One of the best books I've won from LibraryThing.

Mostly a "domestic" story about a husband, wife, and their son set in 1977/1978 in California in a small town where logging old growth Redwoods dominates their world. It doesn't take a crystal ball to predict that the herbicide sprays that keep roads open is going to play a part in the story, but the book is more than just an environmentalist finger wagging at the logging industry. In fact, the "longhairs" as the loggers call them, are all secondary characters here. Instead, there's a bit more of a nuanced take because the primary perspectives are of a town whose people owe their existence to the Redwood industry. Indigenous people are also given a voice, though theirs is more background.

Each chapter is from a particular perspective as identified by the character's name at the beginning of the chapter, and that actually works really well -- even the chapters for the little boy. I appreciate that the author didn't make these chapters sound more babyish, as authors are wont to do, but instead just made the observations more basic, the way a child might notice that the kettle keeps boiling but not why (and yet there are enough hints for an adult reader to pick up on the why). That style is very well crafted.

Overall, the writing is solid and makes for good reading. I was pulled into the story from the get-go. It did feel like the pace slowed or lagged during the second quarter, but where the plot slowed, the characters really build and create relationships with the reader. Lark steals the show in every scene he's in. I love his dialogue and wit! Good comic relief, rather like the king's fool because he provides reflection and wisdom for Rich.

All the characters have good depth and dynamics. They're realistic and relational and interesting.

When I first got the book, I thought it would hit the same audience as for The Overstory, but it's definitely more for fans of Barbara Kingsolver. This book is not identical to Kingsolver's, but it has similar themes of nature, domesticity, and birth/motherhood as well as style of a slower pace but depth of story.

A worthwhile read! ( )