Et cetera : What we're reading: Heartwood

Review of 'Heartwood' by Amity Gaige

This was easily one of the top books I've read this year! What starts out as the desire of a middle-aged lady to walk the Appalachian Trail turns into a powerful page-turner. I read it in just over two evenings, and enjoyed it immensely, even when it dragged me into places I didn't want to go! Reading this book was like peeling an onion. Just when I thought I knew the answer- what happened, to whom, where, and how- everything I knew unraveled, and the story remained a mystery!

At the center of it all is Valerie Gillis, 42 years old and stubborn, who is determined to complete the hike in spite of many, many warnings (most notably from her mother).

'You can't get lost on the Appalachian Trail, they all say. But here at the Maine Warden Service, we get several dozen calls for lost hikers every season,' says Lt. Bev.

This book is told from several points of view, yet it is not at all confusing. Valerie Gillis keeps a journal, in the form of letters to her mother, which we are privy to. Val's husband follows her from a distance, meeting her for restocking supplies and occasionally taking her to a motel for a hot shower and a comfortable bed. He doesn't like 'cops' and wants to defund them. The warden (Lt. Bev) in charge of the search tells her story a chapter of 2 at a time. Santo is a man with whom Valerie hiked until he had an emergency and had to quit the hike and leave the trail. An elderly woman in an assisted living facility hears the news report and thinks her own daughter is the woman missing. She continues to assist even when she learns that her daughter is safe. A psychic named Sonia emails information and asks for maps to be sent to her. Valerie's parents show up; there's a young man in the woods who is off his meds. Oh! Almost forgot! There's also a secret branch of the U.S. military set up in a compound, deep in the forest...good guys or bad guys? With whom are they working?

This is a brand new book, just acquired this month by our library and also through the Libby App, though there is a wait time of several months with Libby. My advice is to reserve this book now, before too many people get in line! Rated 10/10 by me; 3.95/5 by goodreads.com. Relax and read!

Love,

Connie