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Fiction. Literature. HTML: "So delicately calibrated and precisely beautiful that one might not immediately sense the sledgehammer of pain building inside this book. And I mean that in the best way. What powerful tension and depth this provides!"-Aimee Bender Fourteen-year-old Linda lives with her parents in the beautiful, austere woods of northern Minnesota, where their nearly abandoned commune stands as a last vestige of a lost counter-culture world. Isolated at home and an outlander at school, Linda is drawn to the enigmatic, attractive Lily and new history teacher Mr. Grierson. When Mr. Grierson is charged with possessing child pornography, the implications of his arrest deeply affect Linda as she wrestles with her own fledgling desires and craving to belong. And then the young Gardner family moves in across the lake and Linda finds herself welcomed into their home as a babysitter for their little boy, Paul. It seems that her life finally has purpose but with this new sense of belonging she is also drawn into secrets she doesn't understand. Over the course of a few days, Linda makes a set of choices that reverberate throughout her life. As she struggles to find a way out of the sequestered world into which she was born, Linda confronts the life-and-death consequences of the things people do-and fail to do-for the people they love. Winner of the McGinnis-Ritchie award for its first chapter, Emily Fridlund's propulsive and gorgeously written History of Wolves introduces a new writer of enormous range and talent..… (more)
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The descriptions of the woods are memorable and Madeline herself is an unforgettable character. But the storytelling is uneven and the side-plot involving a teacher accused of sexual misconduct with a student never cements, never feels compelling or true (and I don't mean true as in "did he do it?" -- in some ways, that is irrelevant to the thread or the meaning, but true in its emergence in Madeline's consciousness). Madeline is satisfyingly complex; her character development is the cornerstone of the novel and it deserves critical praise and attention. But this novel is not Booker short-list worthy, in my opinion.
Fridlund provides Linda with two opportunities to connect, but both become muddled and leave her only more confused. Linda seemed to be on track to connect with her history teacher, Adam Grierson, only to have that derailed by a two-fold calamity. He has a record of pedophilia in California and a stash of child pornography at his place in Minnesota. Additionally, Lily Holburn, a popular student accuses him (falsely?) of molestation. Grierson disappears only to reappear briefly later in the novel.
Linda’s second connection is a much more important plot element. Patra Gardner lives on the other side of the lake and has a 4 year-old son, Paul, who Linda babysits. Linda bonds with Patra, whom she obviously admires. In this instance, the source of Linda’s muddle stems from Patra’s husband, Leo. He is an astronomer and a devout Christian Scientist who, though frequently absent, seems to be excessively controlling when he does appear. Linda appears to view him as the “alpha animal” and thus competition for Patra’s attention and Linda’s acceptance into their family (pack). Unfortunately, Paul is prone to illness and Leo is reluctant to seek any treatment for him because of his faith. Linda just watches as this situation deteriorates.
In a way, both Patra and Adam have similar problems: primal forces control them and each fails at resolution. In Patra’s case, it is maternal and in Grierson’s it is sexual. It becomes obvious that Linda has been scarred by both of these encounters and Fridlund makes it clear that her inaction has deeply affected her life with flash-forwards to Linda at age 26 and once again at age 37. From that vantage, Linda muses: “It’s not what you think but what you do that matters.”
Fridlund effectively uses foreshadowing and a dark mood to slowly build suspense and create feelings of foreboding. The novel introduces many interesting ideas and people, but Fridlund seems to dance around them and they fail to come off the page. One feels that big things will develop in both storylines only to be letdown by ho hum finishes. Grierson’s fate is a little underwhelming and Lily never gets her comeuppance. The interesting theme of faith vs. child welfare is not resolved despite references to a trial. In the final analysis, most of the characters feel a little hazy, including Linda. As an adult, she seems to have learned little from her experiences and probably is more adrift than she ever was as a teen. One knows that this lack of resolution was probably intentional, but it makes for an unsatisfying read.
I would be willing to read more by this author, but frankly I'm surprised it made the Booker long list. It has an obvious first-novel feel and ultimately doesn't deliver on the plotlines it develops.
