Category: Writing and Poetry
Holdstock delivers an engrossing and interesting tale. The book begins with Steven Huxley recovering from wounds received in world war two. His brother also a WWII veteran had already returned home. He writes to tell him of their father's death. He is reminded of his childhood and his father distance. How his father and his friend would go into the nearby woods and disappear for weeks. How his father never seemed interested in his two sons. How strange beasts and people would be seen on the edge of the wood.
He returns home imagining to find his brother and his new wife happy living in their childhood home. Instead he finds his brother, unkempt and alone. "She's gone" is all he will reveal. Soon his brother says he must go. Only for a couple days. Into the woods. Weeks pass. While he is gone a strange man leading massive beasts enters the property and attempt to dig up the ground. They are persuaded away with some food. Steven decides to find out what they were digging for. What he finds is the fate of his brother's wife.
His brother returns and goes on about how if he can only go deeper in the woods he will be able to find her again. Read our father's journal and you will understand. Soon Steven finds himself drawn by the power of this wood. Holdstock does a wonderful job of foreshadowing and revealing of information that keeps the story moving, but only gives a little bit away at a time. I found it to be a refreshing and fun book to read.
I think most people would find this book to be an enjoyable read. The intermixing of Myths and story make for a unique adventure.
3 Readability: Easily Read, Not much for dynamic writing.
2 Long Term Impact: It really could be read at any time and be interesting, but doesn't standout enough in the fantasy genre. Maybe reading the following books would change that.
3 Engagement: Most of the time it draws you in. Holdstock's writing style keeps you involved. However, sometimes the pace slows and It felt like a couple things were unnecessary.
A total of 8. If the fantasy genre is your thing then I would definitely pick it up. If not you may want to pass on this.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment