Rate this book

The Wilderness (2008)

by Samantha Harvey(Favorite Author)
3.37 of 5 Votes: 3
ISBN
0385527632 (ISBN13: 9780385527637)
languge
English
genre
publisher
Nan A. Talese
review 1: I picked this book out from the shelves because I loved the cover, then I noticed it was short-listed for The Orange Prize. As I've experienced the shattering loss of a family member through dementia, more than one family member, in fact, I was keen to read it. And in some ways I wasn't disappointed. There were many moments and incidents in the main character's past that were truly engaging, but as a whole I didn't find the book as absorbing as I'd hoped. It does make you think about memory and identity, and what that means to you, and you do get a sense of the fragility of our hold on life. I would recommend it, but it wasn't, for me, an absolutely must read novel. It was, however, beautiful written, and for that alone it deserved its short-list.
review 2: Wha
... moret do you do with a book you think was written really well, but you didn't love? This one was a random (the term Jack and I use for those we pull from the library shelves at random and decide to give a shot). I knew it might be a difficult one to stomach as the main character is wading his way through Alzheimer's. Surprisingly, it actually wasn't. It was the flow of his thoughts I found hard to follow, although that is kind of the point. Certainly not an uplifting story, but beautifully written. less
Reviews (see all)
Dylon
I wish I could give this 4 1/2 stars, and I might decide to upgrade it to 5. I loved it!
jen
A very disturbing view of Alzheimers--from the person who has it.
mooncakeface
recommended by Patrick
Write review
Review will shown on site after approval.
(Review will shown on site after approval)