Where the Forest Meets the Stars, Review: Book club spark

In summary, Glendy Vanderah's debut Where the Forest Meets the Stars is a creative take on challenging and at times confronting subject matter. SkiptocontentWheretheForestMeetstheStars issuretosparkbookclubdebate.GlendyVanderah’snovelisanimmersivereadandcreativetakeonchallengingsubjectmatter.Readonforourfullreview.WheretheForestMeetstheStarsSummaryAmysteriouschildteachestwostrangershowtoloveandtrustagain.Afterthelossofhermotherandherownbattlewithbreastcancer,JoannaTealereturnstohergraduateresearchonnestingbirdsinruralIllinois,determinedtoprovethatherrecenthardshipshavenotbrokenher.Shethrowsherselfintoherworkfromdusktodawn,untilhersolitaryroutineisdisruptedbytheappearanceofamysteriouschildwhoshowsupathercabinbarefootandcoveredinbruises.ThegirlcallsherselfUrsa,andsheclaimstohavebeensentfromthestarstowitnessfivemiracles.Withconcernsaboutthechild’shomesituation,Joreluctantlyagreestoletherstay—justuntilshelearnsmoreaboutUrsa’spast.Joenliststhehelpofherreclusiveneighbour,GabrielNash,tosolvethemysteryofthecharmingchild.Butthemoretimetheyspendtogether,themorequestionstheyhave.HowdoesayounggirlnotonlyreadbutunderstandShakespeare?Whydogoodthingskeephappeninginherpresence?Andwhyaren’tJoandGabecheckingthemissingchildren’swebsiteanymore?Thoughthethreehaveformedanincrediblebond,theyknowdifficultchoicesmustbemade.AsthesummernearsanendandUrsagetsclosertoherfifthmiracle,herdangerouspastclosesin.Whenitfinallycatchesuptothem,alloftheirpainfulsecretswillbeforcedintotheopen,andtheirfateswillbelefttothestars.(LakeUnionPublishing,March2019)*Nottobeconfusedwiththewonderfuliconicchildren’sbookWheretheForestMeetstheSeabyJeannieBaker.Genre: Drama,Literature,RomanceDisclosure:Ifyouclickalinkinthispostandmakeapurchase,Imayearnasmallcommission.BOOKREVIEWTherereallyissomethingabouttheunbridledenthusiasmandresilienceofchildrenthatcandrawoutthebestinadults,warmingheartsoncefrozen.Vanderahplumbsthiseternalspring,focussingonthegoodtobefoundindire situationsinWheretheForestMeetstheStars.Ihadmyreservationsinthisnovel’sfirstfewchapters.FemaleleadJo’ssharp-edgedveneerandfortifiedemotionalwallsmakeheradifficultcharactertoconnectwith.Whydomenoftencallsmartwomendevious?ButitwashardnottobewonoverbylittleUrsathealien’sstubbornconvictionandpenchantforlearning.ThegradualrevelationofGabrielNash’sdysfunctionalfamilyhistoryintroducedanother valuablelayerofintrigue,anddareIsayit,darkhumourtothestorywebalso.We’reatthecreekcatchingfishwithaholeynet.Understandably,thismaytakesometime.Comejoinusifyouenjoyfrustration.WheretheForestMeetstheStarsisdefinitelyaslow-burningread;butultimatelyoneIfoundmyselfimmersedin.Whiletheromanticelementsinthisplotweresweet,thedramaticstorylinecentringonUrsa’splightheldfargreaterpullandrewardforme.Asalways,wordsfailwhenyoumostwanttosaytherightthing.ChallengingtopicsMyreticenceregardingtheromanticrelationshipinthisnovelstemmedfromonereservationIjustcouldnotshake—thatrelatingtothetreatmentofdepressionandrecoveryfromtrauma.Ifeltassumptiveleapsmadebyparticularcharactersdisplayedalackofdepthandnuanceincharacterisation.