To the Bright Edge of the World

A Novel

De: Eowyn Ivey

Narrado por: John Glouchevitch

An atmospheric, transporting tale of adventure, love, and survival from the bestselling author of The Snow Child, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

In the winter of 1885, decorated war hero Colonel Allen Forrester leads a small band of men on an expedition that has been deemed impossible: to venture up the Wolverine River and pierce the vast, untamed Alaska Territory. Leaving behind Sophie, his newly pregnant wife, Colonel Forrester records his extraordinary experiences in hopes that his journal will reach her if he doesn't return--once he passes beyond the edge of the known world, there's no telling what awaits him.

The Wolverine River Valley is not only breathtaking and forbidding but also terrifying in ways that the colonel and his men never could have imagined. As they map the territory and gather information on the native tribes, whose understanding of the natural world is unlike anything they have ever encountered, Forrester and his men discover the blurred lines between human and wild animal, the living and the dead. And while the men knew they would face starvation and danger, they cannot escape the sense that some greater, mysterious force threatens their lives.

Meanwhile, on her own at Vancouver Barracks, Sophie chafes under the social restrictions and yearns to travel alongside her husband. She does not know that the winter will require as much of her as it does her husband, that both her courage and faith will be tested to the breaking point. Can her exploration of nature through the new art of photography help her to rediscover her sense of beauty and wonder?

The truths that Allen and Sophie discover over the course of that fateful year change both of their lives--and the lives of those who hear their stories long after they're gone--forever.

"An epic adventure story that seems heir to the tradition of Melville's own sweeping and ambitious literary approach to the age-old struggle of humans versus nature . . . An absorbing and high-stakes read." -- Kathleen Rooney, Chicago Tribune
An Amazon Best Book of the Year
A Washington Post Notable Book
A Goodreads Choice Award Nominee
A Library Journal Top 10 Book of the Year
A BookPage Best Book of the Year

Reseñas de la Crítica

Praise for TO THE BRIGHT EDGE OF THE WORLD:

"To the Bright Edge of the World moves seamlessly through different times and different voices to depict an often harrowing journey that leads the central characters to question all that they 'have known as real & true.' Ivey's novel is a dazzling depiction of love, endurance, courage, and wonder, and a worthy successor to The Snow Child."
—Ron Rash, author of Serena

"Beautifully told...a page-turner, a fascinating story that is broad in its scope as it is compassionate in its message...Ivey has created a world that is dangerous and beautiful, worrisome and satisfying, all in a novel that readers will not soon forget."
—Jim Carmin, The Miami Herald

"Powerful...Ivey is a gifted storyteller and a lyrical prose stylist...remarkable."
—Amy Greene, New York Times Book Review

"An epic adventure story that seems heir to the tradition of Melville's own sweeping and ambitious literary approach to the age-old struggle of humans versus nature...an absorbing and high-stakes read."
—Kathleen Rooney, The Chicago Tribune

"To the Bright Edge of the World is a glorious feast of American mythology. In it, Eowyn Ivey's Alaska blooms vast and untouchable, bulging with mystery and wonder, and lit by an uneasy midnight sun. On this haunted stage, the lines between man and beast are blurred, and Ivey has etched her most compelling characters: the incorruptible, determined Sophie Forrester, who wrestles with the rules of men and polite society; and her husband, the explorer Allen Forrester, who struggles mightily against the uncivilized Alaskan wilderness with its ragged teeth. Gorgeously written, utterly un-put-downable, To the Bright Edge of the World sweeps its reader to the very brink of known territory, and presents that bright edge in stark relief: gleaming, serrated, unforgiving. As with The Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey has once again written a magical, breathtaking novel that I just cannot put out of my mind."
—Jason Gurley, author of Eleanor

"An exceptionally well-turned adventure tale...Heartfelt, rip-snorting storytelling."
—Kirkus (Starred Review)

