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tomstbr's review against another edition
4.0
In truth, we will all be fiction soon enough and people yet to come can decide what little truth there was in any of it.
This is a very confronting novel, and it goes quite dark. Definitely draws on Cormac McCarthy in more ways than one.
It follows two characters in the aftermath of a light airplane crash in Bitterroot Valley, Montana. I think I enjoyed the elderly Cloris more as she survives the crash and somehow survives (first person retelling). She kept upending my expectations while reading and there was always a lot more to her story. Lewis the Park Ranger who is searching for her had a darker plot that was heavy on misogyny and self-loathing, which is well done but very intense.
Very literary and much to ruminate on, but still with a pacey plot. Recommend.
Maybe it turns out we will never know right from wrong because we can't see all consequences to all possible infinite actions and that is why some middleaged people go on cruises.
This is a very confronting novel, and it goes quite dark. Definitely draws on Cormac McCarthy in more ways than one.
It follows two characters in the aftermath of a light airplane crash in Bitterroot Valley, Montana. I think I enjoyed the elderly Cloris more as she survives the crash and somehow survives (first person retelling). She kept upending my expectations while reading and there was always a lot more to her story. Lewis the Park Ranger who is searching for her had a darker plot that was heavy on misogyny and self-loathing, which is well done but very intense.
Very literary and much to ruminate on, but still with a pacey plot. Recommend.
Maybe it turns out we will never know right from wrong because we can't see all consequences to all possible infinite actions and that is why some middleaged people go on cruises.
butteredtoastinbed's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I have such complicated feelings about this book I’m not sure where to begin.
My 4 star rating is closer to a guess than an accurate reflection of my feelings because there were a number of things that manipulated my thoughts throughout reading that I'm not sure where I stand, despite this being a relatively slow-paced book.
The characters (with a couple of exceptions) were pretty insufferable most of the time - but in an endearing and intricate way. Making them feel very real, and although I was not really personally rooting for them, I really did find myself wanting to know how their stories ended and never thought there was a slow section that I wasn’t interested in. I thought the characters were an exceptionally strong part of this story - the voice in which the two POVs were written (and the voices of the secondary characters, too) were so distinctly different (both from each other and from anything I’ve read before) and so rich, I really loved that aspect of this novel and the stories would not be half as good had the voices not been as compelling.
The imagery of the gorgeous settings in this novel is another of its strong suits, which was very important given the nature of the story, and something I really appreciated throughout.
A couple of times while reading I did get the unignorable feeling that this is certainly a woman being written by a man which definitely did pull me out of the story and is not something I enjoy or overlook and it did temporarily dampen my experience.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. I really did enjoy reading it and it was so unique, nasty and raw. I am unlikely to reread this book in the near future only because I like the way the emotions and feelings sat with me as a first-time readthrough.
My 4 star rating is closer to a guess than an accurate reflection of my feelings because there were a number of things that manipulated my thoughts throughout reading that I'm not sure where I stand, despite this being a relatively slow-paced book.
The characters (with a couple of exceptions) were pretty insufferable most of the time - but in an endearing and intricate way. Making them feel very real, and although I was not really personally rooting for them, I really did find myself wanting to know how their stories ended and never thought there was a slow section that I wasn’t interested in. I thought the characters were an exceptionally strong part of this story - the voice in which the two POVs were written (and the voices of the secondary characters, too) were so distinctly different (both from each other and from anything I’ve read before) and so rich, I really loved that aspect of this novel and the stories would not be half as good had the voices not been as compelling.
The imagery of the gorgeous settings in this novel is another of its strong suits, which was very important given the nature of the story, and something I really appreciated throughout.
A couple of times while reading I did get the unignorable feeling that this is certainly a woman being written by a man which definitely did pull me out of the story and is not something I enjoy or overlook and it did temporarily dampen my experience.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. I really did enjoy reading it and it was so unique, nasty and raw. I am unlikely to reread this book in the near future only because I like the way the emotions and feelings sat with me as a first-time readthrough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility, Pedophilia, Vomit, and Lesbophobia
bailey_bea's review against another edition
3.0
I'm conflicted about rating this book. The story was interesting but not engrossing. It was certainly "genre-bending" as some have described it, yet its over-the-top characters and their habits hinted at a book trying desperately to prove itself. I will allow that the acting (read: overacting) of the audiobook was distracting. I really wish I had read the book instead of listening to it.
The plot was interesting. And, overall, Cloris Waldrip was a great protagonist. Charming, amusing, and sometimes downright funny. Based on the book's description, I was hoping this old woman would survive in the Bitterroot Mountains without any assistance. There's something so awesome about the idea of an old lady surviving a plane crash and surviving in the wild by herself, but the opportunity was missed.
As for Ranger Lewis and her "motley crew of oddballs," they also have moments when they're funny or interesting. And if the author had either dialed it back or pushed the envelope further, it would have been great. As it is, these characters exist in a no man's land of sorts, where they're all just a little too bizarre or cliche (or not bizarre or cliche enough) to seem real. The dialogue helps no one.
Overall, I'm glad I listened to it. I liked it. But do yourself a favor and skip the audiobook.
The plot was interesting. And, overall, Cloris Waldrip was a great protagonist. Charming, amusing, and sometimes downright funny. Based on the book's description, I was hoping this old woman would survive in the Bitterroot Mountains without any assistance. There's something so awesome about the idea of an old lady surviving a plane crash and surviving in the wild by herself, but the opportunity was missed.
