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A review by tasharobinson
Hold the Dark by William Giraldi
4.0
Read this one because Jeremy Saulnier's film adaptation for Netflix got me curious about what he left out — there's one really major plot point not included in the film, and I was wondering if there were others. Sure enough, there's a final chapter to the story that hugely changes its tenor and focus. I found the film intense and beautiful, but kind of unfocused, because Russell is so clearly the main character, and yet he has nothing much to do in the story but witness it. The book is more balanced between perspectives, and clearer about the fact that he's there as a witness, not a star. Hard to do in a film, especially with a really famous actor in that role.
As a book, Hold the Dark is remarkably lean, economical, and driven. It's also tremendously convincing in portraying the haunted emptiness of this area of Alaska, and the oppressive beauty of the wilderness. It's a quick, spare read that's particularly good for the kind of snowy winter night where you really want to be under a couple of blankets, preferably with a fire going, but want to tease yourself about what it would be like to need to venture out into the outside world on a mission. The characters are very clearly drawn, but tersely.
As a book, Hold the Dark is remarkably lean, economical, and driven. It's also tremendously convincing in portraying the haunted emptiness of this area of Alaska, and the oppressive beauty of the wilderness. It's a quick, spare read that's particularly good for the kind of snowy winter night where you really want to be under a couple of blankets, preferably with a fire going, but want to tease yourself about what it would be like to need to venture out into the outside world on a mission. The characters are very clearly drawn, but tersely.