It’s Jake’s birthday. He is sitting in a small plane, being flown over the landscape that has been the backdrop to his life – ... read full description
reviews
Mar 26, 2009
Nancy
rated it: 
Subjective as memory is, when we begin to lose vast chunks of it, we become unreliable as narrators of our own lives, and even those memories that are etched on our brains become suspect. Harvey's narrator, Jake Jameson, a retired architect, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The book meanders, as his mind does, back and forth through the years and experiences of his life, exploring how we create and recreate ourselves over time, and how when memory starts to go, others are free to challenge
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Jun 09, 2011
Jeruen
rated it: 
As I have been mentioning from time to time whenever I review a book, I rarely put a book down simply because the beginning part of the book seems to be bad. I usually finish the book all the way to the end hoping that it would turn good as I go along. And this time around, I am glad that I did that for this book.
So, what is this book about? This book tells the tale of Jacob Jameson, an architect, with two kids, a wife, a mistress, and an Alzheimer’s disease patient. The book starts wi More...
So, what is this book about? This book tells the tale of Jacob Jameson, an architect, with two kids, a wife, a mistress, and an Alzheimer’s disease patient. The book starts wi More...
Aug 04, 2010
Hattie
rated it:
The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey is a book mainly about a man named Jacob. All the other characters are family, friends or business associates of Jacob. Sadly, Jacob is living the rest of his days on earth with Alzheimer's Disease. In my eyes, Samantha Harvey's book is all about memory. Before Jake lost the ability to remember his everyday life he worked as an architect. His own hands designed the prison in which his son lives out his days as a prisoner. Oddly, Henry and Jacob are both prisoner
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Jul 04, 2010
Alicia
rated it:
Jake Jameson has trouble finding himself, trouble locating himself in moments and places. The retired architect stutter-steps through his days, not knowing how he got from the top of the stairs to the bottom, or what point he's been arguing so forcefully. But, "in amongst a sea of events and names that have been forgotten, there are a number of episodes that float with striking buoyancy to the surface." These episodes are the stories around which Samantha Harvey's "The Wilderness"
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Jul 17, 2009
Beatrice
rated it: 
I borrowed this book from the v-city public library (and took it on my kayaking trip, where it got wet and moldy) mostly hoping for a dim intellectual insight into my grandmother's disease, which I hardly understand. I did not have high hopes or expectations but this ended up being one of the most haunting, lovely, and unforgettable books I've read in a long time. I loved it.
Harvey's story (marked, in equal parts it seems to me, by her training in both creative writing and philosophy) More...
Harvey's story (marked, in equal parts it seems to me, by her training in both creative writing and philosophy) More...
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May 31, 2009
mark
rated it: 
I couldn't keep reading, it wasn't bad but tedious. Just on and on about the inner mental workings and musings of a successful architect with Alzheimer's. What I struggled most with is this: How does the author know what she's writing about? A person whose memory is shot can't accurately tell you what that is like. There's no way of knowing what that experience is like except speculation. It was a confusing story -- hard to decipher what was what, and who was who. The author had a backwards way
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Aug 01, 2009
Tracy
rated it:
This is the first book I've read of my 2009 Booker longlist marathon (if the third on the list) and it's placed the bar pretty high.
The protagonist is a man suffering from Alzheimer's and remembering his life - but the bits and pieces that don't always mesh, he's never sure of the timeline and sometimes he's not sure of who he's remembering and scenes come back to him or fade away over and over.
And it's about his relationship with his mother, with his son, with More...
The protagonist is a man suffering from Alzheimer's and remembering his life - but the bits and pieces that don't always mesh, he's never sure of the timeline and sometimes he's not sure of who he's remembering and scenes come back to him or fade away over and over.
And it's about his relationship with his mother, with his son, with More...
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Feb 17, 2009
Judy
rated it:
But oh no, not an easy read. I'm used to racing through books, but who can race through the tangled wilderness of a deteriorating mind. And who would even want to skim quickly through the rich landscape of imagery created by this most-talented author...
Ms. Harvey deftly flips back and forth through time and memories as Jake's mind and world erodes. If we are lost, consider poor Jake-- or perhaps your mother, or your father-in-law, or your great-aunt Charlotte --as they wander through More...
Ms. Harvey deftly flips back and forth through time and memories as Jake's mind and world erodes. If we are lost, consider poor Jake-- or perhaps your mother, or your father-in-law, or your great-aunt Charlotte --as they wander through More...
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May 22, 2011
Paul
rated it:
I have some trouble reviewing this because I meet people who have dementia most of the time in my work.
It is the story of Jake, an architect, who has Alzheimer's type dementia. The novel cuts between past and present and is very poignant. The story of Jake's family; his mother, wife and son unfolds. At the start of the book Jake has dementia at a fairly early stage; his wife died aged 53, his son is in a prison he designed. His history is not clear because as the book goes on it becomes cl More...
It is the story of Jake, an architect, who has Alzheimer's type dementia. The novel cuts between past and present and is very poignant. The story of Jake's family; his mother, wife and son unfolds. At the start of the book Jake has dementia at a fairly early stage; his wife died aged 53, his son is in a prison he designed. His history is not clear because as the book goes on it becomes cl More...
