East of the Mountains
David Guterson
Synopsis: As a doctor Ben knows that death is inevitable, a part of the cycle of life. However when he is faced with his own impending death Ben determines that he will be in control of his ultimate demise, knowing all too well that medicine can’t help him. Without his families knowledge of his illness or his plans he starts out on a personal journey to end his life back where it all began. Fate interferes with his initial plans with a minor car crash. That crash leads him into the lives of a young adventuring couple, a drifter, Mexican immigrants, a stranger on a bus and a family from his past. Each of their lives impacts Ben. Meanwhile he wrestles with questions of life, how to live it, how to end it and if it should include his family.
Characteristics of an Adventure:
Pacing: The pacing in the adventure genre is generally brisk paced, escaping one danger only to
experience another. The story takes place generally over a short period of time with date/time stamps in the chapter.
While this story set up takes a few chapters, begins to unfold as he leaves for his hunting trip and moves at a steady pace as he experiences each event, while not necessarily dangerous they quickly move the reader through the story. Moments in the story are interrupted with flashbacks to his childhood, marriage and war- each adding another adventurous episode.
Storyline: The storyline focuses on action, a mission and the obstacles that the ‘hero’ faces along the way to his/her generally happy ending.
Ben’s adventures are more low-key than others in the genre, however equally effective to move the story along as the ‘hero’ faces his own immortality.
Hero: The main character that readers relate to and hope that he succeeds in his mission.
Ben is the obvious hero, however he has the readers hoping for a failure in his mission as he grapples with his plan to take his life.
Details: Location is key in an adventure story, detailed descriptions draw the reader into feeling like they are there in the action. Maps often accompany adventure books as readers follow the hero.
Gulterson spares no details in East of the Mountains, using all five senses to make the reader feel like they are travelling along on the adventure. Road signs, descriptions of valleys, the taste of the fruit detail the adventure from the west coast over the mountains to his childhood.
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
A Small White Scar by K.A. Nuzum
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
While this story set up takes a few chapters, begins to unfold as he leaves for his hunting trip and moves at a steady pace as he experiences each event, while not necessarily dangerous they quickly move the reader through the story. Moments in the story are interrupted with flashbacks to his childhood, marriage and war- each adding another adventurous episode.
Storyline: The storyline focuses on action, a mission and the obstacles that the ‘hero’ faces along the way to his/her generally happy ending.
Ben’s adventures are more low-key than others in the genre, however equally effective to move the story along as the ‘hero’ faces his own immortality.
Hero: The main character that readers relate to and hope that he succeeds in his mission.
Ben is the obvious hero, however he has the readers hoping for a failure in his mission as he grapples with his plan to take his life.
Details: Location is key in an adventure story, detailed descriptions draw the reader into feeling like they are there in the action. Maps often accompany adventure books as readers follow the hero.
Gulterson spares no details in East of the Mountains, using all five senses to make the reader feel like they are travelling along on the adventure. Road signs, descriptions of valleys, the taste of the fruit detail the adventure from the west coast over the mountains to his childhood.
Read Alikes:
The selection below follows the adventure genre with pacing, storyline and details as the ‘hero’s’ face their own obstacles on their journeys, each of these also contain elements of a psychological fiction as does East of the Mountains.The Round House by Louise Erdrich
A Small White Scar by K.A. Nuzum
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Hi, Jennifer. I've read Snow Falling on Cedars and liked it, but haven't read this title by Guterson. I especially liked this comment, "Guterson spares no detail in East of the Mountains, using all five sense to make the reader feel like they are traveling along on the adventure." Did you find the the detail was added value or too much description? Did you enjoy this book?
ReplyDeleteJulie- I really did like this book. I felt drawn into his life story and wondered after each episode what he would decide to do and it makes a person think about mortality. At one point I think it is Bea that tells him that letting his family see him die teaches them compassion. I loved the vivid imagery. I love seeing a book play out in my head as I read- and this one did every step of the way. This was the first book of Guterson but I look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteI like this idea of this as a fiction travelogue with fast pacing. It seems like it would be a fast read, because you wouldn't want to put it down. I also think the plot on this sounds compelling- I can definitely see this being a great recommendation.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds so reflective- I never knew adventures could also be so serious! This sounds like a really interesting/multifaceted pick for the genre, and I really like that you paired it with Wild. While reading your annotation, I kept thinking about how this would be portrayed as a movie- did it feel cinematic while reading the book itself (especially since it's got such vivid imagery)?
ReplyDeleteIt did and could easily be adapted to a movie.
DeleteFantastic annotation! This is not one I have read before but your wonderful summary has piqued my interest! Great job fleshing out the characteristics. Full points!
ReplyDelete