The God of the Woods: A Novel by Liz Moore
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Web ID: 20312131Not impressed
Overview made it sound interesting, but I did not enjoy her writing style at all.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Such a good book
The God of the Woods is very long but doesn’t seem like it. Every minute I spent reading it I was completely absorbed in the story. The writing was so good. I quite liked the non-linear timeline and varied featured characters (each chapter started with a helpful “cheat sheet” of who the featured character was and when it was happening thank goodness). I guessed a few different characters to be the culprit(s), but the reveal (for both siblings’ disappearances) was not what I had guessed, though the clues were there pointing to what really happened. This is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Haunting Story
This is a book that continues to haunt me months after finishing it. Liz Moore’s writing is profound and lyrical. Reading it felt like taking a delicious, quiet walk through the woods, where every sentence rustles with hidden life. The story itself is equally captivating. Told through interwoven timelines, it never felt confusing or forced. Instead, each thread added depth and resonance, revealing how grief can permeate a family and community long after the dust has settled. The mystery of Barbara’s disappearance unfolds alongside the shadows of her brother’s past, creating a generational tapestry of secrets, silence, and sorrow. 💭 Final Thoughts: The ending was poetic in a way that resonated deeply with me, leaving me reflecting on its meaning long after I closed the book. I often find myself wondering, even now: what is the god of the woods doing today?
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not worth the hype.
Based on reviews and being one of the best books of 2024, I finally read this and I almost fell asleep. The first half of the book is so boring so many different perspective. It takes forever to come together and than boom it’s over in 10 pages. I didn’t need to read 490 pages to get to that ending. Disappointed.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A great woven together fabric of a story
A great mystery story woven together from pov perspective of characters . It’s like a spider web all brought together to make a perfect web fluttering in the wind of the trees at camp Emerson.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Perfect Summer Read for the Thriller Reader
This is a story of secrets. Secrets from the past that affect the present. The Van Laar family owns a large area of land in the Adirondacks. They have a summer home called Self Reliance and a camp for kids called Camp Emerson. In 1961 Bear Van Laar is six-years old and the future hope for his family. Someday they hope for him to run the family banking business. Each summer, the Van Laar’s invite family, friends, and business clients to spend a week at their home celebrating the end of summer. That summer Bear disappears. In 1975, Bear’s 14-year-old sister Barbara, who is a rebellious teen, decides she wants to skip the family party and attend the summer camp for the kids. Alice Van Laar, the mother, has struggled since Bear’s disappearance and hasn’t been there much for Barbara. They do not get along. Alice has already decided to send her to a different boarding school in the fall but doesn’t know how to tell her. With Barbara away for the summer, she decides to let it go. She’ll tell her in the car on the way in the fall. Barbara is surprisingly happy at camp. She makes friends and is skilled at survival courses. She makes a best friend, Tracy, who keeps a secret about Barbara leaving the cabin every night. Supposedly to meet a boyfriend. During the annual end of summer party, Babara disappears. There are lots of legends about the woods. The old witch Mary who is seen tromping through the woods and Slitter, the serial killer who some suspect may have killed Bear. It’s a coincidence that Sluiter (Slitter) has escaped from prison. These are the stories the kids share around the campfire. You meet the Van Laars, their friends, the staff who take care of them and of their home, and the families who maintain the preserve and run the camp. The Van Laars are not likeable and there are more than enough suspects capable of kidnapping the children. There are multiple narrators. Alice, the mother, Judyta, the police investigator, and Louise is one of the camp counselors. The story is told by women, all have been controlled in different ways, but some are able to grow past the abuse and work together to solve the mysteries. The plot is multi-layered. As you weave your way through the story, the secrets are slowly revealed. It’s twists and turns lead you to the truth. The setting is perfect for a summer read. The ending is satisfying. I would probably re-read this book again. Check out all of my reviews at Virginia-Gruver.com
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Book
Excellent book, it was very hard to put it down to take care of things. The characters were well done. I was guessing so many people for who done it. Really liked the ending.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
B&N Book Brandoned: The Woods are Lovely
Liz Moore has quickly become one of my absolute favorite writers. Heft was thoughtful and at times direct and The Unseen World was surreal, unsettling and a great read. Then came Long Bright River, and this reader sat up and took notice. That novel is as near a perfect book as you can get. Now we have The God of the Woods and this is (IMO) the best book of 2024. It checks every box; characters are fully realized, the sense of place and its history is unshakable, the breathtaking plot is smooth and yet with many bumps, style wise it is a masterclass in writing. Now, I have to say that this book is also such a genre blending treat that it will appeal to casual readers, readers of literature, readers of thrillers and mysteries, fans of horror novels (oh yes indeed folks, this is a book to revel in and has as many spooky themes as any popular horror novel), fans of local lore and history, readers of society, class and lovers of historical fiction. This is the book for everyone. The title alone raises questions before you even begin the book; how does the title match with the plot description in the book jacket....come along and find out. The cover art pulls you in and once you crack open the book you will find yourself emersed in a story so engaging and upsetting you won't be able to stop. Trust me (and then go read Long Bright River and watch the Peacock adaptation...both are fantastic).
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com