The Barrens

Name: The Barrens
Brand: NewSouth Books
SKU: 9781950994489
Price: 54.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

A Novel of Love and Death in the Canadian Arctic

By Kurt Johnson and Ellie Johnson

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4.04

( 640 ratings, 99 reviews)

Summary

The Barrens by Kurt Johnson and Ellie Johnson is a coming-of-age story set in the wilderness of northern Canada. It follows the journey of a troubled teenager who is sent on a canoe trip as a form of therapy. Throughout the adventure, he faces physical and emotional challenges, leading to personal growth and a deeper understanding of himself and those around him.
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Format: Hardback

$54⁹⁹

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The Barrens

$54⁹⁹

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to stories that explore the complexities of family relationships against a backdrop of wilderness adventure. Its engaging narrative and vivid setting offer both emotional depth and thrilling escapades, appealing to readers who appreciate a well-crafted tale of survival and self-discovery.

The Barrens

Description

Winner of the Minnesota Book Award and a 2022 Great Group Reads Selection

The Barrens grabbed me from the opening pages and never let go. — Michael Punke, author of The Revenant

Two young women attending college decide to have a summer adventure canoeing the rapids-strewn Thelon River that runs 450 miles through the uninhabited Barren Lands of subarctic Canada. Holly made the trip once before with a group of skilled paddlers she trained with at camp, and she wants to share that experience with her friend and lover, Lee, believing it will draw them closer. But a week in, Holly, the risk-taker, falls while taking a selfie near the edge of a cliff. She is left injured and comatose, and soon dies. Their locator beacon for summoning rescue was smashed in Holly's fall. It remains to Lee, the inexperienced paddler, to continue the gruelling and dangerous trip alone, to save herself and return her lover's body to civilisation and Holly's family.

In their relationship, Holly and Lee had always told each other stories; Lee had called Holly a "storyist." Storytelling helps Lee endure the rigours of her journey and engage her grief as she explores her relationship with Holly while chronicling her own coming-of-age off the grid in Nebraska with her estranged eco-anarchist father, who is now serving time in prison.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

i>The Barrens by Kurt Johnson and Ellie Johnson has received compelling reviews for its gripping adventure and profound storytelling. Critics praise the novel's vivid portrayal of the Canadian subarctic and its thematic depth, focusing on love, loss, resilience, and self-discovery. The central character, Lee, is highlighted for her complexity and engaging journey. The narrative's combination of wilderness excitement and emotional exploration has been noted as both visually evocative and moving.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781950994489

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 May 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Arcade Publishing

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 209.0mm

Weight: 403g

Pages: 288

Collections

Ellie Johnson Fiction General Fiction Kurt Johnson Literary Fiction

About the Author

Kurt Johnsongrew up spending summers on a remote island near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, first with his parents and later with his wife, Stephanie, and then their daughter, Ellie. He lives in Minneapolis.

Ellie Johnson paddled the 450-mile Thelon River with three other women at the age of seventeen. The novel is based in part on that canoe trip as well as her real-life experiences growing up as a gay woman. Ellie is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota and lives in St. Paul.