If you can get past the logging descriptions, technical terms, equipment specs, weird jargon and a bleak slog, you will be rewarded richly with Damnation Spring. I definitely don't think this is a book for everyone, but it hits some really lovely and meaningful themes about environmental responsibility and tight-knit communities. And theoretically, that's all I want in a book. Give me small town relationships, give me the reckoning of man made environmental destruction, give me slow burn, give me gorgeous descriptive writing. But ultimately, aside from Rich and Colleen, there are too many characters and too many are wholly unlikeable. I had a hard time connecting, learning (and trying to become invested in) logging, and ultimately I wish my connection in the story happened sooner. than the last quarter of the story. Might be a great book club pick with lots to talk about, if you can get past the glacial pacing.

This book is a quiet novel about a logging community in the 1970s. The issue explored throughout is between the Pacific Northwest loggers using toxic herbicides for brush removal and environmental activists concerned about the mass removal of old trees and the harmful impacts of those toxic chemicals. This book was really thought-provoking and I could place myself in both sets of shoes. Unfortunately, it took quite a few pages to really get to the meat of the book and I sometimes felt bogged down with the detailed logging descriptions. Still a solid three star read. I think it would make for interesting discussion in a book club setting.

Rich is desperate to leave a legacy. Logging is in his blood, and his family has lived and worked in the redwood forests of Klamath, California, for decades. His father dreamed of buying his own land and working for himself, and now Rich has the opportunity to make that dream a reality. When he purchases a large tract of land behind his wife's back, he takes on more than he bargained for. Meanwhile, his wife, Colleen, is struggling to find her way through the fog of grief after multiple pregnancy losses, not to mention all the birth defects and infant deaths she's witnessed as the town's amateur midwife. So when a researcher shows up and starts telling stories about the toxic effects of the sprays used by the logging industry, Colleen starts to question their safety. If Colleen supports the research she'll be seen as a traitor by the logging community, but she must know the truth. ⁠

What a beautiful debut novel. I see why so many people loved this one! It was almost a DNF for me, but I was determined to keep at it after reading several other rave reviews. After a slow start, I switched to the audio version which helped shift the momentum. This isn't a fast-paced plot-driven read, although the plot is well-developed. It's more of a character-driven story focused on world-building. Davidson's atmospheric writing style makes the town, the forest, and the family come to life. The love story of Rich and Colleen is profoundly moving and left me in tears. And the relationships among the many townspeople felt authentic and highly realistic. Poverty, environmental justice, and racial injustice all play a role in this story, which makes the novel feel current despite the historic setting. I'm really glad I pushed through to finish this one, but I can say it likely isn't for everyone.

Lots to like about this! Loved the 1970s PNW forest setting - beautiful writing and description of nature. Its a slow, character driven novel but it made me think a lot. It was a bit slower than I prefer in areas, but overall I'm still glad I read it. It felt longer than it needed to be too. However, this is a debut and I will definitely seek this author out again!

Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson

Published: August 3, 2021
Scribner
Pages: 463
Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Ash Davidson was born in Arcata, California, and attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her work has been supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts and MacDowell

“Two thousand years to grow a forest, a hundred years to fall it. No plague-like man.”

Rich is a logger, and it’s in his blood. Like his father, his grandfather, and his great grandfather. Earning a living in the woods is what he knows. After losing a baby at five or so months, Colleen feels angry. She wants to try again, but Rich can’t. Then a blast from the past arrives and brings news that could change everything.

This was a beautifully written novel. Deep, emotional, raw, vulnerable, and devastatingly realistic.

I enjoyed the story and found the plot similar to the Erin Brockovich story, only this time is solely focused on the people, without the lawyers.

The conflict in this novel is so well presented, and the balance tips precariously. The character development blossoms as the storyline progresses.

The alternating narrators was a lovely touch, adding to the balancing act of the plot. I enjoyed the emotional aspect Colleen brought to the story, mixed with the stoic realism Rich brought.

