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ocurtsinger's review against another edition
3.0
A simple tale that's thrillingly told. Spencer is a crisp and intelligent storyteller and he knows how to inject a haunting yet irresistible sense of dread into a novel. Fans of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter will not be disappointed.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
3.0
Paul is a man's man, the kind of guy romance novels like to feature. He makes a good living as a carpenter, making beautiful, custom-made pieces for his wealthy clients. He likes to walk in the woods, chop his own firewood and he's a caring partner and nurturing parent. He's with Kate, who found fortune and fame when she wrote an inspirational self-help book after finding God in AA. She's down to earth and so thankful that her life has made such a dramatic turn for the better. Together with Kate's daughter they live in a beautiful old house in a charming and small community in New York.
One day, after a few encounters with difficult clients in the city, Paul stops at a state park on his drive home to clear his head under the trees. There he encounters a man beating a dog. In a horrible, randomly escalating incident, Paul has killed the man and now has to live with the consequences.
Scott Spencer has created complex and realistic characters in both Paul and Kate. They're people who have tried their best to lead lives of honesty and integrity, to care for the people around them, to be contributing members of their community and to love their families, but they're also subject to all of the ordinary doubts and weaknesses of being human. Kate may have a successful career as an inspirational writer and speaker, but she doesn't think she's any more spiritual or knowledgeable than anyone else. Paul thought he'd always just kind of get by, and finding his vocation and such a generous degree of stability is still new to him. The novel is less about the aftermath of a murder than the spiritual and psychological consequences for both Kate and Paul. Spencer took his time setting things up, letting the reader get to know the soon-to-be murdered man, making the altercation less random than it might appear. There is certainly a lot to think about here, and Spencer's less interested in answers than in having the characters struggle with the questions. Can a good man commit murder? How does the events of a few minutes change things? Does a single event negate Paul's entire life of striving for honesty and openness?
One day, after a few encounters with difficult clients in the city, Paul stops at a state park on his drive home to clear his head under the trees. There he encounters a man beating a dog. In a horrible, randomly escalating incident, Paul has killed the man and now has to live with the consequences.
Scott Spencer has created complex and realistic characters in both Paul and Kate. They're people who have tried their best to lead lives of honesty and integrity, to care for the people around them, to be contributing members of their community and to love their families, but they're also subject to all of the ordinary doubts and weaknesses of being human. Kate may have a successful career as an inspirational writer and speaker, but she doesn't think she's any more spiritual or knowledgeable than anyone else. Paul thought he'd always just kind of get by, and finding his vocation and such a generous degree of stability is still new to him. The novel is less about the aftermath of a murder than the spiritual and psychological consequences for both Kate and Paul. Spencer took his time setting things up, letting the reader get to know the soon-to-be murdered man, making the altercation less random than it might appear. There is certainly a lot to think about here, and Spencer's less interested in answers than in having the characters struggle with the questions. Can a good man commit murder? How does the events of a few minutes change things? Does a single event negate Paul's entire life of striving for honesty and openness?
margieh_readsitall's review against another edition
Interesting but drags in some spots. And the ending seemed abrupt.
nicolebonia's review against another edition
4.0
A deliciously suspenseful novel. I was fully absorbed in each character's perspective.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
Paul, who has had a bad day at work, stops at an isolated park to unwind before heading home. The only other person he encounters is a man savagely beating his dog. It can happen.
From the beginning of this book, I strongly identified with Paul who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and wondered what I might have done in such a situation. Although I’ve never read anything by this author before, I will definitely find him again. His writing was gorgeous and the characters completely believable. This would be an excellent book for a book club to discuss.
--Recommended by Ellen
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sman+in+the+woods+spencer__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
From the beginning of this book, I strongly identified with Paul who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and wondered what I might have done in such a situation. Although I’ve never read anything by this author before, I will definitely find him again. His writing was gorgeous and the characters completely believable. This would be an excellent book for a book club to discuss.
--Recommended by Ellen
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sman+in+the+woods+spencer__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
wordnerdy's review against another edition
3.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-book-308.html
alanaferraro's review against another edition
3.0
The concept of this book was fantastic, but not well executed. I found the characters a little difficult to identify with, or imagine as real people. The story lacked the fast-paced plot it deserved, and instead had details upon details of unnecessary character development (who cares if Subarus are the "chosen" SUV of lesbians?) The ending needed the character development to really force the reader to question their own judgement of each of the characters though, and challenged perceptions of guilt, judgement, and blame.
horseknickers's review
4.0
Decided to read this after hearing an interview with the author on Fresh Air, and it was fantastic. I'm not sure why I hadn't heard about Scott Spencer before, but I'll definitely make an effort to read more from his previous works.
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