Beautiful, poignant, and thoughtful in a way that is often troubling. Living in a timber-based community, I could relate to so much of the story. The landscape played a pivotal role in this title and the characters were fabulous. I highly recommend.

I absolutely loved this book. It brought up alot of thought provoking points, from the destruction due to over logging, overfishing and pollution, or a move toward a more sustainable future. DAMNATION SPRING captures a time of strife and strain on the town whose lives are reliant on this patch of Earth. This is the story of Rich Gunderson, fourth generation logger. Like his father before him Rich has dreamed of owning a piece of land called the 24/7 ridge. Home to as yet massive amount of unlogged forest. When Rich gets the opportunity of a lifetime to purchase the ridge he doesn't tell his wife Colleen. The local midwife, Colleen has had and been witness to over dozens of miscarriages. With this damage done by years of families to the forest and waters with the unending use of chemicals becomes more apparent and horrific. The politics and work / life balance turn to violence, and with these uprisings Rich , Colleen and the rest of the town can no longer be ignored.
The environmental theme of this book is very poignant and timely. If we don't listen to what our bodies and our Earth is telling us then the consequences will be dire. Davidson's book has many good points that really keep the reader thinking. I will definitely recommend it to everyone to read.

This novel details the struggles of a small rural logging community and the impact of the logging industry on the people and the environment in the 1970's in coastal California. The novel is very descriptive and sets a sense of place as well as gives a sense of the characters and the turmoil they are are experiencing. The novel alternates between three main narrators, Colleen, Rich and their son Chub with each providing a different perspective but working together to paint the picture of life in the time and place of the novel. This is not a light read and has its share of tragic moments. There is some technical logging industry jargon in the book that at times makes the wording a bit difficult to decipher and the book does start off at a slower pace. I would recommend if you like descriptive novels that build and include some weighty topics.

The reviews seemed to be all over the place with this one but overall I enjoyed it. You got a real sense of the people living in this logging community doing the best they can to survive.

I read about a third of this book, and decided to not finish it. It’s interesting and the writing is compelling, but I see where’s it’s going and I’m so sad by the decisions Colleen and Rich make, both of them selfish (but justifying their choices as for something greater). And I don’t want to spend any more hours with the heartbreak—the pace of the book is excruciatingly slow. Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this.

A well-written book with heartbendingly relatable characters going through a climate disaster that is very much of its own time but deeply relevant to our own crises. Though the twists and turns of the plot are occasionally telegraphed, the emotional experience of the characters and the fine observation of the writing create a resonant, engaging read.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Damnation Springs. This book has gotten a lot of acclaim recently. This story follows a couple, Rich and Colleen and their son in the late 70s in CA. Rich is a tree-topper, while Colleen is a mid-wife of sorts. What once was a thriving community of loggers, is no longer. Aside from these worries, Colleen wants have another child. After becoming pregnant, she suffers a miscarriage and lays blame on the many herbicides, which more or less surround this community. Tensions are running high and this family is bearing the brunt. I do recommend this book if you are a fan of domestic drama stories

I loved this book! It was set in the 70's but it is still very timely. I loved the author's writing style and I felt engaged with the characters. This book is one that everyone should read. I have ordered this for the library.

DNF at 29%. Maybe not the right book at the right time for me, but I could not get through this. The writing is clear and spare, and I'm sure plenty of readers have and will enjoy this novel set in the Redwoods, but the subject matter just didn't grab me and I gave up slogging through.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is only my second Environmental Fiction book this year, so I will openly admit it was difficult to switch gears and focus. This also had several triggers for me personally, so maybe I unknowingly, emotionally distanced myself from the characters early on.I feel like mid-way through the novel, I became invested in the characters and their relationships with each other, and at the ending, I was hooked. Although one might normally hear from the Environmentalists' side, this book gives multiple viewpoints from both Loggers and Environmentalists. I think reading two different points of view helps people to grow. Loved the twist at the end!

Damnation Spring is a complex story about the challenges of a small town facing multiple cases of infertility and birth defects, only to have their livelihood accused of being the cause. Colleen and Rich, along with their son Chub, live in Damnation Spring as Rich's family has for years, but after hearing concern that the spray that is utilized for essential logging may be the cause of the town's miscarriages, the people are faced with a difficult decision and conflicted about their beliefs and values. Throughout this story there are moments that are inspiring as well as heart wrenching, and it really is an interesting and potentially captivating premise.

The challenge for me was the speed and development of the story. There were many times throughout, especially in the beginning, that I felt like I lost focus or was challenged to keep going as it was more character than story based. This is definitely something that others may enjoy and certainly have from many other reviews I've seen, but always a struggle for me. I cannot say that this impacts the sentiment left behind by the book - after connecting with the characters I was truly moved when finishing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Damnation Spring really looks at environmental versus economic gain. It's well written with clear research about logging. I related to the main character and the dilemmas she faces. I hope this book makes readers think about their consumption and the environment. A must read.

This book took me awhile to get into, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. There were times I felt like it was going to be predictable and the writer would move the story in a surprising direction. This story is heartbreaking on multiple levels. A family sits on the cusp between an old way of life and a new. The birthing of the new is as painful as the death of the old. But between it all is a love story about a family and the land.

Beautifully written, absorbing, and transporting. A story about family, environment, and the clash of cultures and values between working class loggers and environmentalists. It's also the story of marriage, and loss, and how loss challeges a marriage.

This is a book that has gotten so much buzz! I enjoyed the read, but to be clear, it's a bleak tale. I believe that is an intentional choice, and there is beauty in the bleak, but it was sometimes tough to get through. The character development was amazing, and I felt like I had known these people my whole life. The relationships were intense and strong and enduring. I felt the angst and struggle, and there were times this book made me emotional. Is this a light-hearted read? Absolutely not. Is it a powerful indictment on the change in society and the bonds that humans form? Definitely.

Wow, this is depressing. I am not sure I expected this level of emotional suffering. Not for me. I usually don't mind overly descriptive writing, but gosh this was not for me.

Beautiful scenery, hard-working characters, and heart-tugging familial scenarios. It was a bit lengthy, but a well thought out read..

This book failed to keep me interested and I finally just gave up. Thanks to author Ash Davidson, publisher Scribner, and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

This was a little heavy for me. I liked the book but it definitely took me a bit to get into. I would recommend it but it’s lengthy so I think you need to be ready for that and aware when you go into it.

I'm conflicted about this book. The logging terms were heavily used throughout the book and while I think it added to the atmosphere of the story, it was a bit much at times. This story explores themes of infertility and miscarriage, which can be heavy, though I did not feel connected to the characters and their relationships. I appreciate the writing, the setting, and the exploration of money/jobs vs. the environment. The last 25% of the book had a redeeming quality to it, though this book will not be in the favorites for the year.