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chrispyschaller's review against another edition
3.0
Picaresque with Wild West characters slowly reveals traumatic past of a woman on the run.
christiek's review against another edition
3.0
This book ended really strongly, otherwise I wouldn't have liked it. I realized that Adamson has talent for writing words that feel like the action in the novel. While an excellent talent to have, the novel suffers from being slow and aimless for the first 150 pages when the protagonist is lost, frantic, helpless and starving. I had a terrible time getting into the book, then by the middle of the book I didn't have the patience to enjoy Adamson's descriptive style which began to feel wordy and in need of a heavy edit. By the time I came to the end, I was past ready to be done with the book, so I didn't really appreciate what was happening to the protagonist's capabilities until just about the last two words. By that point I was disappointed to have been slacking off in my attention (but still glad to be done). So ultimately I respect the book, but wish it had been more tightly written.
zena_ryder's review against another edition
4.0
We learn on the very first page that "the widow" has killed her own husband and is on the run from her twin brothers-in-law. The story grips the reader into that action at the very beginning. And the writer succeeds in having us sympathize with the widow, Mary Boulton, without us knowing why she killed her husband. We find ourselves on her side, even though we know she's killed someone.
Part of the tension at the beginning of the book — in addition to whether she gets caught or not — is why and how she killed her husband. I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed in the story when it's revealed (gradually). It's basically what you expect.
The pacing was sometimes off, such as the domestic interlude with the pugilistic preacher in Frank. This went on a bit long for me, with nothing much happening (until the famous Frank slide) except the gradual revealing of backstory. I also felt that her escape from prison using a silver table knife was unrealistic. (And she had no trouble stealing the horse, even though we're told early on that animals don't like her.)
I also really didn't like the ending.
However, despite various flaws, I very much enjoyed this book. At times, the language is beautifully evocative and I like the Mary character. I'm definitely planning to read Adamson's follow-up book, The Ridgerunner.
Part of the tension at the beginning of the book — in addition to whether she gets caught or not — is why and how she killed her husband. I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed in the story when it's revealed (gradually). It's basically what you expect.
The pacing was sometimes off, such as the domestic interlude with the pugilistic preacher in Frank. This went on a bit long for me, with nothing much happening (until the famous Frank slide) except the gradual revealing of backstory. I also felt that her escape from prison using a silver table knife was unrealistic. (And she had no trouble stealing the horse, even though we're told early on that animals don't like her.)
I also really didn't like the ending.
However, despite various flaws, I very much enjoyed this book. At times, the language is beautifully evocative and I like the Mary character. I'm definitely planning to read Adamson's follow-up book, The Ridgerunner.
linseyr's review against another edition
2.0
I can't say that I enjoyed this one too much. It just seemed like a lot of roaming through the forest scenes with not a lot of cohesiveness elsewhere. It sounded so promising in the blurb on the back, so I was pretty disappointed!
celestemarin's review against another edition
3.0
Started out okay but then kind of plodded, then got a little too Hollywood for my liking by the end. I found it annoying the way the author would call the same individual "girl", "young woman" and "woman" (or male equivalents) interchangeably, particularly in subsequent sentences or paragraphs. An extract of it would make a good short story, but it went on too long with too little happening, and not much of it related. I certainly will NOT be reading it twice, as the cover blurb said.
lyndseyreader's review against another edition
4.0
This is the perfect engrossing winter read. It's the story of a widow (widowed by her own hand) desperately escaping her pursuers through the Canadian wilderness. Set in 1903 this novel has interesting characters and beautiful description. It's no surprise that Gil Adamson is also a poet. It shows in her lyrical writing style.
This is one of my favorite passages:
"She recalled her mother only in glimpses: the long, slim fingers, the brow white and unmarked despite the woe it hid, white nightgown after white nightgown, medicine vials and a porcelain bowl, a closed door, silence in the house, a glimpse of blue-veined feet dangling above the floor, weak sighs and hanging head. It seemed that this was all her mother was or ever had been. Perhaps, long ago, she had risen from the bed occasionally or walked slowly in the garden. In an unimaginable past, the woman must have been strong enough to have a baby. But everything is remembered by its moment of intensity. Dying was hers. (96)
This is one of my favorite passages:
"She recalled her mother only in glimpses: the long, slim fingers, the brow white and unmarked despite the woe it hid, white nightgown after white nightgown, medicine vials and a porcelain bowl, a closed door, silence in the house, a glimpse of blue-veined feet dangling above the floor, weak sighs and hanging head. It seemed that this was all her mother was or ever had been. Perhaps, long ago, she had risen from the bed occasionally or walked slowly in the garden. In an unimaginable past, the woman must have been strong enough to have a baby. But everything is remembered by its moment of intensity. Dying was hers. (96)
velozebra's review against another edition
5.0
Couldn't put this book down. The prose is utterly captivating- the story compelling.
bellatora's review against another edition
2.0
Did not like – this is the same kind of exciting-plot-turned-boring-through-overdetailed-description book as [b:Jamrach's Menagerie|9593705|Jamrach's Menagerie|Carol Birch|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329352941s/9593705.jpg|14295225] and [b:Oscar and Lucinda|316496|Oscar and Lucinda|Peter Carey|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1173712561s/316496.jpg|2304710]. I don’t understand how it’s possible to turn a story of a widow who killed her husband and is being relentlessly pursued by his vengeful and creepy red-headed twin brothers into such a dull trudge, but it apparently is. This kind of book routinely wins awards, though, so there are people out there who love it. It's just not for me.
mactammonty's review against another edition
4.0
A slow burn that has many highlights. Do not go into this expecting a fast paced book. The story, like the time period it is based in, is slow paced. It is meant to be savoured.