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The Summer of the Bear
In 1980 Germany, Cold War tensions are once again escalating and a mole is suspected in the British Embassy. So when the clever diplomat Nicky Fleming dies suddenly and suspiciously, it’s convenient to brand him the traitor. But was his death an accident, murder, or suicide? As the government investigates Nicky's death, his wife relocates with their three children to a remote Scottish island hoping to save what remains of their family. But the isolated shores of her childhood retreat only intensify their distance between them, and it is the brilliant and peculiar youngest child, Jamie, who alone holds on to the one thing he’s sure of: his father has promised to return and he was a man who never broke a promise.
When Jamie sets off to explore the island with his teenage sisters, they discover a tamed grizzly bear has been marooned on shore, hiding somewhere among the seaside caves. Jamie believes the bear may have a strange connection to his father, and as he seeks the truth, Nicky's story begins revealing itself in unexpected ways.
When Jamie sets off to explore the island with his teenage sisters, they discover a tamed grizzly bear has been marooned on shore, hiding somewhere among the seaside caves. Jamie believes the bear may have a strange connection to his father, and as he seeks the truth, Nicky's story begins revealing itself in unexpected ways.
441 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
157 people are currently reading
2621 people want to read
About the author
Bella Pollen
10 books61 followersRaised in New York , Bella Pollen is a writer and journalist who has contributed to a variety of publications, including Uk and American Vogue, The Times, the Sunday Telegraph and the Observer.
Author of five previous novels, including the best selling Hunting Unicorns and critically acclaimed Summer of the Bear, Pollen has tackled a broad spectrum of subjects from Cold War intrigue to decline of the British Aristocracy to the immigration issues of the US/Mexican Border.
With Meet Me in the In-Between, an illustrated memoir, Pollen takes us on her illuminating, funny and often painful quest to keep looking for the extraordinary in an ordinary life.
Pollen divides her time between London and the American mid-west.
Author of five previous novels, including the best selling Hunting Unicorns and critically acclaimed Summer of the Bear, Pollen has tackled a broad spectrum of subjects from Cold War intrigue to decline of the British Aristocracy to the immigration issues of the US/Mexican Border.
With Meet Me in the In-Between, an illustrated memoir, Pollen takes us on her illuminating, funny and often painful quest to keep looking for the extraordinary in an ordinary life.
Pollen divides her time between London and the American mid-west.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
June 1, 2011
Understated Magical Thinking
This is a whimsical coming of age story of three siblings growing up on a far northern Scottish Island. They’ve just lost their diplomatist father in a horrible accident (or was it suicide?) and their mother has emotionally checked out of their lives. The two oldest Georgie, 17 and Alba, 14 are negotiating puberty with more or less success but the girls’ 9 year old brother Jamie is floundering but then he’s always been on the odd. He can’t accept that his much loved dad is gone forever and becomes convinced that he has returned in the guise of a grizzly bear that’s been lost on their island having slipped away from his wrestling bear owner. This honors the beliefs of the local fishermen who legend has it can return to life as seagulls. Mom’s drinking becomes worse as she sits up nights rereading her husband’s apparent suicide note and rehashing their life together searching for truth and some meaning. The kids are left alone to raise themselves and one another. There is a non-cloying sweetness to this book. It’s filled with nostalgia (it’s set in the 1970’s), the Hebrides island a remote but beautiful place and there’s the magical thinking of childhood that never quite tips over into the fantastical. Finally there’s optimism and love that leads to honesty and a remerging and renewing within this family. Another juicy tidbit are the snippets of the father’s diplomatic work concerning the cold war as it played out in Germany in the decades post World War II.
This is a whimsical coming of age story of three siblings growing up on a far northern Scottish Island. They’ve just lost their diplomatist father in a horrible accident (or was it suicide?) and their mother has emotionally checked out of their lives. The two oldest Georgie, 17 and Alba, 14 are negotiating puberty with more or less success but the girls’ 9 year old brother Jamie is floundering but then he’s always been on the odd. He can’t accept that his much loved dad is gone forever and becomes convinced that he has returned in the guise of a grizzly bear that’s been lost on their island having slipped away from his wrestling bear owner. This honors the beliefs of the local fishermen who legend has it can return to life as seagulls. Mom’s drinking becomes worse as she sits up nights rereading her husband’s apparent suicide note and rehashing their life together searching for truth and some meaning. The kids are left alone to raise themselves and one another. There is a non-cloying sweetness to this book. It’s filled with nostalgia (it’s set in the 1970’s), the Hebrides island a remote but beautiful place and there’s the magical thinking of childhood that never quite tips over into the fantastical. Finally there’s optimism and love that leads to honesty and a remerging and renewing within this family. Another juicy tidbit are the snippets of the father’s diplomatic work concerning the cold war as it played out in Germany in the decades post World War II.
July 20, 2013
The summer after my grandma died, my aunt and I went to have a picnic at her grave because we had promised her we would have lunch with her after she left the world. As we spread out our blanket, something caught our eye. A beautiful doe stood looking at us, in the middle of a city grave yard, almost close enough to touch. She stood there through most of lunch until we helped lead to her to an opening so she could run back to the woods (even though the wooded lots were so small we couldn't believe deer lived in them.) We couldn't help but wonder if grandma had sent her to let us know she knew we had kept our promise.
Animals are sometimes symbols or the embodiment of the people that have died for those left behind. And I think this is one the reasons I found myself drawn to this book. Jamie, an eight year old swears his dad will return to them in some fashion and he spends his time trying to find him. He looks for clues about what has happened to his father. Where is heaven? Is there an address? Is he on vacation? Will he come back maybe as a different person or maybe as a bird? How will he know where to find them now that they have moved to a remote Scottish island? How can he send him a message?