Jun 26, 2011
Marion
rated it:
A touching insight into the wilderness of a deteriorating mind, Samantha Harvey's debut novel is both brave and beautiful in its depiction of Alzheimer's disease. The theme of memory is weaved with a subtle complexity into Jake's fragmented narrative, reappearing as evolving motifs which bear greater meaning and significance as the incongruent pieces of an infinite and never ending puzzle are forced together. A cherry tree, varying shades of yellow, battenberg cake; events, people and objects bl
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Mar 22, 2011
Artie
rated it:
This will probably sound a little strange, but I'd like to read this again, a little more slowly, to fully get a better feel for the story and characters. I read it too fast, partly because I didn't feel engaged by the main character, and was pulled this way and that by the directions taken. They make sense, of course, and are relevant to the story, but it all worked against me a little. Or I against it. It felt like it might be a beautiful book, and at times I was touched, but I didn't take eno
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Jun 15, 2009
Author Annette
rated it:
The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey (Book Review)
The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey is now in paperback by Jonathan Cape. It has been short listed for the Orange Prize. It is the author’s debut novel. She has a masters degree in philosphy and has taught English, so I am now suprised it is literary and truthfull. It has been brillantly researched. This is a psychological fiction novel about Jake a 60 year old architect who has short term memory loss but his long term memory is ok. The story i More...
The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey is now in paperback by Jonathan Cape. It has been short listed for the Orange Prize. It is the author’s debut novel. She has a masters degree in philosphy and has taught English, so I am now suprised it is literary and truthfull. It has been brillantly researched. This is a psychological fiction novel about Jake a 60 year old architect who has short term memory loss but his long term memory is ok. The story i More...
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Jun 11, 2010
Brian
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The Wilderness is the story of a man who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The novel is narrated from his point of view. At the beginning of the book he is relatively lucid though there are already clues to his deteriorating state; by the end of the book he is profoundly confused.
It's not necessarily an enjoyable book to read. It's too harrowing for that. But it succeeds incredibly well in conveying the reality of a deteriorating mind. So much so, in fact, that as I read, I beg More...
It's not necessarily an enjoyable book to read. It's too harrowing for that. But it succeeds incredibly well in conveying the reality of a deteriorating mind. So much so, in fact, that as I read, I beg More...
Mar 19, 2009
Matt
rated it:
I keep alternating between a 2 and a 3 star rating for this novel.
On one hand, there are a few loose ends I wish were tied up, however some plot points that are shored up are eventually brought into question by Jacob's (the main character) dwindling grasp on reality.
The story seems to meander aimlessly and contradicts itself over and over. I think this is intentional due to the nature of Jacob's illness.
This book made me think of the film "Eternal Sunshine of the More...
On one hand, there are a few loose ends I wish were tied up, however some plot points that are shored up are eventually brought into question by Jacob's (the main character) dwindling grasp on reality.
The story seems to meander aimlessly and contradicts itself over and over. I think this is intentional due to the nature of Jacob's illness.
This book made me think of the film "Eternal Sunshine of the More...
Feb 05, 2011
Paul
rated it:
This is a beautifully written novel about a man suffering from Alzheimers, losing great swathes of his memory and life, and quite aware of the loss. Harvey writes in a sympathetic, empathetic manner, and seems to know her subject well. Unfortunately the subject is a forbiddingly sad one, one most readers will be unwilling to face. I found myself increasingly unwilling, and abandoned the novel halfway through . . . I simply could not take any more. Perhaps if I were dealing with an older relat
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Apr 20, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
While the characters in this novel do in fact spend time in the wilderness. The title is probably more a metaphor from what Alzheimer's has done to Jake, the narrators mind. He wanders here and there, in both time and space, trying to recall the people and events in in his life. Sadly, for both him and the reader, Jake is hopelessly lost. Throughout the novel he wanders farther and farther into the wilderness and in the end there is no escape for the narrator. Thankfully for the reader, the end
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Apr 10, 2010
Daniel
rated it:
The Wilderness is a wonderfully rich and heartbreaking debut novel in which Samantha Harvey takes up the formidable challenge of taking readers inside the deteriorating mind of a man afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Sixty-five-year-old architect Jake Jameson desperately tries to make sense of a life imbued with joy, sadness, and regret, even as the memories that define him and his life begin to morph and slip free of his mental grasp. He has faced his fair share of tragedies: his wife died at
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Aug 06, 2011
A novel about memory and its reliability; a first person narrative told from the perspective of a man with Alzheimer’s disease. An important subject, but I did not particularly enjoy this book or find it convincing. In part this relates to the difficulty of the approach, and in part the nature of the writing, which I found rather strained. This book has received very positive reviews, and I was expecting great things, but ultimately I was left feeling rather disappointed.
Feb 05, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
Of all the 2009 Booker nominees I've read, this has blown everything else out of the water. I've become addicted to this book in the few days we've spent together, sneaking off to read it at every spare moment, completely caught up in Jake's deterioration and recollection. The signposts that Harvey deposits throughout the book performed little cinches on my heart every time I encountered one.
