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There are currently 15 member reviews
for The Wilderness
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Susan B. (Frederick, MD)
Family and friend drama
This is the first book that I have read from this author. Her writing style is lovely. I didn't love that the chapters were out of chronological order.
The book starts out with an unsettling of the sister's grandfather and his assisted suicide. There are other characters with equally sad experiences in their lives. The core of the book is centered around the sisters and their friendships.
This being I don't think I've ever read a story of this type. I look forward the the author's next book.
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Marcia L. (Belton, SC)
The Wilderness
This book digs into the ups and downs of friendship, how people drift, come back, mess up, and keep showing up anyway. The story bounces between five different women over the years, and even when it's a little all over the place, it feels honest and real. It's not a quick read, but it lingers.
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Barbara B. (Plano, TX)
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
I enjoyed reading this book.It made me think of so many things. I self reflected on my own definition of friendship. Who are my friends or are they just acquaintances? What qualities do I see in them? Am I a good friend? Flournoy's portrait of five female characters, all from different backgrounds and different ideas as to what life should be develop a strong commitment to each other. This book marvels with rich character development and descriptions that the reader can visualize connections and personal relationships grow. The story line provides these images across about 20 years with peaks and downs. I particularly liked the interaction of the two sisters Desiree and Daniella. They were like a rubber band as sometimes they were pulled to the extreme and other times there was complete avoidance.
Angela Flournoy is not afraid to touch on cultural, political, social issues or the heartbreak of America in these troubled times. They are not the purpose of the book but give a reference point and authenticity to the emotions of the characters. As an older adult I realized that these girls faced the same emotions in life that I did many years ago.
Lastly, I was intrigued with the title. I took the word Wilderness and broke it up, What is it to be wild? Now add the suffix er, thus being more then wild. And finally ness bringing the title to mean: the state of being more wild. They were wild girls especially in their 20's and in retrospect isn't life wild at some part of life?
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Julie Z. (Oak Park, IL)
The Wilderness
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy is her sophomore novel. Her first, The Turner House was a finalist for the National Book Award. The Wilderness, no doubt, will also be held in such high esteem. Centering on the relationships of 5 women, their stories take place over two decades, ending in 2027. Each of the characters is fully realized, showing their histories, their relationships- both with each other and with their own families, and the ghosts they confront.
It took me a bit to get into the story because of the jumping back and forth between years, but particularly in the second half of the novel the stories coalesced. Excellent writing, great characterizations, and a true to form look at living in the United States of which we are currently dealing.
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Kathryn H. (Rochester, MI)
A Faithful Friend is a Sturdy Shelter
I was looking forward to reading "The Wilderness" by Angela Flournoy after I really enjoyed her first novel, "The Turner House." This book tells the story of January, Monique, Nakia, and sisters Desiree and Danielle, and their friendships with one another.
The characters seemed so sad so much of the time.. Some had troubled childhoods; another had an unexpected pregnancy. Most of the relationships showed the ebb and flow that would be expected from friendships spanning many years. That made them relatable and realistic.
I found it difficult to follow along and would have benefited from making my own table of contents. Each chapter head consists of a year. The chapters do go backward and forward in time.
"The Wilderness" was well-written and conveyed the women's rich lives and complex interactions.
Thank you to BookBrowse for the copy of "The Wilderness."
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Melanie B. (Desoto, TX)
Continuity Lost Shuttling Back and Forth
I struggled getting through this book due to frequent yo-yoing between the years which made it difficult for me to follow context and continuity. The characters were interesting and I was intrigued by their personal situations and curious to know their outcomes; however, the back and forth writing style was less appealing to me. When I stopped reading for a day or so then picked the book up again, I had to review several previously read pages to regain continuity. A more straightforward chronology of events would have provided me with a better reading experience.
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Gail G. (HERNANDO, FL)
Interesting
I was so looking forward to reading this book but after finishing and thinking about it for over a week, I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I liked the characters (some more than others) but sometimes the switching back and forth between them was confusing and distracting. The background social and cultural issues over the 50 year span of the story is a good history lesson. I would like to read something else by this author to decide if I could enjoy her writing more.