I love Jamie. He reminds me of one of my sons and a million little boys I have taught. Jamie has a hard time reading. Letters are a secret code he has a hard time cracking. He has a difficult time deciphering the meanings in language (I found his thoughts abstract and beautiful). He is often verbally attacked by others though (like his sister Alba who thinks her cruelty towards him will toughen him up) but his different learning style also makes him see the world as a place full of wonder and beauty. Jamie is a child whose innocence, wonder, and kindness brings people joy especially the skeptics. I loved looking at the world through Jamie's eyes and through his precious little open heart. Jamie is why I love this book.
Alba is cruel to her brother but I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Also, I could not help but understand what she was going through. After all, it's a difficult thing when people and places fall from their pedestals and break into a thousand pieces at your feet. Ignorance is bliss and logical Alba lost her ability to see the world through innocent eyes. She feels that the world is a cruel place she must be ready for.
Georgia is the eldest child. She is a mixture of the two, mature, trust-worthy but also trusting. She wants to know the reasons behind the death of her father, a British diplomat, yet she is scared to know. She is also at the start of spreading her wings, trying to balance responsibility and freedom.
All three children are brought to life. They seem like children I've met before. Their thoughts and actions are completely believable and familiar to me, maybe memories of what I felt like as a child or from recent memories of my sons. Their depictions are what kept me reading late into the night.
Of course, I also love the bear. What is there not to love about a cute lumbering bear that collects pretty and interesting items on the island he finds himself stranded on? This part of the story is true. There once was a tame bear that got lost on the island. During his ordeal, even though he found himself half starved he never hurt a single soul. Not even a sheep lost a hair due to his enormous claws. He simply waited for someone to find and rescue him.
I want to rescue the bear. I want to rescue these people. They do not seem fictional. They seem like family.
On a different note, this book can't be all good, right? Some reviews said that some parts were offensive because the author didn't do her research. That life in the British embassy is not like that and that the descriptions of Germany is not fair. I can respect that. It's probably true for those that live there and/ or live that life. The lack of authenticity probably is offensive and annoying. However, for those that do not know any better like me, these parts of the story are so understated that they do not feel like negatives against the places and careers mentioned.
To me, the power, the heartbeat of the story are the three children that look for their dad's presence everywhere, even in the most remote emotional places. There is so much heartache found in Jaime's sweet little voice as he calls out for his "Dada". This book broke my heart. I think all good stories do. It is a tender and touching book.
April 30, 2011
I happily chose to receive an advanced reader copy of British author, Bella Pollen's The Summer of the Bear from Author Exposure. Why you may ask? Maybe it was the colorful cover or the enticing title but the synopsis did the trick for me. Described as depicting a world "where extraordinary and rather magical forces are at play." I knew immediately this piece of literary fiction about a widow, a bear and her three children was for me.
Who doesn't love a story with a bear in it, especially one that may be exceptional and magical? I found the idea especially enticing amidst the backdrop of a grieving widow and her children set in the Hebrides in the 1970's.
When Letitia Fleming's husband, Nicky Fleming, dies of an apparent suicide during the course of his diplomatic station in Berlin, the family must deal with not only the loss of a husband and father, but the questionable activities he may have engaged in during the Cold War. Partially to escape the implications, but more so due to economic stress, Letitia moves with her children from Berlin to her childhood home on the Scottish Islands of the Hebrides.
During the course of this transition the story is told in flash backs depicting each family member's relationship to Nicky. To the potential reader this may sound like a bit too much head hopping. At times the author even writes from the viewpoint of the bear, a misplaced and forlorn Grizzly, who is forced to scavenge along the shores of the Hebrides, a far cry from the normal ecosystem in which one might picture his species. How can a writer effectively craft a story through so many points of view? Bella Pollen handles it exquisitely and by this very method, the author delivers the story in a multidimensional manner that exceeds ordinary experience.
The Summer of the Bear carried me to the depths of each character's experience from the youngest child, the innocent Jamie, who, to an endearing fault, perceives the world literally at face value; to his older sisters, one toughened and prickly to deflect her emotions, the other withdrawn, to nurture them; to his mother, Letitia, brave yet retreating into reticence, the kind of silence that speaks loudly to children. The interior worlds of each of these characters are carefully woven together to eventually merge and reveal the true meaning of this summer of the bear.
The mix of the bear's symbolism with both interpersonal and historical elements make this truly a timeless story, brilliantly unfolded in an eloquent blend of words that this writer/reviewer will savor for a long time to come. Both teens and adults will appreciate The Summer of The Bear and with it's release scheduled for June of 2011, it is sure to make a great summer read. I give it my highest rating!
Who doesn't love a story with a bear in it, especially one that may be exceptional and magical? I found the idea especially enticing amidst the backdrop of a grieving widow and her children set in the Hebrides in the 1970's.
When Letitia Fleming's husband, Nicky Fleming, dies of an apparent suicide during the course of his diplomatic station in Berlin, the family must deal with not only the loss of a husband and father, but the questionable activities he may have engaged in during the Cold War. Partially to escape the implications, but more so due to economic stress, Letitia moves with her children from Berlin to her childhood home on the Scottish Islands of the Hebrides.
During the course of this transition the story is told in flash backs depicting each family member's relationship to Nicky. To the potential reader this may sound like a bit too much head hopping. At times the author even writes from the viewpoint of the bear, a misplaced and forlorn Grizzly, who is forced to scavenge along the shores of the Hebrides, a far cry from the normal ecosystem in which one might picture his species. How can a writer effectively craft a story through so many points of view? Bella Pollen handles it exquisitely and by this very method, the author delivers the story in a multidimensional manner that exceeds ordinary experience.
