Our Lady of the Forest

I put off reading this because so many reviewers compared it unfavourably to Snow Falling on Cedars but I felt just the opposite. Guterson has learned something about making his characters more believable and lost none of his exquisite sensitivity for the northwest coast setting. The story is better, too.

Trying too hard to be hip and current, this book reads like a laundry list of society's woes and laments. This is a good-vs-evil morality tale that spins in drug use, ecoterrorism, spotted owls, and oppression of the working class. The characters are rich but the amount of detail is burdensome. Rather than a character driven story, the author seems determined to show off his talents at overanalysis and strained internal dialog.
Although I am not Christian, I am fascinated by Virgin Mary iconography. While the story includes discussion of Mary in the Catholic faith (I can't comment on the quality of this dialog, though it might be interesting to those who are knowledgeable), the writing itself lacks emotional impact and truth. Overall, an interesting story, but a disappointing delivery.

A book that explores motivation and guilt from many perspectives and refuses to give pat answers to anything. I great springboard for discussion - even within my own mind. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

While different from his other works in many ways, it is another star attached to the name of David Guterson. His feel for the small Washington peninsula town is dead-on perfect.

God fearing Christians can read this if they realize that this is fiction and more a novel about people around what seems a true apparition. It's end seems flat, but satisfying enough because it answers lingering questions in the simplist fashion.

I can not find the words to describe how awful this book was. It was boring and poorly written. I suffered through half of it and then gave up.

I am a Catholic. I knew it was fiction before I listened (it is not under the religion catagory!) But as for fiction - I felt a few of the characters were not developed fully-Tom Cross and Carolyn,for example. An ok book.

I would not reccomend this book to any God fearing christain and anyone who has any christain values. Any author that takes a religion ( in this case Catholic's ) and writes a story that digraces God and all he has done should not be an author. If I could I would demand a complete refund for now my money went to suport a author that has no regards for our Heavenly father above.

To take a person who,s life is filled with drugs, sex, and abortions and turn her into a person who recieves visions from Mary the mother of God. A priest that all but rapes her in his mind. Uses language that would never be accepted in any christain religion in any form. And Makes a mockery of others who have done great things. If I could I would give this book a minus 20 stars thats how bad it was. Don't waste your time or money on this one.