Book Reviews of East of the Mountains

A "male" story. This is about Ben Givens, a 73yo former cardiac surgeon who is dying of colon cancer. It is not depressing. He sets out to do some bird hunting and ret5urn to his boyhood home with the intention of killing himself in order not to suffer the last stages of cancer. Along the way he has both experiences and people that change his mind. He also reminisces about his earlier years, when he was in the war as a Private, when he met his wife, how he and his older brother Aidan grew up. Guterson is a very graphic writer...you can see his hills and dales and smell his sage and hear his birds. Altogether a totally enjoyable read, and a lesson in the philosophy of dying. 5 stars

East of the Mountains is not about the courage it takes to die, but the courage it takes to live, and guterson depicts ths moral and spiritual struggle with a clear-eyed intensity and intelligence that gives [this novel] its essential authority.

This is a well-written and memorable novel about coming to terms with aging and mortality. Set in the orchard country of eastern Washington State, East of the Mountains is the story of Ben Givens, a WWII veteran, retired heart surgeon and widower. Mourning the death of his beloved wife, Ben sets out on a journey to complete a well-planned suicide, following a diagnosis of terminal cancer. Despite his careful planning and organization, Ben's arrangements fall apart following a car wreck; in the events that follow, Ben meets people: some who help him, and some who disparage him. Through a period of a few days and flashbacks to his childhood, romance and wartime experiences, Ben reassesses his life and future.

This novel is a worthwhile read about the meaning of life. Readers who enjoy the 'rhythm' of words will love it. But, if you are looking for a 'page-turner'.....look elsewhere.

I found it really interesting the way Mr. Guterson's prose shifts between the style he uses to tell the tale (a sad but meaningful one for many, I presume) and an exceptional style he uses to describe landscape and the natural world. Guterson would be a fascinating read if he stuck to the latter...

I loved this book. The main character Ben Givens is a strong but sensitive man who loves life, misses his wife and thinks that he can avoid being a burden to others. The characters that he meets along his chosen journey awakens his desire to continue on with his life.

Not as compelling as Snow Falling on Cedars,it is a book of a dying old man who sets out on one last hunting trip.

Posting this from my Dad's collection - He absolutely loved it.

I liked it even though i read it sevral years ago. Enjoy!

National Bestseller

National Bestseller. Author of Snow Falling on Cedars.