summer reading: a late summer page turner
a literary thriller set at a summer camp, the perfect read to bridge between sunny summer days and spooky autumn evenings.
I was able to spend much of the long weekend absolutely immersed in the God of the Woods, mainly laying in the sunshine next to a lake. It was the perfect season to cap off the summer and the perfect book for this time of year. Set at a summer camp in the Adirondacks in the 60s and 70s, it’s a literary thriller that explores the disappearances of two children, Barbara and Bear, from the same wealthy family who owns the camp. Jumping between several timelines and characters, we get to experience the camp itself through the eyes of a young camper finding her way socially, having a crush and making a friend, as well as one of the camp counselors, who comes from poverty and is deeply reliant on her job to support herself, her struggling mother, and her teen brother. We experience the disappearances through the eyes of Bear and Barbara’s mother, who married into the powerful family at the core of the book at age 18 and has struggled to adjust to the family’s expectations. We also race towards solving the mystery through the eyes of an investigator, the first woman in her unit, who is deeply invested in finding Barbara and at the same time working to establish her own independence. Money and power are at the heart of this story - those who wield power, those forced to make tough decisions out of material necessity, and those who end up as collateral damage.
I found the God of the Woods to be just right for this time of year. It’s set in the summer time, primarily in August, and takes place in a beautiful wilderness. The pre-disappearance summer camp scenes tell a classic coming of age story, immersing us in a pivotal eight weeks for a group of teenagers. The book also has darker elements that nod towards the autumn months ahead - ghost stories that are whispered around camp, storms that interrupt summer festivities, and a mystery (or rather two mysteries!) to unravel over the course of the book.
Do you have a favorite late summer read? Are you still trying to fit in a few more summer books or already pivoting to fall reading? If you’re trying to slow down the calendar, you can browse my full summer reading list here. In the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a wrap-up of all my summer reading as well as a cozy autumn reading list as we turn to fall. On the note of turning towards fall, I also loved this video of 4 long books to sink your teeth into as we head into peak reading months. Happy reading!
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I have this on reserve at the library--and I'm WAY down the list. I can't wait to read it--in late fall when I finally get it. :o)