Damnation Spring

Through the lens of Davidson’s writing, I was transported to the California coast under towering redwoods. But midst that transcendent beauty, I was quickly immersed in the chronic environmental issues of timber country.

In her capacity as a midwife, Colleen Gunderson becomes conflicted over her husband’s job as a tree topper when she encounters a growing number of mysterious miscarriages. She suspects a link between the logging company’s lavish spraying to clear the forest floor and the water they drink.

Unbeknownst to Colleen, her husband, Rich, used their savings to buy a stand of redwoods which can sustain them for… show more.

I love, love, love this book! As a staunch environmentalist, I have always been on the side of preserving old growth and maintaining our forests. This story showed an alternate side of things—how families live off the profits from lumber and rely on it to eke out a livelihood.

Set in Humboldt County amongst the Redwoods and wild surf, this book mastered character development and had me seriously invested in the lives of the main characters. I appreciated the author’s research into the subject and enjoyed having my views tested. This book is highly recommended!