I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A sparse, slow, but beautifully written book about a father and his daughter, the last 2 people left on Earth, and then about when the girl is left as the last humanity. [author:Andrew Krivak|509654] never gives the cause of what ended humanity, just vague conversations from father to daughter insinuating that it happened possibly before his time or when he was younger. But this is a book where that doesn't matter. What also doesn't matter is that the characters names, their location, or even time in history are unknown. We're not even given that much insight in what the characters are thinking.

Instead, we focus on the vast but slightly claustrophobic world inhabited by the main characters. The first few years of the girl's life involve just the immediate vicinity of their house. Every one of the girl's birthdays signifies an increase in the area explored and an increase in tools needed to survive. One birthday she's brought up to the mountain where her mother is buried. Another birthday she's gifted a bow and arrows made by her father. Her father's final months involve taking her to the sea so she can learn how to obtain salt to help cure and preserve food. A mishap on the way leads to his eventual death and a host of new challenges for the girl. She's still young, but she needs to be able to survive on her own with everything her father has taught her over the years. She needs to bring her father's ashes and bones back so he can be buried with her mother. But she also needs to get back before winter makes the mountain passes impassable, or she needs to figure out how to survive the winter in unknown areas without all her tools needed to survive - all while still mourning the only person she has ever known.

Beyond that, this is the story of the reclamation of nature by plants and animals. The father tells the daughter tales of animals that are similar to Native American myths, about how pumas and bears came to the aid of people when called. How interconnected humans used to be with nature before they stopped listening. But being the last two people or last person in existence means that the bonds between humanity and animals could be reforged.

Even though it is being marketed as such, I'd hesitate to call this post-apocalyptic fiction. This post-apocalyptic world is almost a utopia for the inhabitants. It's more about the relationship between humans and the environment, understanding and appreciating that almost everything we need to survive is provided for us if we only know how to use it (and had the time to do it). Deer sinew can be used as bow string, but I'd have no clue where to even start with that project.

If I hadn't read the blurb, I'd have assumed this was along the same vain as the movie Leave No Trace or Captain Fantastic, about a parent choosing to live off the grid away from the bustling often-cruel ways of society. There is a point in the novel where it's obviously apparent that is not the case, and the animals help confirm the "post-apocalyptic" nature of the story. However, the role the animals play in the story when that happens bends the story into something more akin to magical realism. It's an example of literary fiction that defies categorization.

While it is beautifully written, I do think that someone reading this book does need to be committed. There were a few times where I started to lost patience and my interest started to wane. The book is not driven by plot, but it isn't necessarily driven by character either. If someone wants a book they can burn through, this is not the book to read. It needs to be savored, slowly, patiently, and the reader has to know when to stop reading it and when to go back to it.

This book was just alright. There wasn't really anything extra special about this book. I was really into the book at the beginning but then it just seemed to drag on. The concept is such a great idea but there just wasn't a whole lot going on in the story.

Also, I am not a fan of books that don't use quotes when characters talk. I understand that it is probably an artistic choice but it really takes me out of the story and confuses me.

Looking for a moving tale about a father and daughter - the last humans on Earth? Pick up The Bear by Andrew Krivak. In this time of self-isolation, this book has some lessons to teach us.

If Disney movies like The Good Dinosaur were ever written in words, the writing would be exactly like The Bear. A beautiful story about parent relationships, growing up and adapting to the world, The Bear by Andrew Krivak is a heart warming tale about one girl’s journey to get back home.

Focused on the characters, the girl, her father, and the bear, this book transported me to the setting in the wilderness where it takes place. With the characters, I saw the phases of moon, the deserted city, the breath-taking ocean, while at the same time, I felt their emotions. The Bear conveyed sentiments that move us when we are watching movies. The depiction of pain, loss, love and happiness are deep and true.

The world as we know it has ended but who cares how that end came to be? In the girl’s life, it is only her father. And though they live with the animals, they are each other’s true companions. The things that the father teaches the girl are practical, setting her up for success in the future. Andrew Krivak paints a vibrant forest, turbulent rivers and wise bears eloquently in words.

I loved the wisdom and companionship that the bear offered to the girl in the times when she needed a friend. The bear has lived many years and while in sleep he finds calmness, he also know the value of the waking hour.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing me a review copy through NetGalley.

