Welcome to Litsy!

Jess and Storey, experienced and capable outdoorsmen, are on a hunting trip in the remote woods of Maine when they stumble on scenes of destruction that leave them reeling, unsure where to find safety or means of escape. As the danger becomes clear, Storey focuses on returning to his family while Jess faces his memories of love, regret and loss. Grounded in the beauty of the natural world, this searing novel will stay with me for a long time.

As usual, Peter Heller is a stellar writer. I have to say though, it‘s a pretty depressing novel.

I‘m 80% through this one and love it. Two lifelong friends go on a camping trip in rural Maine when the state secedes. Beautiful nature writing and lots of intrigue. Loving it. Owes a debt to McCarthys “the road” but not bleak in the same way.

Two lifelong friends go hunting in the back woods of Maine and come back to find towns burned to the ground and bridges destroyed. Apparently there was some kind of uprising? Terrorism? Civil war? While they‘re trying to figure out WTF is happening and keep themselves alive, they‘re also ruminating about their friendship and individual life choices. One friend in particular ruminates A LOT.

Worst #fieldtrip EVER! #schoolspirit

Following a series of thrillers, Heller pivots a bit in his latest and blends thriller with lit fic, harkening back to The Dog Stars, his fiction debut. And it really works. Jess and Storey are on a moose hunting trip in northern Maine only to come out of the woods to find a devastated town. We slowly learn what‘s happening alongside them as we look back on their decades-long friendship.

I absolutely loved The River, & this one sounded like it was in a similar vein, but I hit a few speed bumps with it. While I love the adult male friendship and the way it resonates, I still maintain that Heller does not know how to write a believable woman. One plot point with a woman took me completely out of the story and seemed to throw off the whole tone of what he was attempting. There were still elements I loved, but it‘s his Achilles Heel.

This was published two days ago, and Libby estimates that I‘ll be able to read it in six weeks. Can‘t wait! #aboutabook #onewordtitle

Oh man, this was so good. I love the way Heller depicted a healthy male friendship and respected that deep relationship as Jess and Storey navigated the stress and uncertainty of a looming civil war. There‘s a wonderful found family aspect as the two come across a lonely 5 year old child and helps her try to find her parents and dog. Introspective and hopeful while also tense and evocative. And beautiful nature writing. My first by Peter Heller.

#currentlyreading via NetGalley and Knopf. Two long-time best friends emerge from an off-grid hunting trip in the woods to find that Some Big Thing has happened. They‘re not able to navigate roads or bridges. No cellphone service. No people, animals, cars anywhere. I can FEEL their dread and fear because at the halfway point, I still don‘t know what happened either.

It‘s riveting. I feel a delicious tension right alongside these characters.