The Summer of the Bear carried me to the depths of each character's experience from the youngest child, the innocent Jamie, who, to an endearing fault, perceives the world literally at face value; to his older sisters, one toughened and prickly to deflect her emotions, the other withdrawn, to nurture them; to his mother, Letitia, brave yet retreating into reticence, the kind of silence that speaks loudly to children. The interior worlds of each of these characters are carefully woven together to eventually merge and reveal the true meaning of this summer of the bear.
The mix of the bear's symbolism with both interpersonal and historical elements make this truly a timeless story, brilliantly unfolded in an eloquent blend of words that this writer/reviewer will savor for a long time to come. Both teens and adults will appreciate The Summer of The Bear and with it's release scheduled for June of 2011, it is sure to make a great summer read. I give it my highest rating!
April 4, 2015
Author Bella Pollen has a gift for inhabiting the experiential worlds of her characters — even when the character is a bear. The book opens in the Outer Hebrides, remote islands off the western coast of Scotland. The rough icy water is saturated with the fragrances of plants and animals. The bear is tame, but in a chance moment his tether snaps and he seizes his freedom, swimming through the surf and disappearing into shadowy crags.
The other characters are the unsettled remnants of the Fleming family. Georgie, 17, is the quiet observant peace-maker. Alba, at 14, is the difficult one, chafing at everything and everyone around her and projecting her diffuse unhappiness as rage, particularly rage aimed at her little brother Jamie. Jamie is 8 but still dwells in a netherworld where fantasy and reality connect. His dyslexia adds to that world of poetry where boundaries between order and chaos are tenuous. Finally, there is Letty, their mother. She has brought them to the Outer Hebrides because this is where she grew up. This is home, and right now, she needs a home, or more accurately, a refuge.
The family was accustomed to a rootless existence. Letty's husband Nicky was in the British foreign service and re-postings were frequent. This nomadic existence was exciting and the family had always adapted. However, this last change, from the freedom of Africa to the stifling confines of Bonn, has been particularly difficult. The diplomatic pecking order with its rigid protocols and dress codes is as oppressive as the atmosphere of Cold War suspicion that permeates German life in the '70's. Even Nicky who loves his job is affected by the stress of career building, Cold War tensions and government secrets.
Secrecy is a strong current that runs through this book. The imperious wife of the ambassador warns Letty that her role is to support Nicky's career. (Of course, by this calculus, if his career falters, Letty will have been to blame). Dutifully, Letty resolves to shrink into this diminutive mold. “At first the difference in their relationship was so subtle, she barely noticed it. It was as though each sentence had one word less and each conversation was short of one sentence. Slowly but surely though, whole paragraphs began to disappear from their lives until information was being exchanged on a need-to-know basis only....Communication operates according to the law of diminishing returns. The less there is, the less is generated.” (p.255)
Then, suddenly, Nicky dies. It looks like a suicide. But why would a man in his position commit suicide? What exactly was his position? The reader knows of Nicky only through the eyes of the various family members. Therefore, it's an idealized picture. He was charming, brilliant, patient, imaginative, funny... perfect?
Jamie's viewpoint dominates the story. Well-wishers express sorrow at the family's loss. To Jamie, this means his father went somewhere but now he is lost and can't get home again. Nicky had promised to take Jamie to the circus to see the performing bear, and Nicky always kept his promises, so this is a serious puzzle. When they move to the Hebrides, Jamie dispatches a fleet of bottles each filled with a map marking their destination.
It is this rich fantasy life that immerses the reader. The remote isolation of the land with its insular ideas, folklore, and family legends adds to that alternative reality. Reject that fantasy and the options are limited. There is Letty withdrawing into the muffled world of depression. There is Georgie with her own secret conflicts. Finally, there is Alba's cruel fury. It is a tribute to Pollen's writing that the reader is drawn to sympathize even with Alba. The energy of her derisive comments provides a certain momentum to the story. When a stray cow wanders on to their property, she suggests with venomous glee that they name the cow “The Ambassadress.”
The problem with this book is the attempt to find resolution by re-introducing the real world elements. The set-up and exposition of these components felt extraneous. It is unclear until the very end how these elements will become relevant. There is a feeling of dissonance with the mood that dominates most of the book. Still, this was an engaging story with memorable characters and a convincing setting. The closure the characters feel at its ending will be shared by the reader.
The other characters are the unsettled remnants of the Fleming family. Georgie, 17, is the quiet observant peace-maker. Alba, at 14, is the difficult one, chafing at everything and everyone around her and projecting her diffuse unhappiness as rage, particularly rage aimed at her little brother Jamie. Jamie is 8 but still dwells in a netherworld where fantasy and reality connect. His dyslexia adds to that world of poetry where boundaries between order and chaos are tenuous. Finally, there is Letty, their mother. She has brought them to the Outer Hebrides because this is where she grew up. This is home, and right now, she needs a home, or more accurately, a refuge.
The family was accustomed to a rootless existence. Letty's husband Nicky was in the British foreign service and re-postings were frequent. This nomadic existence was exciting and the family had always adapted. However, this last change, from the freedom of Africa to the stifling confines of Bonn, has been particularly difficult. The diplomatic pecking order with its rigid protocols and dress codes is as oppressive as the atmosphere of Cold War suspicion that permeates German life in the '70's. Even Nicky who loves his job is affected by the stress of career building, Cold War tensions and government secrets.
Secrecy is a strong current that runs through this book. The imperious wife of the ambassador warns Letty that her role is to support Nicky's career. (Of course, by this calculus, if his career falters, Letty will have been to blame). Dutifully, Letty resolves to shrink into this diminutive mold. “At first the difference in their relationship was so subtle, she barely noticed it. It was as though each sentence had one word less and each conversation was short of one sentence. Slowly but surely though, whole paragraphs began to disappear from their lives until information was being exchanged on a need-to-know basis only....Communication operates according to the law of diminishing returns. The less there is, the less is generated.” (p.255)
Then, suddenly, Nicky dies. It looks like a suicide. But why would a man in his position commit suicide? What exactly was his position? The reader knows of Nicky only through the eyes of the various family members. Therefore, it's an idealized picture. He was charming, brilliant, patient, imaginative, funny... perfect?