This story reminds me a lot of Indian folklore tales, which are often written or told using spirit guides as major characters. These stories often have subtle hidden messaging. This definitely has that vibe. Written from the perspective of a young girl who grows up in the shadow of a mountain with her father as her only companion and provider. In a world where they are all alone, the last of the human race. On a cross country venture for supplies her father becomes deathly ill, and upon his death, the girl finds herself in the company of a large brown bear, able to share the same language, the bear looks over the young girl and protects her as she vows to journey home. Nurtured and protected by what nature provides for her, the girl blossoms and becomes one with her environment, able to use the voices of the forest as a kind of sixth sense. This is a bittersweet tale, since this girl is so tuned in with nature, it provides a certain model for all of us to attain a harmony with nature and all the creatures she provides, but there is a certain sadness too since all the people are gone and the girl is without any human companionship. She is never truly alone though, as her forest friends are always looking out for her. The last chapter brought tears to my eyes. A wonderful short story. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

The Bear is an incredibly understated coming of age tale that explores the last girl on earth's formative years with her father and with nature. Taking place generations after the fall of civilization, The Bear circumvents the traditional disaster-fueled crumbling of civilization and instead, crafts a beautiful, chilling message: humanity is not essential.

According to the blurb, The Bear by Andrew Krivak is a fable. I have no idea whether this is correct. I struggle with understanding fables and allegories and parables, so if there is a lesson to learn through this story, it is not one I bothered to decipher.

Even though I may have completely missed the point of the story, I thoroughly enjoyed The Bear. It is simply a lovely story. The writing is gorgeous. The descriptions are beautiful and make this modern gal long for a simpler way of life. Even though it describes the actions and adventures of the last people on Earth, there is nothing melancholic or disturbing about it. Rather, I like it to a commune with nature – peaceful, honest, simple. Lovely.

To be fair, I read this fable about the last two people on Earth before the Covid-19 panic started here in the United States. Still, I think that one could even enjoy it while stuck at home either through self-isolation of state-mandated “stay in place” edicts. So much of The Bear is about coping and making the best of a truly shitty situation. Need I say more?

The Bear by Andrew Krivak is a post-apocalyptic book with no names, a setup that gives it a philosophical tone. The stated theme running throughout the cycle of life and the love and loss that it brings. The unstated underlying theme is living in harmony with nature. A world in which only two humans exist comes across not as sad and desolate but lush and protective and abundant with life.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/03/the-bear.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

It’s amazing how much things can change in a month- a week, a day, an hour, really. Last month, I heard that it was not a matter of if the Coronavirus was coming to the US, it was a matter of when. Now here I am, off of work for the foreseeable future. Who could have predicted that?

Times like these illuminate the gap between the rich and poor of our communities. I’m off work for a minimum of four weeks, paid. I have health insurance. I have a fully stocked fridge, freezer, and pantry. I have loads of books, internet access, and live in an area where I can walk to one of the Great Lakes. Most importantly, I live near family which provides comfort.

Today I read, The Bear by Andrew Krivak and it was perfect. It was so connected to nature and just the sort of slow burn, cozy read I was craving. It tells the tale of a daughter and her father, living in a cabin, at a time when they are the only two people left on earth. The girl’s mother died shortly after her birth and throughout the book, the man teaches his daughter how to live in harmony with the natural world. The Bear is an exploration of our connection with nature and with one another.

"By calling the novel The Bear, I am suggesting that there is hope all around us, if we step back and see ourselves as part of—not the center of—a larger, ever more beautiful and animate world. I hope readers will see and hold on to both the beauty and the struggle. Look around. There is struggle everywhere. But there is also beauty."

How will you stay connected during social distancing? What choices have you made to alter your typical routines? What are you doing to help your neighbor? I wish you all safety and health.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

I received a reviewer copy of The Bear by Andrew Krivak from the publisher Bellevue Literary Press from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: A girl and her father are the last two humans on Earth and are looking for home and comfort.

What I Loved: The nature writing is quite good. It also gave me flashbacks to the Island of Blue Dolphins but in the mountains which was kind of fun.

What I didn’t like so much: This book is more about detail and metaphor and other literary elements that are sometimes hard to connect with and follow. If you like books deep in plot and character development, this isn't for you. But if you like place and setting probably more up your alley.

Who Should Read It: People who like nature writing. People who look fables and metaphor. People who might like Island of the Blue Dolphins but less action driven.

General Summary: A story of being the only humans left while surviving in the wild.

I really did not connect with this novel. It was not the writing, as the writing is well done. I felt like the plot was stagnant, as were the characters. I did finish the novel, but it panned out as expected, affirming my opinion of the stagnant plot..

A startlingly fresh take on the apocalyptic genre with poignancy and heart. I wept, I cheered, and oh, how I cried! This is a touching tale of familial relationships at the end of the world that manages to feel fresh and unique while using well-trod tropes to its advantage. Film adaptation when?!

This is a lovely little fable that deals with themes of loss, survival, and connection with nature. It was incredibly heartwarming to read and the world-building was perfection.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartbreaking fable of survival and death, of love and despair, of humankind and nature. Filled with magical realism, lessons, and whimsy; Andrew Krivak creates a masterpiece that lingers with you. This feeling of everness and immortality the reader experiences is in stark contrast to what both protagonists face in the book – their own imminent death and to what the reader knows with certainty – that they are the two last humans on earth.

