This book is set in the northwestern US near and around Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. That is the overarching landscape to keep in mind. It follows a series of events and characters, but focuses on four buddies and an event that took place Thanksgiving 10 years ago. One by one the book filters through the men's stories and their deaths. We come to learn about an elk hunt gone wrong and the Elk Head Woman who is back to exact her revenge. A large part of the story follows Lewis and his descent into madness and he begins seeing the Elk Head Woman around his home and through quickly moving lights and trains. Once Lewis' story ends, the book then switches to a strange form of second-person narration, as if someone is talking to the Elk Head Woman. This is where the story progresses quickly and makes more sense.
I loved so much about this book and had so much fun reading it. First, the language is fascinating. The author does such a good job writing in a dialect and language that feels specific to Native Americans. It is heavy with dialect and slang. In the beginning it took me a bit to get used to it but once I did, it felt so natural.
Secondly, I love the attention to tradition in this book and how well the author both wrote those elements of the story and made sure to draw attention to them. This story ends up, for me, being a long meditation on tradition and the importance of carrying on traditions. I like the idea that they are in place for a reason and that everything, not matter what will come back around full circle. The author worked the circular view of life and time into this story so well, especially when you get to the end and you realize what is happening. The scene at the end was so touching and special. Even though this is a horror novel, I was in tears at how beautiful it was and how much was encapsulated in it.
As for the writing, besides the language and dialect used, the characters were so well-developed and lifelike. I liked how dynamic each character was, including the side characters and how they each had such drastic and dramatic personal characteristics that help push the story further and made it all the more memorable. There are so many visceral scenes from this book that, as I read them, scared me while implanting themselves on my imagination. Overall, I LOVED this book and I highly recommend it.
I loved so much about this book and had so much fun reading it. First, the language is fascinating. The author does such a good job writing in a dialect and language that feels specific to Native Americans. It is heavy with dialect and slang. In the beginning it took me a bit to get used to it but once I did, it felt so natural.
Secondly, I love the attention to tradition in this book and how well the author both wrote those elements of the story and made sure to draw attention to them. This story ends up, for me, being a long meditation on tradition and the importance of carrying on traditions. I like the idea that they are in place for a reason and that everything, not matter what will come back around full circle. The author worked the circular view of life and time into this story so well, especially when you get to the end and you realize what is happening. The scene at the end was so touching and special. Even though this is a horror novel, I was in tears at how beautiful it was and how much was encapsulated in it.
As for the writing, besides the language and dialect used, the characters were so well-developed and lifelike. I liked how dynamic each character was, including the side characters and how they each had such drastic and dramatic personal characteristics that help push the story further and made it all the more memorable. There are so many visceral scenes from this book that, as I read them, scared me while implanting themselves on my imagination. Overall, I LOVED this book and I highly recommend it.