The ending will literally take your breath away and leave you with tears in your eyes. This is a beautiful story, told over several years, of hope, forgiveness, truth, lies, and family.

In the Summer of 1977, Colleen and Rich Gundersen are raising their young son, Chub, in a small Northwestern logging town. Their community has lived and breathed logging for generations. These folks were like family until they quickly become divided when they realize the impact logging has on their environment.

This debut novel by Ash Davidson is like Erin Brockovitch meets Wild. A little slow at the start with all the logging jargon, but quickly turns into a gripping drama that you can't put down. Her imagery transports you right into the Redwood Forest and Damnation Spring. The character development makes you feel like you are part of this tight knit working class community. She makes it hard to choose whos side you're on.

Thank You NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the free digital copy.
Published: August 3, 2021

I almost didn't start this book because the reviews were so mixed and the subject matter seemed a bit heavy, but something made me decide to give it a go and not keep it on the TBR pile. The subject matter is definitely important and worrisome, environmental concerns from toxins in our water and deforestation. The author does an excellent job of bringing these important issue to the readers attention by creating a fictionalized scenario that shows what it's like for those working very hard to provide their families and at the same time paying the price with their health and their lives.
Of course even though this is a work of fiction the problems are real and a book like this is a wonderful way to help educate those of us that are unaware of just how dangerous deforestation is to both the environment and to human life.
I thought the author did an excellent job of writing a piece of fiction that didn't shove these views down the readers throat but instead gently steered us to make our own conclusions through her prose. Excellent book.

I received a free electronic ARC of this extremely engrossing novel from Netgalley, author Ash Davidson, and publisher Scribner. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Damnation Spring to friends and family. This is a debut novel to keep you up nights, a story that will wring your heart dry. Ash Davidson is an author I will follow.

It begins in the summer of 1977 in Northern California, in a tiny company town. Rich Gundersen is the fourth generation of his family to work as a tree-topper for Sanderson Timber Company. He and his wife Colleen are raising their son Chub, now six years old, in Rich's family home, which is now the property of the park that has enfolded their section of the Redwood groves into a national park. They may have the use of that home for 25 years, or either of their lifetimes when ownership will convert to the park. Both Rich and Colleen want a much different life for their son Chub.

Colleen has worked as an amateur midwife for several years, and she herself has had multiple miscarriages, the last stillborn near term at Easter. There are three known babies in the community born in the last several months with Anencephaly, or without a working brain. What a horrid thing to have to live with knowing. And how easy it is to blame yourself, for something you did wrong during your pregnancy. No mother would be immune to that fear.

For decades the Sanderson company has used a helicopter to spread herbicides on their roads and the areas of the forest they are currently cutting. And for all those years, they have assured their employees and the townspeople that the spray they use is safe. Even if it does contain some of the same ingredients as does the known carcinogen Agent Orange. The Sandersons vehemently deny any wrongdoing, and the crews of timber men have no alternative source of income, they don't want to believe in the dangers involved with spreading the herbicide.

As the summer wains, the town is infiltrated with protestors, considered by the townspeople to be hippies and freeloaders. Their protests are disrupting the work on the Redwood being cleared on property owned by the Sanderson family, and everyone is hopeful that they will be able to clear Damnation plots 1 and 2 before winter comes when the constant rain and fog will stop work for several months. The men need the hours and over time, the big checks of the fall that will see their families housed and fed through the wageless winter. But the press follows in the wake of the protesters, and the situation becomes very intense. With enough attention drawn to the problems, the government might get involved. Nobody, on either side of the problem, wants that. Or do they?

Damnation Spring is a damn fine book. my only beef is the author spends too much time displaying her bona fides with timber cutting terminology and paraphernalia. I wanted to skip whole pages when she would get into the weeds with this stuff. Character and plot development was excellent. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the writing in Damnation Spring, I was fully immerse in the scenery and the characters from the moment the book started. It did take awhile to figure out who was who and remember what characters were which and I hate that, but it’s not the first book to do that to me or the last.