I loved it. Early on, I could tell that this novel was going to require some thought. I don't recall what the clue was, but there was something off-kilter about the narrator and I suspected that close attention was needed. So I slowed my reading down. I listened to the nuances of the narrator's speech. I looked for clues in the text. A few times, I flipped back and compared. And while such functions should not be required of a reader, I'm glad I did, because I enjoyed the story immensely more as I took more time with it.
There's an atmospheric quality that is beautiful in History of Wolves. It's lyrical and thought-provoking, but it's dark and impossible to trust. You can feel the shadow of the forest, the creak of the trees, the crunch of snow beneath your soles and you want to stay here, but there's also a need to rush home and never look back. The same is true with the story's narrator. “Linda” is completely believable as a young teenage girl, charming as a storyteller, but you sense she is not a trustworthy person. Yet, I really liked her. She seemed so much more real than most of what I encounter in fiction.
The conclusion I'd been anticipating was not as big and dramatic as I'd work out it would be. I expected something really huge and the final acts were far from that, but they worked. The conclusion tied most of the threads together. I say most, because I'm not sure how some of the backstory with the cult fit in. Also, I didn't grasp how all this tied in with Madeline's wolf project. I suspect this is something I simply missed or was too daft to understand. A second read would probably clear these matters up, but it's rare that I ever return to a book, even when I have loved it.
I'm really glad History of Wolves was nominated for this year's Man Booker Prize. Prior to its nomination, I hadn't heard of the novel or its author; I doubt it ever would've crossed my path. It is such a gorgeous work in so many ways. It was difficult, you could say elusive, but part of what I liked most was the hunt for the heart of the story. It's in there and if you can put your finger on it, you'll feel the pulse that really brings this story to life.
Man Booker Prize 2017:
History of Wolves is this year's biggest underdog. Personally, I think it stands no chance of winning the prize. I'd venture to guess that it won't make the shortlist either, but it does share some of the gothic atmosphere of last year's Eileen—it made the shortlist. While I think History of Wolves is a stellar novel (and some of the judges must agree since it made the longlist), it does not strike me as a Man Booker winner (though of the five nominees I've read so far, it's easily my favorite).
An outsider at school, she hooks up with a new family across the lake. Young mum Patra is glad of a babysitter as
There are tantalizing mentions of a court case. And there's am inadequately explained scond strand, as a schoolmate falsely accuses a male teacher of abuse...
I'm aftaid the last couple of pages stumped me. What? Why? Completely foxed.
So...very readable indeed...but you finish it mystified.
I was excited to see History of Wolves on the Man Booker longlist. I do like that specific kind of coming-of-age story, but by the end of the book I was less charmed than I had been at the beginning. In part it's that I've just read too many of this specific kind of book lately, and it's not the best of the genre. Emily Fridlund's writing is fine, but it's easy to see that this is her first novel in the pacing and the obviousness of the construction. I suspect I'd have enjoyed this novel more had it not had the expectations of being a Man Booker nominee added to it. I'll certainly be interested in seeing what Fridlund writes as she develops as an author.
This ethereal story is about Linda, a young girl of 15 who is a loner in her high school. No one bothers her, and she keeps to herself. Another young girl, Lily is popular, has a boyfriend, but some rumors have ruined her reputation. Linda becomes curious about Lily, and she follows her around campus, and she never opens herself up to Lily, in fact she rarely has a word of conversation until the end of the novel. When Lily disappears, Linda goes to her house and asks about her. Other characters include Mr. Grierson, a new history teacher at the school, and Patra, a woman living in a remote cabin with her son, Paul. Patra’s husband, Leo is, she says, an “astronomer” away from home while he does his starry thing. Paul anxiously awaits he father’s return.
Linda is a free spirit, and she seems to wander around as she will. Her parents trust her, and they do not pry into her life or whereabouts. She is also the narrator. In her wanderings, Linda visit a nearby cabin and meets Paul, then his mother, they go for a walk, and Linda becomes Paul’s nanny. Fridlund writes, “In April, I started taking Paul for walks in the woods while his mother revised a manuscript of her husband’s research. The printed pages lay in batches around the cabin, on the countertop and under chairs. There were also stacks of books and pamphlets. I’d peeked at the titles. Predictions and Promises: Extraterrestrial Bodies. Science and Health with a Key to the Scriptures. The Necessities of Space. // ‘Just keep clear of the house for a few hours’ were Patra’s instructions. I was given snacks in Baggies, pretzels wound into small brown bows. I was given water bottles in a blue backpack, books about trains, Handi Wipes, coloring books and crayons, suntan lotion. These went on my back. Paul went in my hand. His little fingers were damp and wiggling. But he was trusting, never once seeming to feel the shock of my skin touching his” (40). There are some peculiar clues here. It turns out that none of these characters are what they seem. It is not exactly a mystery, but is an absorbing read.
