The Other
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Review
'...Guterson is widely recognised as a novelist of considerable talent and The Other will consolidate his high reputation.'
-- Waterstones Book Quarterly --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
-- Waterstones Book Quarterly --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Remarkable a highly significant contribution to American literature' Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland 'Guterson's books keep getting better A moving portrait of male friendship' New York Times 'A fine novel [of] gentle, intelligent sadness' Independent 'A powerfully wrought mixture of a coming-of-age novel, a meditation on the environment, a satire on American mores Guterson writes beautiful, persuasive prose, harking back to Hemingway, with a glimmer of wit that brings a modern sensibility' Daily Telegraph
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
David Guterson's new novel is both heartfelt and ironic. He draws, to different forms of realisation, two characters that are, of course, the same man who could take two divergent paths (something we can't do in reality). In middle-age so many of us ponder on what might have been but to be still alive and still walking in the mountains is demonstrated to be preferable to be lying dead in them. This fine novel (and that is a compliment) is a counter to false heroism and extremes of behaviour that break our hearts. David Guterson will probably not be a best-seller again but he writes with great compassion about human beings and it is a good thing that we can learn from his musings and ideas.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I felt totally gripped by this book as soon as I got to page five, and the line.. "that's how I met the privileged boy who would later become the hermit of the Hoh - the loner who lived in the woods for seven years and who bequeathed me four hundred and forty million dollars". It's hard not to want to read on from there...
"Snow Falling on Cedars", Guterson's first novel, was set in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. This new book takes place there too, and centres around Seattle, focusing on two young teenage boys growing up in the early 1970s. They smoke dope and listen to music, but most of all they like to hike out into the wilderness around the city and be completely cut off from the world.
But as the two grow up, Neil, the narrator, follows a conventional route, whereas John William becomes a hermit in the forest. It's the relationship between the two which the book follows, though there are also lovely sections about how Neil met his wife, talking about his own life as a schoolteacher, and describing American life in general at the time.
A very enjoyable read, I thought, with plenty of evocative detail and enough mystery (with all that money involved) to keep you page-turning. And the ending turns out to be much sadder and stranger than I'd expected too. Not at all formulaic, but still a great involving read.
"Snow Falling on Cedars", Guterson's first novel, was set in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. This new book takes place there too, and centres around Seattle, focusing on two young teenage boys growing up in the early 1970s. They smoke dope and listen to music, but most of all they like to hike out into the wilderness around the city and be completely cut off from the world.
But as the two grow up, Neil, the narrator, follows a conventional route, whereas John William becomes a hermit in the forest. It's the relationship between the two which the book follows, though there are also lovely sections about how Neil met his wife, talking about his own life as a schoolteacher, and describing American life in general at the time.
A very enjoyable read, I thought, with plenty of evocative detail and enough mystery (with all that money involved) to keep you page-turning. And the ending turns out to be much sadder and stranger than I'd expected too. Not at all formulaic, but still a great involving read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having just inherited a large fortune from his late friend John William Barry, Neil Countryman tells how it all came about. Friends since 1972 when in their their teens the two boys meet while competing against one another in the 880 yards. A friendship grows out of their shared love of the outdoor life and love of exploring the wilds around their Seattle home. On their ventures into the often unknown they would live off their wits and off the land.
But in time Neil settles for a conventional married life and teaching while John William is determined to live according to his beliefs, and starts to live a solitary totally self sufficient life in the Washington wilderness.
The Other is a story rich in detail, perhaps at times a little too much detail as Guterson can become bogged down in creating family histories and local connections. Roughly only half the book actually concerns the friendship the two boys and later young men enjoy. The rest looks into what made the two, and especially John William, what they are.
At its best it is a compelling and moving story, particularly when John William is living his life of recluse with Neil his only contact. But at times it can become a little laborious, and I began to wonder for a while if the book would ever get to discussing the character of John William and their friendship.
But in time Neil settles for a conventional married life and teaching while John William is determined to live according to his beliefs, and starts to live a solitary totally self sufficient life in the Washington wilderness.
The Other is a story rich in detail, perhaps at times a little too much detail as Guterson can become bogged down in creating family histories and local connections. Roughly only half the book actually concerns the friendship the two boys and later young men enjoy. The rest looks into what made the two, and especially John William, what they are.
At its best it is a compelling and moving story, particularly when John William is living his life of recluse with Neil his only contact. But at times it can become a little laborious, and I began to wonder for a while if the book would ever get to discussing the character of John William and their friendship.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Like Marmite!
This is one of those books which I believe you either love or hate. I loved it.....very much so. It deals with complex characters and the effect they have on one another. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Freckles
Typical
I always read Guterson since Snow Falling on Cedars. Well written as always, mildly depressing as always. If you enjoy his work, you will not be disappointed.
Published 14 months ago by Peter Taylor
Poignant, Thoughtful, Engaging, Moving
Gutterson's writing is always sublime and The Other is no exception to this rule. It is a sublime, and thought-provoking tale of friendship and where it leads us (how we change... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Bullet Proof Poet
Different, therefore good
Some reviewers are dissapointed that this novel is different to Guterson's others, notably "Snow Falling on Cedars" but for me the value of his writing is that each novel is... Read more
Published on 26 Dec 2009 by barbicandy
Very disappointing
I have enjoyed both prior novels written by David Guterson but this is very different. The prose is stilted, the characters are never fully formed - particularly that of the... Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2009 by Mrs. Camelia Leveridge
disappointed
I loved Snow Falling on Cedars and did go on to read guterson's other books but wasn't too impressed by them. Decided to try the Other and could barely get through it. Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2009 by Yvonne Moore
Another excellent novel from Guterson
This is the third novel I've read by David Guterson and perhaps the best. It explores the friendship between the scion of a wealthy family, John William Barry, who becomes a hermit... Read more
Published on 11 July 2009 by J. H. Bretts
Good in many ways, but plain English would be helpful
I came to The Other with mixed feelings as I tend to think of David Guterson as someone who's suffered from "second novel syndrome" - a brilliant start with Snow Falling on Cedars,... Read more
Published on 26 April 2009 by A Common Reader
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