It took me a while to finish this book, but I enjoyed it. This story of a logging community in Northern California is beautifully written. The characters are all interesting and well developed, even the ones who aren't very likeable. This was not an easy read, and there were pages I skipped due to the content (infant loss, animal death, strong language), but it was a powerful and moving story. This is Davidson's debut novel, and I am looking forward to what's next.

Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the ARC.

The year is 1977. Colleen and Rich live on Damnation Spring with their son Graham (nicknamed Chub). Rich is a logger and Colleen is a homemaker (and occasional midwife). Their lives are set against the backdrop of beautiful Redwood trees and a conflict between the "outsiders" (tree-huggers, hippies, environmentalists) and the workers in the community. Much of the plot centers around Colleen wanting to have a baby (she has had several miscarriages before), Rich trying to conceal a secret about their finances, and Colleen's ex returning to town to take water samples determining that the water may be toxic. And while this all sounds really interesting, the pacing wasn't for me! While it is immensely well written, the book lost my interest during the lengthy logging scenes in which logging jargon was tossed around. If you love historical fiction with detailed exposition, please pick this book up!

I did not enjoy this book as much as I was hoping to. It was slow and the story line was just dragging. It was honestly hard for me to get through this one.

This book did not take me where I originally anticipated, yet I loved every minute of my journey through these pages. The story that follows Rich and Colleen through family, community, health and relationship conflicts kept me turning the pages- but what truly invested me in this book was the people. Calling them character feels an injustice because their passions and flaws were so authentic, they had to be real. Truly a marvelous read!

Damnation Spring
Damnation Spring is a book about the old growth redwood forests of the American PNW, but the switch is that it is told from the perspective of the families who make their living cutting those magnificent trees down for lumber.

Following the Gunderson family, Colleen, a young mother, her husband, Rich, a lumberjack, we encounter the hazards, fears and tragedies faced due to poverty, environmental collapse, politics, and family relationships. The characters are well drawn, and the descriptions so spot on you will feel stuck in the mud along with the characters.

It took a while for me to adjust to the dialect and language of this book, but it was done with such authenticity and confidence that once I was a chapter or two in, I was thinking in those phrases and patterns of speech. I think this author deserves kudos for making this happen.

I'm all for treating our characters badly to develop the story, but these folks never seemed to get a break. It was hard to keep reading, realizing that inevitably, something bad or worse was coming. Perhaps that is the situation in this part of the world. In the end, I felt terribly sad,

This book was down right boring! I cannot believe how much technical details there were, and not enough narrative for my taste. I really struggled and finally had to give up, because it felt like nothing was moving the story forward. It could have been a beautiful book; the premise was promising, but the execution fell completely apart for me.

I've borrowed this book physically from the library thinking I wasn't getting into it because it's an ebook, sadly is wasn't the case and I can't carry on. This book became like a weight on my shoulders, every time I got a glance at it, I was filled with dread and then guilt.
The writing is so nice that I feel guilty for not enjoying it, but this just dragged on for me. I usually read large chunks of books and finish them quickly. After the first 100 pages took me a week to finish, I am giving up on this one.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Ok so loved this book. A simple tale of love, work, and marriage that asks how far one family and one community will go to protect their future.

Yet it was so poignant and deep. Loved the narrative. The english was steady without the use of heavy Jargons.
Wirth your time,

A very interesting novel -- the characters are well drawn and the story is compelling.
Definately worth a read.

I did not enjoy this book as I hoped to. It was about a family of three. Rich and Colleen Gunderson and their son Chub tackling life in a California logging town in 1977. It had its moments of interest. I had a hard time being able to focus as the descriptions were way too wordy and way to long. I could not identify with anyone as I was getting through pages and pages of description.