As for Ranger Lewis and her "motley crew of oddballs," they also have moments when they're funny or interesting. And if the author had either dialed it back or pushed the envelope further, it would have been great. As it is, these characters exist in a no man's land of sorts, where they're all just a little too bizarre or cliche (or not bizarre or cliche enough) to seem real. The dialogue helps no one.
Overall, I'm glad I listened to it. I liked it. But do yourself a favor and skip the audiobook.
samanthabooks19's review against another edition
2.0
There were both good and bad things about this book. Parts I both liked and didn't like.
I didn't agree with everything that was said in this book and there were some scenes that were a little disturbing. I wasn't okay with the fact that some things were downplayed as if they weren't serious offences. Some of the things the characters did and said also made me a little disturbed. It was frankly just weird.
I also feel like this wasn't a real action-packed or eventful story. Not much happened as it was a real slow and unexciting story. Almost a little dull to be honest. There wasn't a real climax from what I could tell. Very monotone.
However I think that character development was done well. These are not typical characters by any means. We had a wide range of different types of people. Each with their own speak patterns and experiences. I liked having a 'fresh' perspective of a 72 year old. It's not something I commonly read so it was interesting to have a new point of view.
It was something new and sadly it didn't really work for me.
I didn't agree with everything that was said in this book and there were some scenes that were a little disturbing. I wasn't okay with the fact that some things were downplayed as if they weren't serious offences. Some of the things the characters did and said also made me a little disturbed. It was frankly just weird.
I also feel like this wasn't a real action-packed or eventful story. Not much happened as it was a real slow and unexciting story. Almost a little dull to be honest. There wasn't a real climax from what I could tell. Very monotone.
However I think that character development was done well. These are not typical characters by any means. We had a wide range of different types of people. Each with their own speak patterns and experiences. I liked having a 'fresh' perspective of a 72 year old. It's not something I commonly read so it was interesting to have a new point of view.
It was something new and sadly it didn't really work for me.
meganlee3001's review against another edition
1.0
Merlot. Goddamn.
There you go, you've read this book. These are the most common and overused words throughout the book.
The premise of this book is so interesting and gives the reader such high hopes but it really falls flat.
The lack of qoutation in this book lends itself to a somewhat choppy reading experience.
It just dragged the whole way through with flat characters.
It also had this weird sexual undertone throughout the whole book which just felt unnecessary.
There you go, you've read this book. These are the most common and overused words throughout the book.
The premise of this book is so interesting and gives the reader such high hopes but it really falls flat.
The lack of qoutation in this book lends itself to a somewhat choppy reading experience.
It just dragged the whole way through with flat characters.
It also had this weird sexual undertone throughout the whole book which just felt unnecessary.
arielamandah's review against another edition
3.0
This book was just “meh” for me. The premise was appealing. Curtis writes well and inhabits his characters well. I wasn’t able to connect or find empathy with any of the characters, though. Especially Lewis’s story. For me, that makes a book hard to enjoy (if I don’t care about the people). I also didn’t find it remotely suspenseful. It WAS a quick, easy read, though.
mostlyreadingbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not sure what to say about this book.
The blurb sounded very intriguing. While reading it I went through absolutely loving and connecting with the characters to being appalled and questioning my choice to read it. I did like The storyline of Cloris and her survival and relationship with a fugitive who helps her after being the sole survivor or a plane crash. Some of her realizations about life will definitely stick with me.
Ranger Lewis’ storyline went from intriguing to bizarre for me. I couldn’t connect with her at all toward the end of the book. I also thought it would have been great for the two women to connect in the end but that unfortunately didn’t happen.
The blurb sounded very intriguing. While reading it I went through absolutely loving and connecting with the characters to being appalled and questioning my choice to read it. I did like The storyline of Cloris and her survival and relationship with a fugitive who helps her after being the sole survivor or a plane crash. Some of her realizations about life will definitely stick with me.
Ranger Lewis’ storyline went from intriguing to bizarre for me. I couldn’t connect with her at all toward the end of the book. I also thought it would have been great for the two women to connect in the end but that unfortunately didn’t happen.
carriebethreads's review against another edition
4.0
Umm. Hatchet meets Twin Peeks? IDK it is really good, but a really unsettling book. Not for the faint of heart when it comes to unusual sexual behavior. Two storylines of “lost” women, one literally, one emotionally. Well written.
megmegmegegg's review against another edition
4.0
this book is thematically weird. the cloris chapters are much better written than the lewis chapters - the lewis chapters strung together this haphazard series of bizarre characters and events that ultimately amounted to not much. cloris as a narrator drips with a compassion that i initially found irritating, but it grew on me, and became one of my favorite parts of the book. i am familiar with the bitterroot mountains and the peculiar and irreverent writing about that corner of montana was charming, plus i liked the peripheral characters and the overall sense of space and disconnect from society that they created. this is a search and rescue book that goes pretty light on the SAR.
i would hesitate to overwhelmingly recommend this to people, but i really enjoyed it.
i would hesitate to overwhelmingly recommend this to people, but i really enjoyed it.
random_tuga's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
If this book is a mess. I was really intrigued to read about an old lady surviving the wilderness and the search and rescue operations but the chapter with Debra Lewis literally make no sense. The plot is terrible and there's some horrible pedo vibes going on