Jamie's viewpoint dominates the story. Well-wishers express sorrow at the family's loss. To Jamie, this means his father went somewhere but now he is lost and can't get home again. Nicky had promised to take Jamie to the circus to see the performing bear, and Nicky always kept his promises, so this is a serious puzzle. When they move to the Hebrides, Jamie dispatches a fleet of bottles each filled with a map marking their destination.
It is this rich fantasy life that immerses the reader. The remote isolation of the land with its insular ideas, folklore, and family legends adds to that alternative reality. Reject that fantasy and the options are limited. There is Letty withdrawing into the muffled world of depression. There is Georgie with her own secret conflicts. Finally, there is Alba's cruel fury. It is a tribute to Pollen's writing that the reader is drawn to sympathize even with Alba. The energy of her derisive comments provides a certain momentum to the story. When a stray cow wanders on to their property, she suggests with venomous glee that they name the cow “The Ambassadress.”
The problem with this book is the attempt to find resolution by re-introducing the real world elements. The set-up and exposition of these components felt extraneous. It is unclear until the very end how these elements will become relevant. There is a feeling of dissonance with the mood that dominates most of the book. Still, this was an engaging story with memorable characters and a convincing setting. The closure the characters feel at its ending will be shared by the reader.
July 6, 2022
One of my reading selections for our recent trip to the Outer Hebrides because it is set on a lightly fictionalized version of North Uist. It’s the summer of 1979 and the recently bereaved Fleming family is on the way from London to the island for their usual summer holiday. This year everything looks different. The patriarch, Nicky, had a fatal fall from a roof in Bonn, where he was stationed as a diplomat. Whether it was an accident or suicide is yet to be determined.
Now it’s just Letitia and the three children. Georgie is awaiting exam results and university offers. Jamie is in early adolescence and has an earnest, innocent, literal mind (I believe I first came across the novel in connection to my interest in depictions of autism, and I assume he is meant to be on the spectrum). Alba, smack in the middle, acts out via snarky comments as well as shoplifting and tormenting her brother. The locals look out for each of the family members and make allowances for the strange things they do because of grief.
In the meantime, there’s an escaped grizzly bear on the loose in the islands. The chapters rotate through the main characters’ perspectives and include short imaginings of the bear’s journey. I found it hard to take these seriously – could an animal really be in awe of the Northern Lights? – especially when Pollen begins to suggest telepathic communication occurring between Jamie and the bear.
I was a third of the way into the novel before I learned that the bear subplot was based on a true story – my husband saw a sidebar about it in the guidebook. I’d had no idea! Hercules the trained bear starred in films and commercials. In 1980, while filming an ad for Andrex, he slipped his rope and remained on the run for several weeks despite a military search, straying 20 miles and losing half his body weight before he was tranquillized and returned to his owner. We made the pilgrimage to his burial site in Langass Woodland.
Pollen herself spent childhood summers in the Outer Hebrides and remembered the buzz about the hunt for Hercules. This plus the recent death of their father makes it a pivotal summer for all three children. Though in general I appreciated the descriptions of the island, and liked the character interactions and Jamie’s guilelessness and gumption, I felt uncomfortable with his portrayal. I didn’t think it realistic for an 11-year-old to not understand the fact of death; it seemed almost offensive to suggest that, because he’s on the autism spectrum, he wouldn’t understand euphemisms about loss. The sequence where he goes looking for “Heaven” is pretty excruciating.
Add that to the unlikelihood of Jamie’s participation in the bear’s discovery and an unnecessary conspiracy element about Nicky’s death and this novel didn’t live up to its potential for me. I’d read one other book by Pollen, the memoir Meet Me in the In-Between, but won’t venture further into her work. Still, this was an interesting curio.
Originally published, with images, on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Now it’s just Letitia and the three children. Georgie is awaiting exam results and university offers. Jamie is in early adolescence and has an earnest, innocent, literal mind (I believe I first came across the novel in connection to my interest in depictions of autism, and I assume he is meant to be on the spectrum). Alba, smack in the middle, acts out via snarky comments as well as shoplifting and tormenting her brother. The locals look out for each of the family members and make allowances for the strange things they do because of grief.
In the meantime, there’s an escaped grizzly bear on the loose in the islands. The chapters rotate through the main characters’ perspectives and include short imaginings of the bear’s journey. I found it hard to take these seriously – could an animal really be in awe of the Northern Lights? – especially when Pollen begins to suggest telepathic communication occurring between Jamie and the bear.
I was a third of the way into the novel before I learned that the bear subplot was based on a true story – my husband saw a sidebar about it in the guidebook. I’d had no idea! Hercules the trained bear starred in films and commercials. In 1980, while filming an ad for Andrex, he slipped his rope and remained on the run for several weeks despite a military search, straying 20 miles and losing half his body weight before he was tranquillized and returned to his owner. We made the pilgrimage to his burial site in Langass Woodland.
Pollen herself spent childhood summers in the Outer Hebrides and remembered the buzz about the hunt for Hercules. This plus the recent death of their father makes it a pivotal summer for all three children. Though in general I appreciated the descriptions of the island, and liked the character interactions and Jamie’s guilelessness and gumption, I felt uncomfortable with his portrayal. I didn’t think it realistic for an 11-year-old to not understand the fact of death; it seemed almost offensive to suggest that, because he’s on the autism spectrum, he wouldn’t understand euphemisms about loss. The sequence where he goes looking for “Heaven” is pretty excruciating.
