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A review by clarelynnmac
The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens
4.0
This it the story of a young man, Wolf, who goes out on a mountain hike intending it to be his last, due to his troubled past. However, he encounters three women along the way and they end up lost on the dangerous mountain, struggling to stay alive. This story was exciting, shocking, and captivating. I could’ve read it all in one sitting if I hadn’t waited until a work night to start it. I cried, I gasped, I audibly yelled, “What the %*$#&?!”. You don’t go into this book thinking it will stick with you, but it really makes you think “What would I do?”. If you like survival stories, this is definitely one to read. And if you hate survival stories- I’d still recommend this one, as it spends enough time in Flashbacks, that it gives you moments to recover from the monotony that comes with being stranded on a mountain for five days, with a backstory that is equally captivating.
Reading the description, you’ll know going in that someone doesn’t survive and so it adds an element of a mystery throughout the mountain portion where you keep guessing who it may be and what will be the cause.
Characters- The characters in this story are so richly described and wonderful. You have a lot of stereotypical characters in the mix (the deadbeat dad, the cool best friend, the girl crush, the wise old woman…) but none of them felt too far one-sided. They were all complex and human enough that the people who would usually fall on the “antagonist” side of the spectrum had redeeming moments, and equally the “good guys” did some pretty terrible things. Part of this is due to the fact that the entire story is from Wolf’s point of view, so we are seeing the various people in his life as HE sees them, not necessarily as they truly are.
Location- The location takes place mostly in the mountain park where they end up stranded, including Angel’s Peak and the secret lake that plays a pivotal role in Wolf’s life. It is a character in this story as much as any of the people. It is beautiful and it is dangerous. I could feel the heat, the rain, the fog, the awe, and the panic. All in all, it was very well described.
Action- There are two stories intermingling throughout the book, which eventually converge for the climax. The present story is the “Mountain Story” which solely revolves around Wolf and the Devine ladies (a grandmother, mother, and daughter) all struggling to survive on a dangerous California mountainside, with Wolf’s past is interspersed throughout the days on the mountain. This format helped to keep the plot moving as the days drag on on the mountain. Lansens also does an excellent job of giving juuuust enough information during Wolf’s backstory to draw you in but not revealing all of the cards up her sleeve. You KNOW bad things are going to happen- you just don’t know when, or to whom, so you are perpetually on the edge of your seat.
Readability- Incredibly readable. The story is told from Wolf’s perspective as a letter to his son, and so the language is very “every day casual”. No frills, nothing fancy- which means no distractions. I wouldn’t qualify this as Hemingway-level of terseness, as there are some descriptions to aid with the mental imagery, but make no mistake, it is the plot that drives this book.
Extras!- *SPOILERS*
Reading the description, you’ll know going in that someone doesn’t survive and so it adds an element of a mystery throughout the mountain portion where you keep guessing who it may be and what will be the cause.
Characters- The characters in this story are so richly described and wonderful. You have a lot of stereotypical characters in the mix (the deadbeat dad, the cool best friend, the girl crush, the wise old woman…) but none of them felt too far one-sided. They were all complex and human enough that the people who would usually fall on the “antagonist” side of the spectrum had redeeming moments, and equally the “good guys” did some pretty terrible things. Part of this is due to the fact that the entire story is from Wolf’s point of view, so we are seeing the various people in his life as HE sees them, not necessarily as they truly are.
Location- The location takes place mostly in the mountain park where they end up stranded, including Angel’s Peak and the secret lake that plays a pivotal role in Wolf’s life. It is a character in this story as much as any of the people. It is beautiful and it is dangerous. I could feel the heat, the rain, the fog, the awe, and the panic. All in all, it was very well described.
Action- There are two stories intermingling throughout the book, which eventually converge for the climax. The present story is the “Mountain Story” which solely revolves around Wolf and the Devine ladies (a grandmother, mother, and daughter) all struggling to survive on a dangerous California mountainside, with Wolf’s past is interspersed throughout the days on the mountain. This format helped to keep the plot moving as the days drag on on the mountain. Lansens also does an excellent job of giving juuuust enough information during Wolf’s backstory to draw you in but not revealing all of the cards up her sleeve. You KNOW bad things are going to happen- you just don’t know when, or to whom, so you are perpetually on the edge of your seat.
Readability- Incredibly readable. The story is told from Wolf’s perspective as a letter to his son, and so the language is very “every day casual”. No frills, nothing fancy- which means no distractions. I wouldn’t qualify this as Hemingway-level of terseness, as there are some descriptions to aid with the mental imagery, but make no mistake, it is the plot that drives this book.
Extras!- *SPOILERS*