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zischke's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hollireads's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, I did not love it. The flip flop between 1890 & 2006 was interesting and the characters had some promise. I think there were too many characters and too many simultaneous storylines,and I ended up losing interest in some of them. There were too many balls to keep up in the air. The author does a very good job of illustrating 1890, but you feel less connected to it. I found that I liked the 2006 storylines better.
krobart's review against another edition
2.0
Evison has written a quirky, interesting book that is sometimes humorous, but I found it a little too diffuse, with too many characters, and too much going on. Although we may be meant to contrast the vigorous original settlers with the sad sacks of the present, the seeds of the area’s troubles are there right from the beginning. Perhaps that is the point. Still, I think the intentions of the author are unclear, and the novel is muddy as a result.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/west-of-here/
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/west-of-here/
suebee135's review against another edition
5.0
In his newest novel, West of Here, Jonathan Evison blends past and present to create a mythical story filled with love, adventure and family dysfunction. Set in the fictional town of Port Bonita, Washington, the novel alternates between the late 1880’s when the town is striving to become a destination in the west to rival Seattle, and 2006, as Port Bonita readies itself to shed its past and move on to an uncertain future.
Evison has populated both eras with wonderfully developed characters. In the 1880’s, James Mather is an adventurer seeking to conquer the rest of the Washington Territory on the eve of its statehood. Ethan Thornburgh is a businessman determined to harness the power of the Elwha River by building a dam to bring electricity, people, and prestige to Port Bonita. The Klallam Indians have seen their traditions vanish and are struggling to co-exist with the settlers. In 2006 the descendants of these settlers are still contending with the consequences of decisions made by their forefathers. As Port Bonita makes plans to tear down the dam, the town must begin to reinvent itself. It is the perfect time for some of its residents to do the same.
I have to admit that it took a few chapters to draw me into this story. Looking back, I have no idea why because once I was in, I loved it. There is a great sense of place in this novel; I was transported back more than 100 years by Evison’s rich detail of the culture and geography of the Northern Pacific. The characters are larger than life while remaining true to life. My personal favorite is Dave Krigstadt who, in 2006, is employed by the High Tide salmon processing plant. Struggling with garnering respect or even consideration from those around him, Krig may be the one to finally break free of his family’s legacy of indifference from others.
Evison has populated both eras with wonderfully developed characters. In the 1880’s, James Mather is an adventurer seeking to conquer the rest of the Washington Territory on the eve of its statehood. Ethan Thornburgh is a businessman determined to harness the power of the Elwha River by building a dam to bring electricity, people, and prestige to Port Bonita. The Klallam Indians have seen their traditions vanish and are struggling to co-exist with the settlers. In 2006 the descendants of these settlers are still contending with the consequences of decisions made by their forefathers. As Port Bonita makes plans to tear down the dam, the town must begin to reinvent itself. It is the perfect time for some of its residents to do the same.
I have to admit that it took a few chapters to draw me into this story. Looking back, I have no idea why because once I was in, I loved it. There is a great sense of place in this novel; I was transported back more than 100 years by Evison’s rich detail of the culture and geography of the Northern Pacific. The characters are larger than life while remaining true to life. My personal favorite is Dave Krigstadt who, in 2006, is employed by the High Tide salmon processing plant. Struggling with garnering respect or even consideration from those around him, Krig may be the one to finally break free of his family’s legacy of indifference from others.
pattyr's review against another edition
4.0
Compelling story. Complex, endearing characters. Lots of meaty questions raised about human connection and disconnection, the nature of history, making, remaking, and correcting mistakes, and the relationship between humans and the rest of nature among other things. A very worthwhile read.
meghan111's review against another edition
4.0
12/14: bumping this up a star because we went to Hurricane Ridge, saw the Elwha,and drove through Port Angeles, and it made me think of this book so much. Especially the character who at one point sets off into the woods of the national park with a duffel bag full of canned beans and no can opener.
Sprawling historical novel with like 40 characters to track, taking place in the Olympic Mountains in the fictional town of Port Bonita in the 1890s and in 2006. I started making a list of plotlines I would have edited out:
Sasquatch
Prostitute with heart of gold
Failed utopian community
Those all seem so interesting, but they were crammed in there and not fully explored.
Sprawling historical novel with like 40 characters to track, taking place in the Olympic Mountains in the fictional town of Port Bonita in the 1890s and in 2006. I started making a list of plotlines I would have edited out:
Sasquatch
Prostitute with heart of gold
Failed utopian community
Those all seem so interesting, but they were crammed in there and not fully explored.
carolpk's review against another edition
3.0
This book was raved about in a program at our annual Connecticut Library Association conference presented by publishers featuring the hot books due to be published. After hearing the enthusiastic raves about West of Here, I vowed I'd get an ARC and read it before it's published in Feb. 2011.
Jonathan Evison has got great potential in my book. I really loved the story, characters and setting and Evison does a fine job of evoking all of these. I like hearing and seeing the story from the two different viewpoints of time, 1890's and 2006. Evison is colorful in speech and humorous. So why just "I liked it" rather than you've got to read this. Coming in just under 500 pages, there's a time commitment here that I couldn't quite warrant. Also, like others that have added their two cents before me, I did find myself being distracted and a bit confused as to where I was at times. This even though each chapter is clearly marked as to time.
Given all, I'd still say to read it. Others have found it excellent and it could be I'm being too critical. I certainly wouldn't mind reading more by this author. And I would love to visit the area he so clearly draws, Washington State and its glorious mountains. I'll be checking back to see what others have to say.
Jonathan Evison has got great potential in my book. I really loved the story, characters and setting and Evison does a fine job of evoking all of these. I like hearing and seeing the story from the two different viewpoints of time, 1890's and 2006. Evison is colorful in speech and humorous. So why just "I liked it" rather than you've got to read this. Coming in just under 500 pages, there's a time commitment here that I couldn't quite warrant. Also, like others that have added their two cents before me, I did find myself being distracted and a bit confused as to where I was at times. This even though each chapter is clearly marked as to time.
Given all, I'd still say to read it. Others have found it excellent and it could be I'm being too critical. I certainly wouldn't mind reading more by this author. And I would love to visit the area he so clearly draws, Washington State and its glorious mountains. I'll be checking back to see what others have to say.
sassyporcupine's review against another edition
1.0
Do not read this book. It is beyond terrible. It switches back and forth between past and present in a horrible manner oh and then next thing you know it starts talking about Big Foot. Do not buy.
k80bowman's review against another edition
3.0
I've been looking forward to reading this one for a while, even though I know it's only going to make me homesick for the Pacific Northwest.