Gone to the Forest - A Book Review

Another book I was sent by Free Press ..

Gone to the Forest by Katie Kitamura


As a member of the Free Press Book Tours group on Book Blogs I am always given an opportunity to grab one of their books and write a review. 

I was forwarded this description: FROM THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF THE LONGSHOT comes this gripping saga about the destruction of a family, a home, and a way of life. Set on a struggling farm in a colonial country teetering on the brink of civil war, Gone to the Forest is a tale of family drama and political turmoil in which fiery storytelling melds with daring, original prose. Since his mother’s death, Tom and his father have fashioned a strained domestic peace, where everything is frozen under the old man’s vicious control. But when a young woman named Carine arrives at the farm, the tension between the two men escalates to the breaking point. Hailed by the Boston Globe as “a major talent,” Kitamura shines in this powerful new novel.

I was extremely excited to read this book as it looked like it would be right up my alley. The story is one of family turmoil, depression, recession and a raging political war. It really could have taken place anywhere, at any time. 

This novel is written in such a way that it is difficult to tell whose point of view it is written from. It goes from past to present and back again; sometimes looking inward at the characters, and other times looking outward FROM the characters. Unfortunately I did not care for this writing style as it was very difficult for me to follow. I found that I did not particularly care for any of the characters and because of that the story really did not move me.

By the end of the book none of my questions were really answered..


I was sent this book for an unbiased opinion and receive no compensation.