I chose this book because I liked The Art of Racing in the Rain so much and wanted to see if the author could hit another home run with me. I thought I was picking up a newer work but it turned out to be an older work republished. Not that it matters. Mr. Stein wrote a compelling story of a marriage trying to survive the death of an only child. The story begins two years after the boy's death. The couple, Jenna and Robert, are having difficulties in their marriage, Jenna not able to get past her grief and Robert not able to acknowledge his. In a moment of impulsive action, Jenna finds herself on her way to Alaska, to her grandmother's village near the resort where her son lost his life.
Although the story at this point turns to the supernatural as ancient Indian beliefs manifest themselves in the village Jenna is in, I found the characters and their actions very believable. The author admits to perhaps taking liberties with the Tinglit theology and legends, but I very much enjoyed their inclusion in the story.
I have a bit of a hard time recommending this book because of the oddness of the Tinglit legends come to life. Even accepting the legends as real, there were aspects of it that I couldn't make sense of. However, the relationships and the insights gained of them through the events of the story made it a worthwhile read.
Four of five shots.
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