Likemostpeoplewho’veneverexperiencedit,yourviewofdepressionisoptimisticallymisguided.However,IdocommendVanderah’sendorsementofcourageandresilience,alongwithherambitioninexploringdifficultthemesandraisingimportantquestionssuchasthese.Exposurebreedsdiscussionandonlythroughdiscussionwillunderstandinggrow.Insummary,GlendyVanderah’sdebutWheretheForestMeetstheStarsisacreativetakeonchallengingandattimesconfrontingsubjectmatter.Anovelthatissuretosparkbookclubdebate.BOOKRATING: TheStory4/5; TheWriting3.5/5 — Overal3.75GetyourcopyofWheretheForestMeetstheStarsfrom:AmazonBookDepositoryBooktopiaAUORlistentotheaudiobookFREEwithAudible’sTrial(checkeligibility)Morenovelssuretopromotebookclubdiscussion: APlaceforUsbyFatimaFarheenMirza RestlessSoulsbyDanSheehan EleanorOliphantisCompletelyFinebyGailHoneyman IfKissesCuredCancerbyTSHawken InThisGroundbyBethCastrodaleMoreWhereTheForestMeetstheStarsreviews“Vanderah’sbeautifullyhumanstoryremindsusthatsometimesweneedtolookbeyondthetreetopsatthestarstoletsomelightintoourlives.” —NewYorkJournalofBooks“Apowerfulstoryofthewayinwhichheartsaremendedbylove,compassion,andeverydaymiracles.” —JulianneMacLean, USAToday bestsellingauthor“Askillfullywrittenandthoroughlyentertainingnovelbyanauthorwithagenuinegiftfororiginalityandadistinctivenarrative-drivenstorytellingstyle…” —MidwestBookReview“WheretheForestMeetstheStars isamagicallittlegemofabookfilledwithlotsofloveandhope.” —HelloGigglesArtissupposedtorepresenthowyouseetheworld,notexactlycopyitAbouttheAuthor,GlendyVanderahGlendyVanderahworkedasanendangeredbirdspecialistinIllinoisbeforeshebecameawriter.OriginallyfromChicago,shenowlivesinruralFloridawithasmanybirds,butterflies,andwildflowersasshecanluretoherland.WheretheForestMeetstheStarsisherdebutnovel.ConnectwithGlendyatherwebsite oroninstagram,andcheckoutthisgreatreadingguide whichincludesasetofbookclubquestions.TLCBookTour — Receivingacopyfromthepublisher forreviewpurposesdidnotimpacttheexpressionofmyhonestopinions.Sharethis:ShareonFacebookShareonTwitterShareonPinterestShareonEmailPostnavigationPreviousPreviousMattHoward’sinspirationforTheTimeisNow,MonicaSparrowNextContinueTheRosieResultbyGraemeSimsion,Review:Pitch-perfectconclusionLeaveaReplyCancelreplyYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*Comment*Name*Email*WebsiteOneCommentThanksforbeingonthetour!Sara@TLCBookToursReplyWELCOMEBOOKLOVERS! I’mJo,anAussiebookreviewer.Istartedthiswebsitein2009andquicklyrealisedIenjoywritingandbloggingaboutbooksalmostasmuchasreadingthem.Hopeyouenjoybrowsingmybookreviews&followingmyreadingadventures.Learnmore...SUBSCRIBEtomyBookloverNewsletterandreceiveaFREEsetofpersonalizedbookrecommendations!Browsehundredsofbookreviewsbygenre:Action-AdventureClassicsCrime-DetectiveDramaHistoricalHumourLiteratureMemoirMysteryNonFictionRomanceSciFi-FantasyThrillerYoungAdultFormat&specialfeatures:AudiobookAussieAuthorGraphicNovelInterviewsShortStoriesTranslationsBookreviewsbyrating:★★★★★★★★★½★★★★★★★½★★★★★½★★LatestBookReviewsNewBookReleases2021BooksSeekingReviewersFavouriteReadsof2021RecommendedAudiobooksIntelligentRom-ComsToggleMenuCloseSearchfor:Search