Wednesday, December 18, 2024

North Woods: A Novel

Weird. Just plain weird is how I describe North Woods: A Novel by Daniel Mason. But, I really liked it, so much so that I want to read another of his books, maybe The Winter Soldier or The Piano Tuner.

Although I was baffled and confused through much of North Woods, I found the writing flowed well and was easy to read. I just kept plowing ahead and usually could figure out what weird, creepy thing had happened. 

Basically the story follows the lives of characters who inhabit a piece of property in Western Massachusetts over the course of time, starting in pre-colonial days and continuing to the present. The author’s extensive knowledge about and obvious enthusiasm for the natural environment of the area make the setting come to life. The unusual characters are all deeply, physically and spiritually, connected to the yellow house and acres of forest surrounding it.

The rich vocabulary stimulated my brain, as I time-traveled through 400+ years of the transforming landscape. I learned what a catamount is and why a picture of one features prominently on the book’s cover. This quote from the last chapter demonstrates the underlying theme. “…the only way to understand the world as something other than a tale of loss is to see it as a tale of change.”

I finished reading last night, and ‘the what in the … WTF’ ending brought everything together in a strange and thought-provoking way. I didn’t want it to end, and I immediately went back to reread the beginning. Here is a bit of foreshadowing from an early chapter. “I have come to the opinion, generally, that he who does good to the land shall be protected, while he who trespasses upon her will be met with most violent return.”

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