Add that to the unlikelihood of Jamie’s participation in the bear’s discovery and an unnecessary conspiracy element about Nicky’s death and this novel didn’t live up to its potential for me. I’d read one other book by Pollen, the memoir Meet Me in the In-Between, but won’t venture further into her work. Still, this was an interesting curio.
Originally published, with images, on my blog, Bookish Beck.
May 2, 2013
The reviews on this book intrigued me...I was so looking forward to it. But, where was the editor telling Ms Pollen to cut 100-150 pages? The set up is just too much, over 200 pages of setting up a rather interesting ending-and there was some interesting plots getting there. There: the story of the father. Plots: the relationship with the father and his story of being a "spy"...or was he? Extraneous distractions: the relationships between the children -particularly the middle child and her younger brother. She was clearly in pain over the loss of her father, but her treatment of her brother made me cringe.
I read, because of the write-ups below, and the end of the spy story was satisfying and interesting, but the "magic" describe in some of the other reviews just didn't gel with me, and as a result, I felt cheated for my time setting the story up.
I read, because of the write-ups below, and the end of the spy story was satisfying and interesting, but the "magic" describe in some of the other reviews just didn't gel with me, and as a result, I felt cheated for my time setting the story up.
April 30, 2019
This was a great summer read... but I felt it could have had some more substance. Then again, I guess that's what defines it as a summer read. I felt that the young boy has Asperger's and/or Autism, but this was never stated. Several important young adult themes were represented, but overall a forgettable read. I was first attracted to this title because of the magical realism aspect; this was thus the biggest disappointment of all. What is a great example of magical realism?
June 9, 2020
A clever part 1970s thriller, part magical realist and all heart story. A family is living on a deserted island after the death of their diplomat husband/father, and the family begins to disintegrate as each of them struggle to understand how and why he died. A nice easy page turner. 7 out of 12.
October 13, 2011
Well! I barely know where to start to be honest - The Summer of the Bear has evoked so much in me. I'm not going to give you a synopsis of the story - others have done this perfectly and I don't want to give anything away.
I guess I have to start with Pollen's incredible writing style. It's something else! Her rich use of perfectly chosen adjectives and metaphors were undoubtedly the best I've ever read. Usually, too much time spent describing things and not enough time spent on the actual story ('We Need To Talk About Kevin' springs to mind!!) gets on my nerves but not this time. Not a single word was wasted - a perfect mix of beauty and wit. Actually, I was so captivated by this, I feel like a traitor saying anything less than complimentary about the book!!
I was transported into the character's world with ease. The characters were so believable - this isn't always the case with works of fiction, but Pollen definitely created a family that I could easily imagine bumping into on holiday in the Hebrides! I cared about them and what happened to them. I read from other reviewers that they thought the father's character wasn't developed enough for them to care about him or what caused his untimely death but actually I felt differently and I did care about him. I thought he was portrayed as a very caring and just man, as well as a very loving father.
My only quarm, and please don't let this put you off, was that I'm not really sure that the whole bear undertone was necessary.
Considering the book is called 'The Summer of the Bear' and is reputedly centred around the escaped bear living on the island, Bella Pollen seem to focus very little on that aspect of the storyline. Actually, I think I would of left it out if I were her and called the book something different.
I know there are going to be a lot of people who totally disagree with me but I was ever so slightly niggled by the bear's communication with Jamie (a figment of Jamie's imagination of course but it didn't read that way). Hmmm, it all just seemed a little 'make believe' (lol - seems silly to say considering this is the only 'real' bit of the story!) which kind of went in the face of the seriousness of the storyline about the father's death.
Anyway - the ending was fabulous and I have recommended the book to all my friends on Face Book.
I guess I have to start with Pollen's incredible writing style. It's something else! Her rich use of perfectly chosen adjectives and metaphors were undoubtedly the best I've ever read. Usually, too much time spent describing things and not enough time spent on the actual story ('We Need To Talk About Kevin' springs to mind!!) gets on my nerves but not this time. Not a single word was wasted - a perfect mix of beauty and wit. Actually, I was so captivated by this, I feel like a traitor saying anything less than complimentary about the book!!
I was transported into the character's world with ease. The characters were so believable - this isn't always the case with works of fiction, but Pollen definitely created a family that I could easily imagine bumping into on holiday in the Hebrides! I cared about them and what happened to them. I read from other reviewers that they thought the father's character wasn't developed enough for them to care about him or what caused his untimely death but actually I felt differently and I did care about him. I thought he was portrayed as a very caring and just man, as well as a very loving father.
My only quarm, and please don't let this put you off, was that I'm not really sure that the whole bear undertone was necessary.
Considering the book is called 'The Summer of the Bear' and is reputedly centred around the escaped bear living on the island, Bella Pollen seem to focus very little on that aspect of the storyline. Actually, I think I would of left it out if I were her and called the book something different.
I know there are going to be a lot of people who totally disagree with me but I was ever so slightly niggled by the bear's communication with Jamie (a figment of Jamie's imagination of course but it didn't read that way). Hmmm, it all just seemed a little 'make believe' (lol - seems silly to say considering this is the only 'real' bit of the story!) which kind of went in the face of the seriousness of the storyline about the father's death.
Anyway - the ending was fabulous and I have recommended the book to all my friends on Face Book.
July 2, 2011
Summer of the Bear begins with the death of Nicky Flemming. Working in the British Embassy in Germany, his accidental fall from the top of the embassy seems anything but accidental. The government agents assigned to investigate suspect suicide, saying that Nicky could have been a mole who was about to be caught. Stunned and prfoundly confused his wife, Letty, flees with their 3 children to her childhood summer home on an island in Scotland. There Letty falls into a numb cycle of trying to pretend she is ok while her mind runs constantly over the past looking for clues to Nicky's secret life. Meanwhile her children struggle too, Georgie with an overwhelming sense of guilt, Alba with pure and furious anger, and brilliant but simple Jamie with confusion. If his dad is lost it means he'll return one day, but why is it taking so long? In the end a crisis on the island along with an escaped bear brings everything to a head, revealing the children's struggles and answering the questions surrounding Nicky's death in a wholly unexpected way.
