This novel is a literary masterpiece full of smart, captivating writing and intricate storytelling. If the trees in a forest or a home on ancient land could talk, what tales would they tell? Do ghosts of the past live only in memories?

This is an enchanting read that describes snippets of life on a property in Western Massachusetts, and the connections that remain throughout a span of hundreds of years. Vivid imagery transports you into the lush mysterious depths of the titular woods, its flora and fauna described in stunning detail. Some of these elements from nature are beautifully used as symbolism throughout the story as well. Told from different character point of views, you're made keenly aware of the motivations for their actions and ultimately can't help but to believe in their hopes and dreams or empathize with their tragedies. Poetic at times (literally and figuratively), the author's prose also has a touch of the morose and wit that calls to mind Edgar Allan Poe's style. What at first seems to be a mundane story about this cabin in the woods, turns out to be a rich, dark, and almost hypnotic journey through varied seasons of life, death and the history that lives on in the future.

I absolutely loved this and highly recommend for fans of literary and historical fiction.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. I will be sharing my review on Instagram and Amazon.

Pulitzer Prize Finalist Daniel Mason ties together a series of short stories featuring characters through the ages that come to live in a small house in the woods of New England. Runaway Puritan lovers, British soldier, crime reporter, the fascinating array of people, animals and more, make a home in the house. Readers

Mason makes magic as he ties it all together in a subversive way that keeps the reader guessing and searching. How are we all connected? How do we live on in memory after death? If you love a cutting edge novel, North Woods is for you! #NorthWoods #DanielMason #RandomHouse

North Woods by Daniel Mason is a captivating novel that follows the lives of various individuals and non-human characters across centuries, all of whom have been connected to a single house in the woods of New England. The narrative begins with two young lovers who escape from a Puritan colony to live in a humble cabin in the woods. From there, the novel weaves together the stories of an English soldier, a pair of spinster twins, a crime reporter, a lovelorn painter, a sinister con man, a stalking panther, and a lusty beetle, among others.

Mason's highly inventive writing style brings each character's story to life, capturing their joys, fears, and struggles with exquisite detail. The novel explores the interconnectivity of history, nature, and language, and how these elements shape and influence the lives of the characters. Mason's descriptions of the natural world are particularly stunning, bringing to life the beauty and mystery of the woods.

North Woods is a novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories that span centuries, and those who appreciate the intricate connections between human and non-human lives. Mason's ability to weave together multiple storylines into a cohesive narrative is impressive, and his writing is both lyrical and poignant. The novel is a testament to the enduring power of memory, and the ways in which our lives are shaped by the past, present, and future.