The Wildlands, Abby Geni, Counterpoint, 2018, 357 pp
I read this novel for a reading group. When we discussed it last week we all agreed that it started out rather unimpressive, got better as it went along, then became totally gripping and had a perfect ending.
The McCloud family of Mercy, Oklahoma, lost every bit of their home and farm due to a Category Five tornado. The four siblings had already lost their mother at the birth of the youngest; their father disappeared without a trace in the tornado. Darlene, the eldest, was left with no choice but to give up her dream of college and take care of Tucker, Jane and Cora.
Tucker soon took off. Darlene worked at the local grocery store while Jane and Cora went to school. All of them were crammed into a rundown motor home living in near poverty.
After a year, Tucker resurfaces, having become an eco-terrorist. He lures 9 year old Cora to join him on a cross-country mission to wreak havoc on those who mistreat animals.
I felt the author took too long setting up the story with a tightly controlled narrative style, telling rather than showing the extreme emotional distress of these siblings. Once Cora leaves with Tucker the pace and style of the story picked up.
It was then I saw that Darlene's tightly controlling nature had been the voice of that first part. When Tucker is in control of the story, it gets progressively wilder and crazy. Darlene's life then becomes a desperate search for her abducted sister.
I have read novels about eco-terrorism before. Like any terrorist, a madness takes over with such characters. The author got that exactly right with Tucker. You don't know until the very last chapters whether Cora will survive the madness or perish.
All in all, a great read with a well-constructed plot.
Sounds like an interesting read even if it did start off poorly.
ReplyDeleteYes and the last part made up for the first part.
DeleteGreat review. I had heard good things about this book. The plot and characters sound so well done. Slow starts are alright with me as long as they are part of the worthwhile development of character, plot and other things.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brian. I found that to be true in this book.
Deletewhat do ecoterrorists do? pardon my ignorance and total non-involvement with the real world...
ReplyDelete"Eco-terrorism is an act of violence committed in support of ecological or environmental causes, against people or property." -Wikipedia. They blow up stuff, or disable construction, logging, or other types of vehicles. Trying to stop or minimize the destruction by business of the environment, by means of destruction of the business carrying out the destruction of the environment.
DeleteSounds like the ending made it worthwhile. I'm betting Cora gets out of there just in the nick of time.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to know how you did with your bet, you will just have to read it!
DeleteEF5's are scary! I've had an EF1 touch down in my yard and it took the trees and the camper we had. Scary stuff. I've been terrified of them ever since, don't think I could handle this book without turning into a sobbing mess.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can understand that! I once saw the results of one, don't know the size, in Cincinnati, OH. My son was living there at the time and said it was way scary. Here we just have wild fires and earthquakes.
DeleteQuite intriguing. It is so hard to know whether to DNF or not, when it starts off so slowly. Glad it ended up working out and being a good story though.
ReplyDeleteWell, I always read the books my reading groups pick. It is a commitment I take seriously. This time it paid off nicely.
DeleteYou are much more committed than I would be! if it is something I truly can not stand, I don't know if I could muddle through!
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