More than anything I found Summer of the Bear to be a meditation on grief, the many differnt ways that people exerience it and how we can eventually come to live with it. Letty's sense of having been betrayed, Jamie's total denial that his dad is gone, Alba's unmitigated fury at everything, and Georgie's quiet guilt all show us the full range of emotions at the loose of a loved one. Set against the lonely and isolated backdrop of the island you can fully feel the hole Nicky has left in the life of his family. The mystery of his death adds some spark and helps keep the story moving forward and the fantasy of the bear helps it move to a conclusion. The story stalls a bit in the middle but picks up at the again with a great ending.
More than anything I found Summer of the Bear to be a meditation on grief, the many differnt ways that people exerience it and how we can eventually come to live with it. Letty's sense of having been betrayed, Jamie's total denial that his dad is gone, Alba's unmitigated fury at everything, and Georgie's quiet guilt all show us the full range of emotions at the loose of a loved one. Set against the lonely and isolated backdrop of the island you can fully feel the hole Nicky has left in the life of his family. The mystery of his death adds some spark and helps keep the story moving forward and the fantasy of the bear helps it move to a conclusion. The story stalls a bit in the middle but picks up at the again with a great ending.
July 31, 2018
The writing in this story is fantastic! The story? Engaging. The characters? Adorable and believable. The ending? Perfect.
October 22, 2011
Okay, so I didn't finish this book of Bella Pollen's either. There were things in there that were offensive and unnecessary to the story.
The story, as much as I read, was pretty interesting. My father was stationed at the American Embassy in Bonn, Germany, when I was a child, and the novel is about what happens after the death of a high-level British diplomat stationed at the British Embassy in Bonn. There is lots said about Bad Godesberg, which is where we lived with all the other foreign diplomats and military. However, apparently we did not live in the same Bad Godesberg. We never had trouble with muggy weather or mosquitoes. Honey bees were just about the only insect there were a lot of, and the weather was wonderfully mild, even in the winter. Walks by the Rhine were delightful, not fights with muggy, cloudy, depressing weather and mosquito swarms.
The story was interesting, that is, until there was an unrealistic plot twist. That was when the British intelligence people allowed the man's 17-year-old daughter to accompany him behind the Iron Curtain to East Germany. Umm--no. I know from personal experience 11 years earlier than the timing of this book that members of the families of military and most diplomats were not allowed behind the Iron Curtain. We were watched, and the likelihood of kidnap was too high.
So again, I have the impression that Bella Pollen did not do her research when she wrote about things outside her native Hebrides. I enjoyed the part of the story that takes place in the Hebrides, as much as I read. Although my great-grandfather emigrated from Scotland, I have never been there, and the obvious insider information from someone who lives there was very interesting.
The story, as much as I read, was pretty interesting. My father was stationed at the American Embassy in Bonn, Germany, when I was a child, and the novel is about what happens after the death of a high-level British diplomat stationed at the British Embassy in Bonn. There is lots said about Bad Godesberg, which is where we lived with all the other foreign diplomats and military. However, apparently we did not live in the same Bad Godesberg. We never had trouble with muggy weather or mosquitoes. Honey bees were just about the only insect there were a lot of, and the weather was wonderfully mild, even in the winter. Walks by the Rhine were delightful, not fights with muggy, cloudy, depressing weather and mosquito swarms.
The story was interesting, that is, until there was an unrealistic plot twist. That was when the British intelligence people allowed the man's 17-year-old daughter to accompany him behind the Iron Curtain to East Germany. Umm--no. I know from personal experience 11 years earlier than the timing of this book that members of the families of military and most diplomats were not allowed behind the Iron Curtain. We were watched, and the likelihood of kidnap was too high.
So again, I have the impression that Bella Pollen did not do her research when she wrote about things outside her native Hebrides. I enjoyed the part of the story that takes place in the Hebrides, as much as I read. Although my great-grandfather emigrated from Scotland, I have never been there, and the obvious insider information from someone who lives there was very interesting.
September 1, 2013
Wow. This book was AH-mazing. One of those that gets your heart pumping, your brain working and makes you want to jump on goodreads just moments after finishing to write a glowing review ;)
First of all, Pollen's writing is superb. Amazing metaphors and imagery along with prose that is just plain beautiful, all without trying too hard. I may not be able to duplicate it, but I know stellar writing when I find it. This one was right up my alley.
The story itself uses mystery, tragedy and even a bit of romance to drag you in, and then her characters (oh, the characters!!) grab hold of you with a death grip. They are all so real and so alive; I loved every one of them. The climax throws in some danger and mystery all wrapped up tidily in a decent bit of closure.
Best part: after the epilogue you learn that two of the most unbelievable aspects of the story were actually based on real events. I love that!
A FANTASTIC read!
**FYI there is one single sentence of a (somewhat explicit) sexual nature, just in case you're thinking of letting your kid read it.
First of all, Pollen's writing is superb. Amazing metaphors and imagery along with prose that is just plain beautiful, all without trying too hard. I may not be able to duplicate it, but I know stellar writing when I find it. This one was right up my alley.
The story itself uses mystery, tragedy and even a bit of romance to drag you in, and then her characters (oh, the characters!!) grab hold of you with a death grip. They are all so real and so alive; I loved every one of them. The climax throws in some danger and mystery all wrapped up tidily in a decent bit of closure.
