Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by bookscatsrun
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
3.0
This book centers on a servant girl who has escaped from the settlement at Jamestown and finds herself alone in the woods with just a few precious possessions. We read every detail of her survival, how cold she is, what food she eats, when she uses the bathroom. Interspersed with those somewhat mundane details, we learn about the girl's past, how she came to be in the New World and what she experienced on the journey over the ocean. We also get to hear her reflections on god, spirituality, and the nature of men and animals.
I think it's the fact that there's these three elements all tied together that make this book so readable. The survival tale alone can be kind of dull and plotless, but when you add in the flashbacks and the reflections it becomes so much richer and more nuanced. This book has a lot to say about colonialism and human nature, but you do need to pay careful attention because it's not an easy read. Groff's writing is just indescribable. In some parts I felt almost bored, but then the next paragraph would be so captivating and insightful that I just couldn't stop reading.
In the end, I do feel a bit conflicted about this book. I think it's an amazing piece of literature and worth reading, but I also like my novels with a bit more plot and excitement. There were also some stomach turning scenes that made me sorry I'd decided to read on my lunch hour. If you are already a Groff fan, then I think you will love this. If you're not, then I'd start with The Matrix. Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the ARC!
.
I think it's the fact that there's these three elements all tied together that make this book so readable. The survival tale alone can be kind of dull and plotless, but when you add in the flashbacks and the reflections it becomes so much richer and more nuanced. This book has a lot to say about colonialism and human nature, but you do need to pay careful attention because it's not an easy read. Groff's writing is just indescribable. In some parts I felt almost bored, but then the next paragraph would be so captivating and insightful that I just couldn't stop reading.
In the end, I do feel a bit conflicted about this book. I think it's an amazing piece of literature and worth reading, but I also like my novels with a bit more plot and excitement. There were also some stomach turning scenes that made me sorry I'd decided to read on my lunch hour. If you are already a Groff fan, then I think you will love this. If you're not, then I'd start with The Matrix. Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the ARC!
.