"Eowyn Ivey is a deft craftswoman, attentive to the shape and heft of her sentences...[she] fashions characters who come to warm and vivid life against her frozen Alaskan landscapes...What could be a better beach read than an arctic adventure?"
—Geraldine Brooks, Guardian (US Edition)

"A stunning and intriguing novel combining the epic adventurous sweep of Alaska with minutely beautifully observed details--the reader finishes it wiser and richer."
—Rosamund Lupton, author of Sister and The Quality of Silence

Worth going back to even after I missed the "book club deadline." 😉

Great book! Living in Alaska, I recognized some of the characteristics of the town of Alpine. And I have spent time near the area described in the story. I didn't find the PDF of maps with the audible book that was mentioned in another review, but a google search revealed the map from the book as drawn by the author's friend. It was fun to match up the areas geographically, then by my memories of traveling /exploring in that area.
Well written and well read. It kept me interested the whole time. This was our book club book, and I had only listened to a little over 2 hours by the time our book club met. It is not like me to finish the book after I missed the "book club deadline," because it is time to move to the next book. However, I was intrigued so I listened every night thereafter until I finished.

Great writing, history, and storytelling

Would you consider the audio edition of To the Bright Edge of the World to be better than the print version?

no.

What other book might you compare To the Bright Edge of the World to and why?

"to the edge of the world," by harry thompson

Which scene was your favorite?

in the Native encampment in spring/summer

If you could rename To the Bright Edge of the World, what would you call it?

The Shaman and the Colonel

Any additional comments?

Beautifully written; superb integration of history; descriptions of Native culture; and taking one back in time to a key point of American and Alaskan history.

Interesting.

This was an enjoyable book, though it left me wondering what the point was.
I enjoyed all the different perspectives and having the museum curator also a part of the story. I think it would’ve been a little bit better if something had happened, instead of just a bunch of little things. Maybe I am the one missing the point.
The performance was good, however the main male character did sound, or remind me a little bit of Hannibal Lecter. LOL

Charlotte Bronte meets James Michener

Just ok, and definitely not as good or original as her first book, The Snow Child. This one feels like non-fiction, but in the dull, predictable way. If you are convinced Alaska is a special magical place, then this book may mean more to you. For the rest of us, it's an adventure story without any excitement, not nearly as interesting or page-turning as Shackleton, Lewis and Clark, or John Wesley Powell.

Description of the landscapes

Was a bit long but the end was great! Well wrapped up without being predictable.

surprisingly beautiful

It started slow and it's written in an usual way but I just couldn't help but love the characters especially Sophie and Alan. The story is full of poetry and wonder and it was not at all what I expected. Pleasantly surprised!

Good for Historical Fiction Lovers

Thee and a half-ish years ago I got back into reading after over a half decade long hiatus for college, and slowly but surely, I’m starting to learn what I’m really interested in. Sadly, it isn’t historical fiction. If it were, I’m sure this would have been a book I loved, but unfortunately, I just wasn’t totally grabbed by it. The setting, in the Alaskan wilderness in the late 1800’s, was beautifully well done, and her characterization was good, but I’m just not compelled by stories like this. If you love historical fiction, add this to your list. If not, maybe skip it.

6/10

If you loved The Snow Child

If you loved THE SNOW CHILD, you'll find this deeper, fuller, and rich in factual detail. The mysterious "otherness" of wilderness, of Alaska, has been written and voiced (excellent performances) even more convincingly than in Eowyn Ivey's preceding novel. Put on a good wool sweater, then read this journey.

What a story!

I was thoroughly engrossed in this story, with its rich characters, complex relationships, vivid descriptions of Alaskan landscapes and parallel journeys taken by husband and wife, Allen & Sophie Forrester in the late 1880s. I liked the way the author tells the parallel stories from various viewpoints. Portrayals of Alaska are well written and vivid. I highly recommend this title

Loved this book!

Loved this book! Narrator was great. Story engaging. Couldn't wait to listen.