Best part: after the epilogue you learn that two of the most unbelievable aspects of the story were actually based on real events. I love that!
A FANTASTIC read!
**FYI there is one single sentence of a (somewhat explicit) sexual nature, just in case you're thinking of letting your kid read it.
April 6, 2024
Probably not quite 4 ⭐️ but definitely more than 3.
Interesting family tale set between Germany and the Hebrides with back story of an escaped bear that is actually based on a true tale. After the death of the father of the family who is part of the diplomatic service many questions remain unanswered and aspersions are cast about spying and espionage. The 3 children find it very hard to come to terms with losing their dad especially when none of the adults seem to be telling the truth.
Interesting family tale set between Germany and the Hebrides with back story of an escaped bear that is actually based on a true tale. After the death of the father of the family who is part of the diplomatic service many questions remain unanswered and aspersions are cast about spying and espionage. The 3 children find it very hard to come to terms with losing their dad especially when none of the adults seem to be telling the truth.
July 14, 2012
I rarely give 5 star reviews, because I'm picky. My ratings are a reflection of personal preference. I love books that have many threads of plot that are woven into a satisfying ending. This is one of those. I found the characters interesting, engaging, and quirky. I cared what happened to them. And it's got a bear in it. How wrong could that be?
October 23, 2015
A good summer read with a bit of magical realism and one of the better descriptions of life in the Western Isles. Plus a lot of the stuff about Hercules the bear was actually true.
December 11, 2018
I really enjoyed the mix of page turner, family relationships and fantasy it really worked. The bear became a real character, and of course the location.
March 5, 2021
Wow, I’m hard-pressed to remember when I’ve had a run of so many amazingly-intense books in a row. I am *exhausted* (in a good way).
If someone were to ask me what this book is about.....it is a lyrical, emotional, and almost quaint at times “spy novel” with a tiny bit of magical realism thrown in. No, really.
And there were parts of it that absolutely broke my heart. Damn.
(I feel like the very end of the book wrapped a few things up a wee bit too cleanly, but considering I was on the verge of ugly tears right before the end, I suppose I am relieved....)
If someone were to ask me what this book is about.....it is a lyrical, emotional, and almost quaint at times “spy novel” with a tiny bit of magical realism thrown in. No, really.
And there were parts of it that absolutely broke my heart. Damn.
(I feel like the very end of the book wrapped a few things up a wee bit too cleanly, but considering I was on the verge of ugly tears right before the end, I suppose I am relieved....)
June 5, 2024
This book was a lot of fun and glad I read it while in Scotland (primarily), because I had a much better sense of the geography and culture in which the book is set. The Cold War intrigue drew me to the book, so I do wish there was a bit more of that, but the family, characters, and stories in the book certainly kept me invested.
June 28, 2020
Loved this book. It was beautifully written and the mix of the bear’s journey and the journey the family makes in dealing with their father’s death worked really well.
June 29, 2011
The Fleming family retreats to a family cottage in the Outer Hebrides following the death of Nick Fleming in 1980s West Germany. Accusations of treason and a suicide note from the diplomat lead his wife to question how well she knew her husband while her two daughters struggle to define themselves and her young son leaves clues for his “lost” father to find the family. As the Flemings arrive on the island, a tamed bear escapes from his owner and hides out in a sea cave. A strange connection forms between bear and boy as Bella Pollen weaves a sleepy sort of magic in The Summer of the Bear.
The novel moves at a well measured pace: slow but designed to capture readers. Pollen creates a world to spend time in. When she brings the main plot threads together, it’s with a feeling of moving the characters along to whatever waits for them after the last page is turned.
Pollen’s chapters alternate perspectives among the Fleming family. Letty pieces together evidence of Nick’s treason while shutting herself away from her children. Georgia, the older daughter, accompanied her father on a trip to East Berlin and knows something about the secrets he was keeping. Alba, the middle child, uses anger to keep her feelings at bay. Jamie is the special one; his mind doesn’t work the way it should and it takes him a long while to understand his father isn’t lost, but dead.
The characters could be written easily as stereotypes. The two daughters struggle to emerge as fully realized characters, with only Georgia achieving that successfully. Letty and Jamie, however, are very real. Jamie’s mental disabilities – which are never categorized clearly – could have made him too precious, but Pollen grounds his differences in having Jamie just be a child, fighting with his sister and looking for proof that his bear is real.
Jamie and his father were supposed to go to the circus on the day Nick died. Among the attractions was a bear act, and when Jamie sees a truck advertising a performing bear on the family’s trip to the island, he decides the bear will help him find his father.
The bear feels a connection to Jamie as well, and Pollen checks in with the bear in short chapters that may be too anthropomorphic for some readers but can be explained by the bear’s time with humans. Pollen stops short of delivering magic realism, but doesn’t offer explanations for everything either.
The Summer of the Bear has some flaws. The answers to Nick’s treasonous behaviors seem like an afterthought as the novel increases tension about Jamie and the bear. What Nick may or may not have done gives the other characters something else to do. An environmental MacGuffin near the end of the novel provides an excuse for Letty to leave the family cottage and not much else.
But the flaws are minor or, at least, don’t negate the engaging story Pollen tells. The Summer of the Bear is a novel to relish and to mourn when the last page is read.
The novel moves at a well measured pace: slow but designed to capture readers. Pollen creates a world to spend time in. When she brings the main plot threads together, it’s with a feeling of moving the characters along to whatever waits for them after the last page is turned.
Pollen’s chapters alternate perspectives among the Fleming family. Letty pieces together evidence of Nick’s treason while shutting herself away from her children. Georgia, the older daughter, accompanied her father on a trip to East Berlin and knows something about the secrets he was keeping. Alba, the middle child, uses anger to keep her feelings at bay. Jamie is the special one; his mind doesn’t work the way it should and it takes him a long while to understand his father isn’t lost, but dead.
