Review: The God of the Woods
This post contains affiliate links. Please check out my privacy policy & disclosures page for more information.
Genre: Literary Mystery | Publication Date: 7/2/2024 | Pages: 490 | Month read: July 2024
What made me pick this up?
Honestly, the hype. This book got so much buzz in late spring and early summer from ARC Bookstagrammers that I couldn’t resist. Also, as a former camp counselor/director, how could I say no to a literary story about a girl who goes missing from a summer camp?
“To be a human is complex, and often painful; to be an animal is comfortingly simple and good.””
GoodReads synopsis: When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide.
Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.
As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.
My Thoughts
Phew. Where do I begin?
The Cliffs Notes version: I loved this book.
Reading this felt like sinking into a patio chair and being wrapped in the comfort of a warm, but not too hot, summer afternoon. I’d liken this more to a slow burn, immersive mystery than a thriller, but one that keeps you engaged with multiple, complex POVs (and most notably and appreciated, short chapters!) and an intriguing, mystifying plot.
This book drew me in on the plot alone but I was hooked by Moore’s writing style. I find that a lot of literary writing seems to toe a line of either being too flowery and wordy or so abstract that it’s almost hard to understand, but Moore writes beautiful, descriptive, yet simple prose that I just couldn’t get enough of. One of my favorite things about reading is when an author describes an experience or a feeling that I’ve felt but haven’t ever really put words to, and that happened for me a few times with multiple characters. Each was unique in their own way but also relatable and human. We get the engaging plot, lovely writing, and interesting characters, all while Moore weaves in and explores larger themes about gender roles and womanhood, classism, and family legacies. I loved it all.
If you’re looking for a heart-pounding, twisty thriller, then I’d recommend looking elsewhere. But if you’re looking for a mysterious, historical fiction drama to sink into, then consider this for your next read.
I also can’t wait to see this story adapted for TV!
Rating: ★★★★★
Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org
