A stunningly crafted work of historical fiction. It is a book worth revisiting at least a few times (as I have done) because each reread reveals new aspects that we somehow missed earlier. Mystery, horror, lyricism -- this novel has it all. Why wasn't it on all the fiction award shortlists for the year?

I had heard great things and reviews on this one and it seemed right up my alley. Sometimes a book comes to you at the right time and sometimes not, and for this one, not for me. I may read it again in a few years, since I feel like in the right place, this would be my jam. Well written I just didn't enjoy it.

I requested this as background reading for a review we ran on BookBrowse. I thought it fantastic; one of the best books I have read in years; and I have been talking it up to many. Sadly, our reviewer didn't feel quite so positive, rating it four stars:
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/9l300352/north-woods#reviews

I really wanted to enjoy this, but it ended up on my DNF list. I wasn't grabbed by any of the characters or situations. I am clearly in the minority here, because people LOVE this book. Just not for me.

This book was fascinating, unusual and ultimately, brilliant. Beautiful written with a captivating story line that was both unusual and deeply moving, I loved every word of Mason's prose. Highly recommended!

A memorable, clever book centering a yellow house in western MA and the people and creatures which called it home. I started, put it down, picked it back up and devoured.

This book tells the story of a property in Western Massachusetts from colonial times to the present. The multiple POV as time progresses was fascinating. I have been told that the audiobook is also excellent. May not appeal to readers looking for a lot of character development, but I highly recommend.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Galley.

An exceptional read, with dozens of interesting characters and their stories, a historical perspective, and a thought-provoking message - bundled with gorgeous depictions of nature and its glory.

This book is a literary (so historical it is almost scholarly) look at life surrounding, subsuming and begetting more life in the bountifully forested paradise adjoining a yellow house in rural northern Massachusetts. The story begins with an initial homesteading of this land by a runaway couple escaping the brutal rule of colonization in the eighteenth century, and continues through lifetimes, as occupants come and go and the tract of land endures, - changing, growing, dying and regenerating, in harmony with, and a product of, seasons and nature and the magic of all the related cycles.

“He who does good to the land shall be protected, while he who trespasses upon her will be met with most violent return. “

With human occupants changing over time, including an orchardist (“apple man”), a slave hunter, a mother and her child fleeing violent captors, a crassly predatory button manufacturer, identical cloistered spinster twins, a poignant pair of secret male lovers, and a “delusional” schizophrenic, - we meet and hear the wild and wonderful stories of each in their tenure of this selfsame yellow house and its woods.

As we, the reader, observe through this brilliantly supplied and panoramic view across the ages, (with this locale as our anchor point, and time as the variable), it’s mind-blowingly clear that as each occupant departs this life, as humans must do, their visit is indelibly written on the land left behind. They (we) have become part of it, carried along through the cycles that endure. And are bigger than all of us.

Perhaps, the author muses, (somewhat tongue-in-cheek, and somewhat metaphorically through these stories) our stewardship of this land, and our imprint along the way, can also trigger tracings, hauntings, spirits, and even dangerous unexpected creatures, unleashing violent, destructive or even devastating forces.

A message definitely worth pondering, and a book that is not to be missed.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
—
Links

This book follows a house through the years. People have raved about it. I just could not get into it and only read about 15 percent.

I really tried to enjoy this book. The writing is good, but I kept losing interest in some of the storylines. I appreciate all the accolades and awards it has received. Perhaps I was not in the right frame of mind when I read it.
It is worth reading, but it wasn't one of my more enjoyable reads of the year.

Just a beautiful treatise on the joys of being alive and being a small part of this ever-changing world.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy!

If only walls could talk right? Here is a story about the house itself through the ages in Massachusetts. I so loved the concept but struggled to finish the book due to the authors rambling of what I thought of as unnecessary back story. I did fall in love with the different characters who lived in the house. I was confused sometimes as to what the time period a certain character was in. The writing and nature of the woods is beautiful and I'm glad to have finished it.

I loved this book. Took me a while to figure out the way it was organized but once I did I devoured it. Was not at all what I expected but was pleasantly surprised.

I was attracted to this title because of the mention of Edgar Allan Poe. Interconnected stories that have a house as their common character. It's a good book club choice.

Okay.
Okay.

The emotional depth of this book is beyond what what I expected. And it's taken me some time to come to appreciate what has been given to us as readers.

A single seed, that's all it takes to change the future.

North Woods is not your typical historical fiction, but rather a brilliant collection of interrelated stories that take place in the same patch of land in Massachusetts, from centuries ago to the present day. Each story introduces a new set of characters, each with their own voice and perspective, and each facing their own challenges and dilemmas. Some stories are told in prose, some in verse, some in dialogue, some in reportage. Some stories are realistic, some are fantastical, some are mysterious, some are tragic. But they all share a common thread: the presence and influence of the North Woods, a place that seems to have a life and a will of its own.

Mason is a master storyteller who can switch from one style and tone to another with ease and skill. He creates memorable characters that you can empathize with, even if you only spend a few pages with them. He also weaves subtle connections and clues between the stories, making you want to go back and reread them to find the hidden links. He explores themes such as love, death, freedom, justice, faith, and nature, showing how they change and endure over time. And he does it all with beautiful language and imagery that transport you to the different eras and atmospheres of the North Woods.

NORTH WOODS is a novel that will make you think and feel deeply about the human condition and our relationship with the natural world. It's a novel that may surprise you, perhaps. It's a novel that deserves to be read.

A beautifully written story about the changes that occur over time. It is centered on a small homestead in Western Massachusetts and follows the various people and animals that resided there throughout the centuries. Each story is told through different styles but each blends together. This is one of my favorite books and I would love to reread it again!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Some things change while others remain the same.

Each of the twelve stories describes the folks living in the house at that time in history and their particular needs and adventures.

The linked short stories follow a plot of land in Massachusetts's north woods over several hundred years. In the beginning, there were only lush forests and apple trees. As more and more people move into the area, the forests are replaced by farmland and the apple trees become an orchard that produces wonderful apples. Of course, there are also houses where there had been trees.

Time progresses and folks move into cities where there are opportunities for employment. Nature takes over and the forests overrun the farmland. Unfortunately, the effects of blights and diseases, as well as climate change, have modified the natural environment.

North Woods by Daniel Mason felt like a collection of short stories all centered around one place, instead of a novel. But I don't like short story collections and I loved this book. It had an element of magic realism with ghosts and also a strong sense of the swiftness of time passing, and of the never-ending cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

There was a deep reverence of wild nature embedded into the novel. When I finished reading it I wanted to bow and kiss the earth and embrace the trees nearby. The author also imbued an interest in human history, starting from Puritan times and going into the future. I found it so creative and refreshing to have story after story of humans interacting with the land, the trees, wildlife, and the house as the years went on. Most were written in story form, sometimes as a letter, article, or poem. Certain characters I cared about more than others, but I never was bored. North Woods is a sweeping, unforgettable novel that is unlike anything I've ever read. Highly recommended!!

Amazing. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time. It slowly reels you in, layering details and characters like a forest until a bigger picture starts to emerge. I feel like I need to go back and reread it to discover just how all those layers interact with each other. There are shades of The Oversory here at the end with Nora's chapters but the book is about so much more. Truly amazing.