I picture the author looking at a daguerreotype of a family and writing a story based on what she imagines they have gone through. This was a free book I received from goodreads. I was drawn to the book because of the title and the setting. I grew up in the northwest and my dad was a tree-farming dentist. I kind of expected some connections in that respect. But, it was very different: hard, beautiful. The author captured the quiet, loneliness, hardships of the family. I enjoyed the characterization. I loved Talmadge especially, but also Clee, Caroline Middey, Angelene, Della and Jane. Another goodreads contributor compared this book to Edgar Sawtelle. I would agree. I think I would have eliminated the last page of the book. It ended just fine before "the end" (the last two pages).