I have been a fan of Michael Perry since his debut memoir, Population 485, so when this novel came out, I couldn’t wait to read it. To be honest, I was taken by surprise at the dark humor and tone of the book, which was a bit of a divergence from Perry’s typical style.
However, as an author myself, I can certainly relate to his stretching his writing to new heights. The book’s strong writing and character development kept my interest throughout. The book almost reads like a mystery with a crazy twist at the end.
When farmer Harold wakes to find his wife dead beside him in bed and snow threatening to crush the last life from his dwindling farm, he takes drastic steps toward a fresh start. Set in a world of stark wintry beauty, Forty Acres Deep is the brief, unrelenting tale of one person's attempt to make sense of a world he no longer recognizes while pitilessly calling himself into account. Seamed with grim humor and earthy revelations, it is an unforgiving story...and yet leaves open the idea that we might surrender to hope.
I’ve read many of Bill Bryson’s books and always come away feeling I’ve learned something about the trials, humor, and joys behind travel. This book was different, as it took me on a journey through the entire human body and all of its systems and wonders. It was fascinating to dive deep into the interworkings of our organs, glands, appendages, and the brain that controls all of them.
A great example of the insight is: “Your lungs, smoothed out, would cover a tennis court, and the airways within them would stretch nearly from coast to coast.” This is just one of the many mind-blowing facts in this book. I thought the narrative was a wonderful way to appreciate how delicate one’s good health is and the incredible ability the body has to heal itself.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Bill Bryson, bestselling author of A Short History of Nearly Everything, takes us on a head-to-toe tour of the marvel that is the human body—with a new afterword for this edition.
Bill Bryson once again proves himself to be an incomparable companion as he guides us through the human body—how it functions, its remarkable ability to heal itself, and (unfortunately) the ways it can fail. Full of extraordinary facts (your body made a million red blood cells since you started reading this) and irresistible Brysonesque anecdotes, The Body will lead you to a deeper understanding…
For obvious reasons (see my book, referenced below), I looked forward to reading this book, largely because it is set at a resort in Maine. The author did an amazing job bringing me to this beautiful, albeit fictional, place. The book weaves the resort's past and present into a story about a longtime renter who returns one last time as he struggles with cancer.
This is a story about the magic draw and appeal of a lake cabin, but the best part is how Cronin weaves together the characters' relationships. It's a great summer read!
With a rare combination of emotional insight, narrative power, and lyrical grace, Justin Cronin transforms the simple story of a dying man’s last wish into a rich tapestry of family love.
“A work of art . . . a great American novel.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
On an evening in late summer, the great financier Harry Wainwright, nearing the end of his life, arrives at a rustic fishing camp in a remote area of Maine. He comes bearing two things: his wish for a day of fishing in a place that has brought him solace for thirty years, and an astonishing bequest…
My book takes readers into the fun, recreation, and relaxation of life at the cabin. It takes you to fifteen different lake cabins in the upper Midwest, where friends and family gather to recharge from their lives back in the city.
The book spans generations, emphasizing the value of experiencing cabin life's unhurried pace. The lake becomes a place for reconnecting, celebrating, and occasionally grieving together. The lake is where we go to reestablish our relationships with one another, to celebrate, and sometimes, even to mourn.
If you’ve ever been to a cabin “up north” or anywhere else, this book is for you.
