able to get into it.  I'm a big fan of Annie Proulx, and very familiar with her writing style.  The problem, in my opinion, is when writing about the landscape, and first nation people, this part is engaging, and interesting.  However, when the story moves along the time-line to the descendants of the initial main characters, there's no emotional connection with the characters who are too much in number to remember all the family connections.  It just gets boring, with pages and pages about ledgers and 'The Company'.  This is a first time that I have not finished Proulx's work.  The televised series had great hopes and was captivating, but unfortunately the series did not get a second season for whatever reason. 

spacebee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative reflective slow-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

3.0

stonembooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.5

angelamichelle's review against another edition

4.0

Expired off library e-loan before I could finish this epic. Starts w two indentured servants arriving in the vast forests of Canada, then traces generations of their families, one along Indian lines, one a huge timber magnate.

brandia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious sad 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

5.0

Historical recount of the new world and the drive to strip a nation of its land and people.  

renatevanderveen's review against another edition

5.0

Prachtig. Kon niet stoppen met lezen. Gaat me aan het hart het lot van de bomen.
Boeiende alternatieve geschiedschrijving over de kolonisatie van USA en Canada. Wat zegt het boek over de wortels van de Amerikaanse en Canadese cultuur. De alleroudste van de indigene bewoners en de jongere geschiedenis van de Europese veroveraars/ overheersers. Veel is te pijnlijk om helemaal tot me te laten doordringen.
Vond het qua verhaallijn jammer dat mensen steeds stierven als ze interessant werden.

jacksontibet's review against another edition

3.0

Just when you get to know a character they die and the book moves forward fifty years

tomstbr's review against another edition

5.0

This is a book about death. But also life. But mostly death. But also rebirth. But it DEFINITELY mostly about death. The death of men, the death of humanity, the death of the world.

The underlying message though is that it is possible to fight back the inevitable.

The writing is gorgeous, but I feel some people may be put off because at times it feels very factual, a mere recitation. However, these people are wrong and impatient. You NEED to take your time with this book, much like we should have taken our time considering what we were doing when we cut down old growth forests.

Proulx takes us on an epic journey of discovery in American. We sail through the centuries and follow the descendants of two men, René Sel and Charles Duquet, and it is absolutely vital that you read the book in its entirety to fully appreciate it. At times you will be unsure of the point, but there is definitely a purpose to it all, and the way in which all the seedlings planted at the beginning come together at the end is marvellous. Something about seeing the forest for the trees I'm sure. Indeed, the role of forests and trees as metaphor is crucial to the book, and thankfully it is never overdone, mostly mere moments, a sentence or two that could easily be missed. The book manages to be both whimsical and down to earth.

It is a masterfully put together and plotted book, the writing is superb and the imagery mesmerising. I highly recommend it.

saguptill's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative sad 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? Yes

4.0

lsparrow's review against another edition

4.0

a great historical overview through following a family line.
I found the ending felt rather soft.