We get to know the man and the girl intimately throughout this journey despite the fact that we don’t know their names, where exactly they live, what they look like, or why Earth has changed so much. The fact that the author gets us to be invested in these characters without any real anchors to their humanness other than their actions is at least commendable but, in my opinion, truly showcases Krivak’s talent and ability to convey information without saying much. This is a fairly short novel but feels as heavy and profound as many classic tomes. Part philosophy and part science fiction, the plot is almost non-existent and plays rather a supporting role to the personal growth of the characters. This is not to say that nothing is happening – quite the opposite: journeys are taking, battles for survival are fought, and much time passes. But nothing shines as much as the character’s connection to nature, their reliance on mother earth’s abundance, and the lessons that can be learned by sitting still and listening.

I feel thankful that I had the privilege to read this book. You should too.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bellevue Literary Press, and Andrew Krivak for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of The Bear. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

A simple yet stunning story that fills you with wonder. No wonder Andrew Krivak won the National Book Award for Fiction. His prose evokes every sound in nature so you feel the wind on your face, the crunch of the leaves, the smell of the grass. A father and his daughter in an Eden-like world, long after man has disappeared from the earth. The father teaches the daughter the ways of the land and reminds us of a time when respect for those who we share the earth with was vital. But nature can be cruel and as they travel days to retrieve much needed salt from the ocean, the father dies. A bear who has been passed down the knowledge of language, accompanies the girl on her travels back home.

This move at a serene pace, with a gentle push forward as the trials and tribulations that living off the land can bring. The relationship between the father and daughter is loving, tender, and so supportive. He is raising a strong independent girl that will know how to survive once he no longer is around. He tells her stories of her mother and the animals with awe and respect. He teaches her well because when the bear observes her, he does so also with respect. He sees the way she kills an animal, thanks the animal spirits, gives back to the land and uses all parts of the animal so nothing goes to waste. The bear helps her survive the trek back to her home. Their relationship is also beautiful and magical. But there is a third character, the land. She can be kind or cruel, is always magnificent.

This is one of those special books that you can read over and over again. Each time you revisit the story, you will find something else to marvel about. I was entranced the whole time I was reading it. It really did transport me to a new world, I was sad to leave the characters and loved the prose. One of my favourite reads in a while.

This is beautifully written - Krivak is exceptionally articulate in describing nature and the relationship between the girl and her father, the last 2 beings left on each. Unfortunately, the great writing was not enough to keep me engaged in the story and I just could not bring myself to finish.

Thank you Netgalley and Bellevue Literary Press for the advanced copy for my honest review.

Great novel about the only two people left on Earth. A fable about survival in the wilderness, when you are all alone. This is a beautiful story about the relationship between a father and daughter, love, loss and the connection between humans and nature. It's a short book, profoundly worth the read.
***I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review of this book***

The Bear is a post-apocalyptic novel in the spirit of The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, except our archetypal characters are a father and his daughter. Girl is born during the summer solstice and they climb to the top of a mountain to visit the mother, who rests under a ledge shaped like a bear.

Each day is a struggle to survive, but also a grappling with the immense loss, not only of the human community, but the more personal loss of family and love. Less violent than The Road, the journey in The Bear is an emotional one that leaves you with a deep appreciation for the myths and stories that bind us to one another, and keep the memory of our loves alive.

ARC Provided by NetGalley

Summary: A man and his daughter live alone at the edge of a forest. The man’s wife died a few months after the girl was born. As the girl grows, her father teaches her the skills she needs to survive in the wilderness. She learns to hunt animals for food, using the skins for clothing and bones for tools and weapons.

On the solstice each year the girl’s birthday, her father takes her on a pilgrimage hike up the nearby mountain to visit the woman’s grave. He gives her small birthday gifts. Usually it is something her mother once owned, sometimes it is something he made for her. When the girl was small, he carried her on his back. Now, at twelve years old, she is strong enough to climb the mountain with him.

The year she turns twelve, the man also decides that it is time to head to the ocean in search of salt. They prepare for a long journey, packing essentials. The man decides to leave his bow at home, telling the girl that she is a good enough huntress now to supply them with meat. This becomes a fateful decision when the man meets an unexpected danger.

Alone, the girl must learn to draw on her training, inner strength and resources to survive. A bear becomes her companion. He guides and instructs her on what she needs to do to survive the long, cold winter away from home.

Comments: The Bear is a remarkable post-apocalyptic fable. I don’t remember ever reading anything quite like it. The detailed descriptions of nature and it’s bounty are breathtaking. Despite the ending of humanity, it is a book full of hope.

Highly recommended for readers of Literary Fiction and Post-Apocalyptic fiction.

This beautiful book about survival and community moved me deeply. Though the main character and her father are the only two people left, they manage to make a life for themselves that is meaningful. Even after her father passes, the girl is able to create community with her fellow beings in the forest and her story illustrates the interdependence of life and the beauty of its tenuous existence. Recommended for adult readers who grew up with the Hatchet novels by Gary Paulsen.