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Esil's Reviews > History of Wolves

History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund
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3+ stars. I'm really wavering in my reaction to History of Wolves -- things I liked, and things I didn't like so much. In the end, I think I felt that it had a few too many promising story strands that weren't complete or didn't quite come together. Linda aka Madeleine grows up in an old commune in northern Minnesota. She lives with two adults who have stayed on the property who may or may not be her parents. Her story moves back and forth in time, focusing on a few specific story lines -- things that happen between a teacher and another girl at school, neighbours who have an ill son and their issues Linda can't quite grasp, and her later years working a string of bad jobs hanging out with a roommate and a boyfriend. Some of the most interesting parts of the story seem too undeveloped or fragmented to be entirely satisfying --for example, Linda's parents and the commune backstory, and the story involving the neighbours. Other parts feel like superfluous clutter -- like the story involving her school mate and teacher, and her later years with the boyfriend and roommate. As I write this, I think I'm starting to understand the point. This is Linda's subjective view of what she saw, what she understood, what she chose to focus on and what mattered to her as a teenager and young adult, and the consequences of only partially seeing and understanding. It's well written. I liked Linda's relationship with the natural environment she lived in. I expect many readers will love the dreamy quality of the writing. For me, I kept vacillating, much as I have done in this review. Having said that, I would give Fridlund's next book a try. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
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Reading Progress

September 21, 2016 – Shelved
September 21, 2016 – Shelved as: to-read
September 21, 2016 – Shelved as: netgalley
December 14, 2016 – Started Reading
December 16, 2016 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)

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message 1: by Mansuriah (new)

Mansuriah Hassan Nice honest review, Esil :)


Esil Mansuriah wrote: "Nice honest review, Esil :)"

Thanks Mansuriah. I don't like being negative, especially with new writers. I do think this may be more about my reaction. Others have clearly really enjoyed this one.


message 3: by Canadian Jen (new)

Canadian Jen Nice review, Esil. I think I'll pass up on this one - the wavering has me waving bye bye to it.


Esil Jen wrote: "Nice review, Esil. I think I'll pass up on this one - the wavering has me waving bye bye to it."

Lol, Jen. Although you might like it more than I did. Check out some other review before you make up your mind.


Karen Nice review, Esil.., totally agree!!


message 6: by Julie (new) - added it

Julie Ehlers Good review! It lets me know what I'm in for without really giving anything away. :)


message 7: by Mike (new) - added it

Mike Nice review, Esil. I think that the books that make you vacillate about them shows that you're still processing them. There's enough here that I'm still curious about this one.


Esil Karen wrote: "Nice review, Esil.., totally agree!!"

Thanks Karen. Nice to not be alone :)


Esil Julie wrote: "Good review! It lets me know what I'm in for without really giving anything away. :)"

Thanks Julie. There's a lot in the that you find out as you go, so I tried to avoid spoilers. I would love to see what you think if you end up reading it. I wonder if I just took a lazy approach to reading this one -- not wanting to do the work to put the pieces together.


message 10: by Esil (new) - rated it 3 stars

Esil Mike wrote: "Nice review, Esil. I think that the books that make you vacillate about them shows that you're still processing them. There's enough here that I'm still curious about this one."

Thanks Mike. I think that's fair, and would love to see what you think.


Diane S ☔ You go up, I go, down and visa versa, but we both came to 3.5. I did like the dreamy quality, why I went up. Loved your thoughts on this one.


message 12: by Esil (new) - rated it 3 stars

Esil Diane S ☔ wrote: "You go up, I go, down and visa versa, but we both came to 3.5. I did like the dreamy quality, why I went up. Loved your thoughts on this one."

Thanks Diane. I understand why a lot of people liked this one. I just got impatient with aspects of it.


message 13: by Carol (new)

Carol Articulate and fair, Esil.


message 14: by Esil (new) - rated it 3 stars

Esil Carol wrote: "Articulate and fair, Esil."

Thanks Carol.


message 15: by Carol (new)

Carol This is a possibility but not now when I'm having trouble focusing. I think you wrote a fine and honest review.


message 16: by Esil (new) - rated it 3 stars

Esil Carol wrote: "This is a possibility but not now when I'm having trouble focusing. I think you wrote a fine and honest review."

Thanks Carol. This is definitely not a book to read when you're have trouble focusing.


Karen R I had mixed feelings on this one too, Esil. Have been thinking about how to put my thoughts down in words for the last few days. Great and thoughtful review.


message 18: by Esil (new) - rated it 3 stars

Esil Karen wrote: "I had mixed feelings on this one too, Esil. Have been thinking about how to put my thoughts down in words for the last few days. Great and thoughtful review."

Thanks Karen. I'm looking forward to your review. It's one of those books I felt bad about not liking more.


Angela M is taking a break. You always write so intelligently when in giving your likes and dislikes , Esil . This was an odd one !


message 20: by Esil (new) - rated it 3 stars

Esil Angela M wrote: "You always write so intelligently when in giving your likes and dislikes , Esil . This was an odd one !"

Thanks, Angela. I had expected to like it more than I did.


Barbara I agree, it's very well written and I'd give her another try if she writes another novel. Great review!


message 22: by Esil (new) - rated it 3 stars

Esil Barbara wrote: "I agree, it's very well written and I'd give her another try if she writes another novel. Great review!"

Thanks, Barbara. There were clearly many people who liked this one more than I did but she is definitely talented.


Cecily "Some of the most interesting parts of the story seem too undeveloped or fragmented to be entirely satisfying"
Yes, this, though I wasn't sure if that was a deliberate choice or a flaw of Fridlund's writing. The roommate and boyfriend didn't add much, but unlike you, I thought the story about the teacher and other pupil had much more to explore.


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