Reviews

This book is capital "L" Literature and IMO worth the inconvenience of getting a physical book rather than reading a digital copy.

Beautiful novel that tells the story of a place and everyone who interacts with it (including plants and animals) over the course of a few hundred years. Each chapter is very different and there are lovely illustrations throughout. It had me flipping back to previous sections to remember what each of the pieces of the next parts were alluding to. It took me a long time to get through it because it's a lot heavier to carry around a book so I only read it at home, but I'm so glad I did.

I expect that this is a book I will revisit many times throughout my life.

alexjamiestaples's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

libliz's review against another edition

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5.0

I really enjoyed this book, which sort of broke my heart while also making me nostalgic for something I’ll never experience. Is there a word for that? There should be a word for that. Part family epic, part ghost story, all environmental disaster.

hellymp's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Beautifully written and the audio book has great narration. I was happily lost in these mysterious woods with Mason’s multitude of characters. Spiritual, atmospheric and magical, with some characters that I really loved (Alice and Mary). Mason links the journey through time so adeptly rooted with such a wonderful sense of place.

andreacpowers's review against another edition

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3.0

Mostly a 3; sometimes a 4. I grew up in a small town in Central MA in the 1950's. I spent a lot of time alone in the woods behind our old houses. These houses had dirt cellars and weren't spiffed up at all. I understand the setting.

I loved some of the stories in this book. But the book doesn't work as a whole. The house is not enough of a character to hold everything together. By the time I got to the 10th story could not wait for the book to end.

timm0's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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