Summary
The God of the Woods, Liz Moore's latest novel, is set to captivate readers with its gripping tale of mystery and family secrets. Scheduled for release on July 2, 2024, this ambitious work promises to be Moore's most expansive and far-reaching narrative to date.
Set against the backdrop of the Adirondacks in 1975, the story revolves around the disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar from her family's summer camp. This incident eerily echoes the vanishing of her older brother 14 years prior, setting the stage for a multi-layered exploration of a dynasty shrouded in secrecy.
Plot
In August 1975, the peaceful summer at a camp in the Adirondacks is shattered when thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar disappears from her bunk. The discovery of her absence sends shockwaves through the camp and the surrounding community. Barbara isn't just any camper—she's the daughter of the camp's owners, a family that employs many of the local residents.
The situation becomes even more fraught when it's revealed that this isn't the first time tragedy has struck the Van Laar family. Fourteen years earlier, Barbara's older brother also vanished without a trace, never to be found. This eerie parallel heightens the urgency and fear surrounding Barbara's disappearance.
As a frantic search operation begins, the story unfolds across multiple perspectives. The investigation delves deep into the complex history of the Van Laar family, uncovering long-buried secrets and tensions. At the same time, it explores the lives and struggles of the blue-collar community that works for the Van Laars, revealing a web of relationships and hidden motivations.
The novel weaves together these various threads, creating a tapestry of mystery, family drama, and community dynamics. As the search for Barbara continues, characters are forced to confront their past choices and the consequences of their actions. The story promises to unravel a complex saga of secrets, second chances, and the intricate connections between the privileged Van Laars and the working-class residents of the Adirondack region.
Themes
Family secrets and generational trauma
Disappearance and mystery
Class dynamics in small communities
The impact of loss on families
Nature and wilderness as a backdrop
Coming of age in a complex world
The search for truth and redemption
Setting
Set primarily in the Adirondack region of upstate New York, The God of the Woods unfolds against the backdrop of a summer camp owned by the Van Laar family. The story's main events take place in August 1975, a time when the area was characterized by a stark divide between the wealthy camp owners and the blue-collar community that worked for them.
The novel's setting spans two distinct time periods, with the disappearance of Barbara Van Laar in 1975 echoing the similar vanishing of her brother fourteen years earlier in 1961. This dual timeline allows Moore to explore the changes and constants in the Adirondack community over the course of nearly a decade and a half.
While the summer camp serves as the central location, the narrative likely extends into the surrounding wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains. This vast, forested terrain provides a haunting backdrop for the search efforts and adds an element of isolation and mystery to the unfolding drama. The juxtaposition of the idyllic summer camp setting with the ominous forest environment creates a tense atmosphere that permeates the story.
Characters
Barbara Van Laar: The 13-year-old daughter of the family that owns the summer camp. She mysteriously disappears from her bunk in August 1975, triggering a panicked search. Barbara's vanishing echoes the disappearance of her older brother 14 years prior. Her case serves as the central mystery of the novel, intertwining the fates of the Van Laar family and the local community.
Van Laar Family: The wealthy owners of the summer camp who employ most of the region's residents. They are shrouded in secrecy and have experienced the disappearance of two of their children. The family's history and hidden truths form a crucial part of the narrative.
Barbara's Older Brother: A Van Laar child who vanished 14 years before Barbara's disappearance. His unsolved case adds depth to the family's troubled history and the ongoing mystery.
Camp Counselor: The individual who discovers Barbara's empty bunk and raises the alarm. Their discovery sets the events of the novel in motion.
Blue-collar Community Members: The local residents employed by the Van Laar family's summer camp. Their lives and secrets become intertwined with the investigation into Barbara's disappearance.
Quick facts
The novel is set in the Adirondack mountains in August 1975.
It revolves around the disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar from a summer camp.
Barbara's brother also went missing 14 years prior to the events of the book.
The Van Laar family owns the summer camp where Barbara disappears.
The book explores the secrets of both the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working for them.
It is described as Liz Moore's most ambitious and wide-reaching novel to date.
The audiobook version includes a downloadable PDF with a map from the book.
The novel is 496 pages long.
It is published by Riverhead Books and is set to be released on July 2, 2024.
The book received a “rave” consensus from critics, based on reviews compiled by Book Marks.
About the Author
Liz Moore, born in 1983, is an acclaimed American author known for her poignant and introspective novels. Her journey as a writer began after a brief stint as a musician in New York City, which inspired her debut novel The Words of Every Song (2007). Since then, Moore has established herself as a prominent voice in contemporary literature, with her works often exploring themes of identity, family, and the human condition.
Moore's educational background includes a bachelor's degree from Barnard College and an MFA in creative writing from Hunter College. Her dedication to the craft has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Rome Prize in Literature in 2015. Currently, she imparts her knowledge and experience to aspiring writers as a professor in the MFA program at Temple University in Philadelphia.
The author's bibliography includes several critically acclaimed novels. Heft (2012) was longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, while Long Bright River (2020) became a New York Times bestseller. Her latest work, The God of the Woods (2024), has already garnered significant attention, being selected as a Barnes & Noble Book Club pick and shortlisted for their Book of the Year award.
Beyond her professional achievements, Moore resides in Philadelphia with her family, balancing her roles as an author, educator, and parent. Her ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers has solidified her position as a respected figure in the literary world, with each new release eagerly anticipated by critics and fans alike.