I found the story absorbing, and while the ending was not a surprise, the way the story ended left me mystified. As I chased after the end of the novel, I expected a certain outcome, but it never came. I sensed a touch of a Scandinavian writer. Ironically, I have been reading a lot of literature from the north lands lately. It has that sparse, serious tone. Linda, for example, lives largely in her mind, and her conversations with Paul are interesting. Emily Fridlund’s History of Wolves is a story with much to recommend it. I was really only slightly annoyed as I closed the book. 4-1/2 Stars.
--Chiron, 12-8-17
Linda is a ninth grader living with her parents in the woods of Minnesota. Former commune members, Linda and her family keep themselves isolated from
Throughout the first half of the book, there is a palpable sense of dread, an ominous feeling that something bad is eventually going to happen. This feeling of dread is what kept me reading the book, as I was interested in finding out what was going to happen. Linda is the book's narrator, but the narration cuts back and forth between Linda the teenager and Linda the current middle-aged woman, and it includes some chapters narrated by Linda the young adult. The back-and-forth jumps in time got a little confusing because it wasn't always clear what time frame was being represented, until I read a little bit into the chapter.
There is also a separate plot line (set during Linda's high school days) about a classmate named Lily and the school's new history teacher Mr. Grierson. I just didn't get how this plot line fit in. Linda's obsession with Lily is bizarre; not only did I not understand it, I didn't like it.
The book was, on the whole, well written. Some parts did drag, and I would skim those slower parts to get to more of the plot. I just found the book very strange. It didn't sit well with me. The ending completely confused me. I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.
The reader approaches a novel’s first chapter seeking the answers to certain questions to A) orient themselves in time and place & B) to get an indication of whether the characters and the plot are of sufficient interest to them to read further. “History of Wolves” does this especially well in its first chapter because of the way it lays its clues and then gradually begins to answer them. The reader may pick up on the first clues and begin to make early guesses. If the guess is proved correct by later information, the reader feels flattered in an indirect manner and is more inclined to read further.
In the first 3 pages of “History of Wolves’ we find out that: the narrator was a caregiver to a 4-year-old named Paul, Paul has died as has the narrator’s history teacher, the narrator was in the 8th grade, the school teachers and students do not appear to attempt any rescue of the dying teacher beyond discussing “proper CPR techniques”, the narrator hums a song by “The Doors” and a paramedic recognizes the song, the writer lived in a town called “The Walleye Capital of the World” but it was “back then,” the town is Loose River and it is near a larger town called Whitewood, Whitewood has a DMV and a Burger King.
From that information you can guess or know that: the writer was a young teenage girl at the time of the story, the music of “The Doors” (1967-1971) was sufficiently popular that both younger and older people would know it , the story likely takes place in Northern Minnesota near the Lake of the Woods, the writer is looking back at their life from an unspecified time in the future, and that earlier time was in the acronym and the fast-food era, but likely before portable defibrillators were installed in most public buildings. A bonus here would be to guess that the actual Doors song was most likely “The End” (because in the context, the paramedics are attending the teacher’s fatal heart attack), which adds a morbid personality streak to the teenager.
The Minnesota guess is partially based on reading the author’s blurb about where she grew up, but if you are somewhat familiar with North American fishing the walleye aspect helps to narrow it down a bit. The music of the Doors has been continually popular since they ended so that doesn’t help specify a time very well. The pre-portable defibrillator era would seem to place this about 20 to 30 years ago. The growing popularization of acronyms and fast-food would also fall into that time frame.