It's absolutely breathtaking what the author has done in (de)constructing the world of the More...
It's absolutely breathtaking what the author has done in (de)constructing the world of the More...
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Aug 24, 2009
Julie
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A Booker prize long list nominee, this book details the progression of Alzheimer's disease in the main character, Jake. His memory loss gets progressively worse over the course of the novel. Simply written, but compelling, Jake's attempts to hang on to his memories is heartbreaking. And, honestly, scary. It could happen to any of us. The novel is a meditation on the impermanance of memory, even in those who are healthy. Not a happy book, but a beautifully written one.
Jun 10, 2009
Becky
rated it:
Maybe if I didn't have anything else to read I would have finished this book. It was just too random and sad - but I don't know how a book about Alzheimer's can't be random and sad. I guess I should have picked up a different book and saved this heavier read for another time.
read until page 161
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"One day, he supposes, he will not even remember that he does not know or remember..."
" More...
read until page 161
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"One day, he supposes, he will not even remember that he does not know or remember..."
" More...
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Sep 02, 2009
Kathleen
rated it:
This book reminds me of plaid. It goes many places, and it's difficult at times to follow the lines. It is woven intricately, and is difficult to separate one color from another
Jake is struggling with Alzheimer's disease. Lyrically written, it shows us the various aspects of his life, his career as an architect, his life with Helen, his wife, his son Henry, his daughter Alice. But, there are other characters as well, Root and Eleanor at the bar, Joy who has moved to America.
As my mo More...
Jake is struggling with Alzheimer's disease. Lyrically written, it shows us the various aspects of his life, his career as an architect, his life with Helen, his wife, his son Henry, his daughter Alice. But, there are other characters as well, Root and Eleanor at the bar, Joy who has moved to America.
As my mo More...
Aug 19, 2009
Eric
rated it:
I don't think Samantha Harvey goes too far to identify her protagonist's thoughts, because if she did he would be far too incoherent (see The Sound and Fury) for this novel to be pleasurable reading. That's not to say this story of the fractured four years in which his Alzheimer's condition worsens is a fun read. At least it is possible to follow his revisionist memory, but through these re-worked memories we do sense the devastation.
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Jan 11, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
Wow. Superb rendering of a man's mind slowly slipping away. Takes some patience -- Harvey unravels her protagonist slowly, which is more realistic, and so more painful to witness, but also means this isn't a page-turner. The one big flaw to me was that Helen, the man's wife, seemed completely insufferable. I had no idea what he saw in her, which sapped the power from the memories of their early marriage. But overall, highly recommended.
Dec 27, 2011
Claire
rated it: 
I started to read this for a book club and I am sorry to report that I did not finish it. I found it difficult to follow, the main character is not likeable and after about a third of the book I decided I really did not care what happened to these people and it was not enjoyable. Others in the book club stuck it out and felt it did make you think about the subject of dementia but I don't think any of them rated it highly.
May 07, 2010
Amber
rated it:
I am giving this three stars because I thought it was extremely well written. So well written that I began to think that I might be developing Alzheimers. There were a couple of issues that the book never puts a close to and I wish it had. And I was a little annoyed that this book once again features men who are incapable of being faithful-a common trait I have found in most books I have read lately. Maybe someone should take up the challenge of writing about fidelty and try to make that interst
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May 05, 2009
Karen
rated it:
sooooo sad! Beautifully written, and I was impressed at how the author got inside the head of a man with worsening Alzheimer's. The reader sees things so fully aligned with the main character that we can't figure out what really happened when his memories don't seem to be accurate, and we are often fooled by memories that seem so lucid they must be accurate and then include details that don't make sense.
Feb 18, 2012
Sophia
rated it:
This is the best book I've read in a long, long time. I am even more impressed to know that this is a first novel. Someone has likened the literary style to Faulkner, which might explain why some people found it a difficult read (!)
I’m biased, because I really rate Faulkner and consider that the devices he employs – and now Harvey, too - are ideally suited to writing about Alzheimer’s and the loss of memory.
I’m biased, because I really rate Faulkner and consider that the devices he employs – and now Harvey, too - are ideally suited to writing about Alzheimer’s and the loss of memory.
Feb 11, 2012
Ruth
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What do you do with a book you think was written really well, but you didn't love? This one was a random (the term Jack and I use for those we pull from the library shelves at random and decide to give a shot). I knew it might be a difficult one to stomach as the main character is wading his way through Alzheimer's. Surprisingly, it actually wasn't. It was the flow of his thoughts I found hard to follow, although that is kind of the point. Certainly not an uplifting story, but beautifully writte
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Jun 07, 2011
Eliza
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Jacob, a widowed architect, is slowly losing his memory due to Alzheimer's, and this story manages to portray his struggle to keep hold of his life while also showing pictures of that life. The unreliability of the narrator is, in many ways, the point of the story: not only is he forgetting, but what he remembers is always, of course, subjective, so the whole question of "what really happened" is rendered moot by the realization that whatever actually happened is only in his head anyw
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