Returning to Earth
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this novel we meet again some of the characters of True North. They take it in turns to tell their tales and comment on the "return to earth" of a beloved member of their family.
It is a life affirming take on death which leads us through some of the many ways in which human kind can face the inevitable and finally learn to accept it, or not.
It is full of Indian lore and imbued with Harrison's abiding love for his native Michigan.
The style and tone are invigorating and exactly what we have come to expect of this wonderful writer.
It is the perfect "sequel" to True North and should not be missed.
It is a life affirming take on death which leads us through some of the many ways in which human kind can face the inevitable and finally learn to accept it, or not.
It is full of Indian lore and imbued with Harrison's abiding love for his native Michigan.
The style and tone are invigorating and exactly what we have come to expect of this wonderful writer.
It is the perfect "sequel" to True North and should not be missed.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
29 reviews
37 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Returning to these characters...
5 Jan 2007
Format:Hardcover
When I opened "Returning to Earth", I was pleasantly surprised to find I knew these characters from Harrison's previous novel "True North". I had not made the connection when reading the book description on Amazon. Upon completing a Harrison story, I immediately miss the company of his characters. When "True North" ended, I very much missed my neurotic friend, David, who thankfully returns in this novel. Finished with "Returning to Earth", I find myself very interested in Lame Deer, Montana.
When reading reviews of Harrison's last few novels, I notice the term "rambling narrative" appears frequently (I guess I just contributed to that trend). I don't know whether to perceive this as a negative or a positive comment. Harrison's narrative takes place in the consciousness of his characters. My own experience with consciousness (I admit there have been a few interruptions along the way) has never been carefully plotted or structured for efficiency. Harrison's characters have thoughts, random, scattered, and yes sometimes rambling thoughts. The narrative carries you along, like only Harrison's prose can, and many of these thoughts become your own by the end of the novel. I will never look at a bear the same way again.
When reading reviews of Harrison's last few novels, I notice the term "rambling narrative" appears frequently (I guess I just contributed to that trend). I don't know whether to perceive this as a negative or a positive comment. Harrison's narrative takes place in the consciousness of his characters. My own experience with consciousness (I admit there have been a few interruptions along the way) has never been carefully plotted or structured for efficiency. Harrison's characters have thoughts, random, scattered, and yes sometimes rambling thoughts. The narrative carries you along, like only Harrison's prose can, and many of these thoughts become your own by the end of the novel. I will never look at a bear the same way again.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Surviving The Dead
10 Feb 2007
Format:Hardcover
"Returning to Earth" has several meanings for its title. Simply put, it is the burial of the first narrator, his family returning from their journey of grieving or a combination of both meanings. The first half of the book asks how do you die a "good" death while the conclusion asks how do you live your life after the "good" life. The family members narrate their portion of their sadness, struggling not to succumb to the overwhelming grieve. The writing is lyrical and haunting in the manner of a storyteller. Mr. Harrison is the author of 8 novels, 5 novellas ("Legends of the Fall" is the best known) & 8 collections of poetry and this is his best tale yet.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Honoring our Dead and Moving On
21 Feb 2007
Format:Hardcover
Lou Gehrig's disease is such a horrible way to die. While reading this book I kept in mind watching a friend of mine (also 45 years old) find that he had the disease and watching as one muscle after another failed to function. But for more about the disease, read 'Tuesdays With Morrie.'
This instead is a story of Donald, a man slowly dying and realizing that his family history will die with hime. So he begins dictating stories that he has never shared with anyone else. While this is going on, the family around him has to learn to cope with the realization that he is dying and doing so with dignity.
After Donald's death, his family struggle through their grief at his passing. In the end, they have to go on, as we all do. But the telling of their stories is masterfully done. It's a story of trying to make sense out of life, while understanding that we honor our dead but move on to the future.
It is a tale masterfully told.
This instead is a story of Donald, a man slowly dying and realizing that his family history will die with hime. So he begins dictating stories that he has never shared with anyone else. While this is going on, the family around him has to learn to cope with the realization that he is dying and doing so with dignity.
After Donald's death, his family struggle through their grief at his passing. In the end, they have to go on, as we all do. But the telling of their stories is masterfully done. It's a story of trying to make sense out of life, while understanding that we honor our dead but move on to the future.
It is a tale masterfully told.
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