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A review by kba76
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
An unexpected delight of a book. Strange. Unsettling. Moving.
The story is set in Alaska and our focus is Birdie and her young daughter, Emaleen. Birdie is struggling to get by, working in a bar/diner and trying to look after her young daughter alone. We learn a little of her past, and see that she has people looking out for her. She wants more, but this doesn’t seem likely to happen with her life as it is.
She befriends Arthur, a shy recluse who comes sporadically to the town. Everyone else seems to steer clear of him, but Birdie is intrigued by his tales of life in the remote Northern Flak area. Slowly she and Arthur become closer, and it is no surprise when she makes plans to follow him to his cabin. It’s a chance for a new life.
Arthur’s father, Warren, has his misgivings. The details that would explain Warren’s stance are slow to come our way, but he vows to do what he can to support Birdie and her daughter, and to keep them safe.
Having grown accustomed to being left alone at night while her mum works, Emaleen is used to depending on herself when necessary. The shift to having her mother with her so much more offers Emaleen a different experience. She loves the freedom of life in the cabin and has an instinctive fondness for Arthur and his attempts to look after her.
However, Emaleen soon learns Arthur’s secret and does what she can to protect him.
The idyllic lifestyle Bridie hankered for is not one that lasts. Slowly coming to terms with the impact of her choices weighs hard on Birdie. Emaleen, though only a child, does her best to help…though it is not, ultimately, enough. The first two parts of the book were a truly immersive experience. A testimony to the natural world and its beauty, while ending with a stark reminder of its dangers.
The final part of the book was necessary for Emaleen’s story, though it left me feeling so many were complicit in creating a scenario that should probably never have happened.
The story is set in Alaska and our focus is Birdie and her young daughter, Emaleen. Birdie is struggling to get by, working in a bar/diner and trying to look after her young daughter alone. We learn a little of her past, and see that she has people looking out for her. She wants more, but this doesn’t seem likely to happen with her life as it is.
She befriends Arthur, a shy recluse who comes sporadically to the town. Everyone else seems to steer clear of him, but Birdie is intrigued by his tales of life in the remote Northern Flak area. Slowly she and Arthur become closer, and it is no surprise when she makes plans to follow him to his cabin. It’s a chance for a new life.
Arthur’s father, Warren, has his misgivings. The details that would explain Warren’s stance are slow to come our way, but he vows to do what he can to support Birdie and her daughter, and to keep them safe.
Having grown accustomed to being left alone at night while her mum works, Emaleen is used to depending on herself when necessary. The shift to having her mother with her so much more offers Emaleen a different experience. She loves the freedom of life in the cabin and has an instinctive fondness for Arthur and his attempts to look after her.
However, Emaleen soon learns Arthur’s secret and does what she can to protect him.
The idyllic lifestyle Bridie hankered for is not one that lasts. Slowly coming to terms with the impact of her choices weighs hard on Birdie. Emaleen, though only a child, does her best to help…though it is not, ultimately, enough. The first two parts of the book were a truly immersive experience. A testimony to the natural world and its beauty, while ending with a stark reminder of its dangers.
The final part of the book was necessary for Emaleen’s story, though it left me feeling so many were complicit in creating a scenario that should probably never have happened.