On the next 3 pages, the Northern Minnesota location is confirmed, a new male history teacher arrives and he wears a single earring, we find out that the Cold War has ended, the narrator’s name is Madeline but she is nicknamed Mattie or Linda by different people, and is bullied as Commie or Freak by others, her age is fourteen.
Various information is confirmed but new questions arise. We know we are past the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991 by likely a few years at least, male teachers with earrings were acceptable but still remarked on, the narrator is considered an outsider by some students for an unknown reason.
Most of these and further questions are answered by the time “Science”, the title of Part 1 of this 2-part novel is over. Part 2 “Health” then goes deeper by providing further specific details. A reader familiar with Christian sects can also make a further guess about one aspect of this novel based on those sub-titles alone.
So I liked the book because of the world building and yes, because the author flattered me so I wanted to keep reading. Perhaps I made the reading more of an analytical exercise because otherwise the narrator and most of the characters are not very likeable. In fact, the most sympathetic character (not counting the child Paul) is probably a falsely accused pedophile. Now that is something different, but it is likely not a winning attraction for many.
This novel made me sad in a lot of places and I think it is because it is about something that we all have felt at one time or another.....loneliness.
I was especially moved by the relationship between the main character and her mother. Two people that skirt around
Fridlund is a writer to be reckoned with.
So, if you love reading of flora and fauna and, maybe, are a little interested in cults, yes that's in this far reaching story too, then give it a try.
Soon a family moves in across the lake in a house that is more like a mansion than a home. A couple and their young son. Mattie becomes the babysitter for this couple. The father, Leo, is not there too much, so Mattie becomes close to the mother, Patra, and the young boy, Paul.
Paul seems to have mental issues and is just a little bit protected. He is sometimes a little alarming in his behavior.
While Mattie is attending school, a classmate, Lily, claims that their teacher, Mr. Grierson, attacked her and she has become pregnant. This seems to fascinate Mattie. It is almost as if she wishes this could be her.
I almost gave up on the book 6 chapters in. That is usually my cut-off point if a book hasn't captured my interest. I kept reading, though, and was taken with the loneliness you feel in Mattie and her yearning to be something, to feel important.
I thought the book skipped around a little too much, with no real understanding of what was really going on. There was a lot of switching the story from one point to another, without a clear understanding of why.
At the time of the story, two important events take place in Mattie's life. Her teacher is charged with possession of child pornography and rumours abound that he assaulted one of Mattie's classmates. Mattie finds she is drawn to to this classmate (Lily). She is also drawn to a family who moves into a newly constructed home across the lake. Patra and her son, Paul, are living there while the husband/father, Leo is away for work. Mattie begins babysitting Paul, but is drawn more to Patra. When Leo returns, it becomes clear that the family are Christian Scientists and Leo is the strong ruler of the family and its decisions.
This is a coming-of-age story for Mattie and shows the impact of growing up without a strong moral compass to guide you. Mattie's early years were spent being raised communally. As an older child and teen, her mother is largely absent, spending most of her time at church, and her father teaches her how to survive in the wild, but not in the real world. She sees a mixture of truths and lies in the lives of her teacher and Lily. And she tries to deal with the faith vs science nature of Patra's family as it becomes clear that Paul is ill. She is poorly equipped to deal with any of it.
The writing is very good and sets an atmosphere while telling the story. There's a lot to this book.
When a new family moves into a recently constructed home across the lake, Linda is soon pulled into their world. Told in back and forth fashion from her late 30s and her growing up from the time the commune dissolved through her teen years, this is an extremely interesting story of how a person can and does look at events in very different ways as they mature and are influenced by other peoples' experiences. Dark, sad, insightful and a really good read.
Fridlund should rewrite it! What she was trying to say is important: Linda's identification with wolves and with Lily, who was possibly abused by her teacher; the destructive power of religious (or cult) belief; Linda's kindness to Paul, making up for her own mother's distance; the inability of a girl that age with that background to understand or express what she feels or believes.
And perhaps she would change the ending to unite all the threads in a more satisfying way.
I believe that Linda thinks about wolves because their behaviour shows so much more care for each other, so much more community and family spirit, than she sees around her. There's not one happy family in this book, and no contented, cared for children. In a way it's a frightening portrait of middle America. Not a cheerful read, but enthralling. Try it! See what you think. There's masses to ponder.
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