The characters could be written easily as stereotypes. The two daughters struggle to emerge as fully realized characters, with only Georgia achieving that successfully. Letty and Jamie, however, are very real. Jamie’s mental disabilities – which are never categorized clearly – could have made him too precious, but Pollen grounds his differences in having Jamie just be a child, fighting with his sister and looking for proof that his bear is real.
Jamie and his father were supposed to go to the circus on the day Nick died. Among the attractions was a bear act, and when Jamie sees a truck advertising a performing bear on the family’s trip to the island, he decides the bear will help him find his father.
The bear feels a connection to Jamie as well, and Pollen checks in with the bear in short chapters that may be too anthropomorphic for some readers but can be explained by the bear’s time with humans. Pollen stops short of delivering magic realism, but doesn’t offer explanations for everything either.
The Summer of the Bear has some flaws. The answers to Nick’s treasonous behaviors seem like an afterthought as the novel increases tension about Jamie and the bear. What Nick may or may not have done gives the other characters something else to do. An environmental MacGuffin near the end of the novel provides an excuse for Letty to leave the family cottage and not much else.
But the flaws are minor or, at least, don’t negate the engaging story Pollen tells. The Summer of the Bear is a novel to relish and to mourn when the last page is read.
April 9, 2016
In the late 1970s, a grizzly bear escapes from his owner and seeks refuge on a Hebridean island, where he feels he has something to do. At the same time, British diplomat Nick Fleming dies in Bonn, leaving behind his wife and three children. Overwhelmed with both her husband's inexplicable death and the rumors behind it, his wife Letty flees with the children to her home island in the Hebrides, and gives in to despair. Left to their own devices, the children find their own ways of coping. Seventeen year old peacemaker Georgie dreams of going to university and losing her virginity, and trying not to remember the details of a trip she took to East Berlin with her father. Fourteen year old devil's spawn Alba does her best to make everyone around her as miserable as she is, filled with rage and hatred especially for her worshipful little brother Jamie. Always a dreamer and unable to read even at age nine (I think), Jamie doesn't know his father is dead--he thinks he's gotten lost on a mission and needs help to get home. He also feels a connection to the missing bear they keep hearing about. Over the summer, all the mysteries--internal and external, supernatural and all too real--are brought to the fore.
I'll admit I had trouble finishing this one, even though I was excited to read it because I love the Hebrides, and I did love all the descriptions of the islands, and the realistic way the author approached the issues of making a living there and the problems with military use of the islands. I think the plot was strong and while it evolved very slowly (too slowly for a lot of YA readers), things were revealed at the right times for the pace. It's an unusual plot for a YA with the combination of the magical realism element of the bear, the varied and complex reactions to grief and doubt, and the diplomacy plot, and at least one major thing remained unexplained in the end (unless I just missed it), which was irritating. The characters were layered and complicated and flawed, and while I think they were wonderfully constructed, this is where I just plain didn't enjoy the book; the characters were just so horribly (if understandably) depressed, it was painful to spend time with them, especially the truly vicious Alba. I know we're supposed to end up feeling some pity for her, but I'm sorry. I couldn't stand her. Jamie was lovely, though. I think this book would have more appeal to adults than YAs, due to the pace, excess of details, and the husband/ wife relationship. Due to some mild sexual content, not recommended for middle school.
I'll admit I had trouble finishing this one, even though I was excited to read it because I love the Hebrides, and I did love all the descriptions of the islands, and the realistic way the author approached the issues of making a living there and the problems with military use of the islands. I think the plot was strong and while it evolved very slowly (too slowly for a lot of YA readers), things were revealed at the right times for the pace. It's an unusual plot for a YA with the combination of the magical realism element of the bear, the varied and complex reactions to grief and doubt, and the diplomacy plot, and at least one major thing remained unexplained in the end (unless I just missed it), which was irritating. The characters were layered and complicated and flawed, and while I think they were wonderfully constructed, this is where I just plain didn't enjoy the book; the characters were just so horribly (if understandably) depressed, it was painful to spend time with them, especially the truly vicious Alba. I know we're supposed to end up feeling some pity for her, but I'm sorry. I couldn't stand her. Jamie was lovely, though. I think this book would have more appeal to adults than YAs, due to the pace, excess of details, and the husband/ wife relationship. Due to some mild sexual content, not recommended for middle school.
September 9, 2010
Author Bella Pollen was holidaying in the Outer Hebrides in 1980 when a grizzly bear escaped from it's owners and spent 24 days roaming the tiny island of Benbecula. The grizzly never reverted to the wild and when it was eventually captured it had lost almost half of it's body weight. The story captured the attention of the world's media and Bella Pollen and her siblings spent an exciting summer hoping to be the ones who caught the bear. This story has remained with Pollen ever since and is the basis of this novel.
'The Summer of the Bear' tells the story of Letty and her three children who have just moved back to the windswept Scottish island after the death of Nicky - Letty's husband, the children's father and formally a British Diplomat and adored by his family. At the same time a bear has escaped from it's owner and is living somewhere on the island. The family are struggling to come to terms with Nicky's death which has been shrouded in secrecy. The death has been kept entirely from Jamie, the youngest and only boy - he struggles to understand where his Dada is, when is he coming back? Jamie soon convinces himself that the escaped bear is, in fact, his father.
With a really engaging plot, well thought out and well written and some superb characterisation, this book is not really about the missing bear or about the family, but more about communication and how the lack of communication and keeping things from each other can really have a terrible impact on people and families. At times the struggles of the family are really heartbreaking. The children trying to come to terms with a whole new life, a new home and no Dada and Letty struggling to put on a brave face whilst wondering just how Nicky died. Although very sad at times, there is also some wonderful humour. The islanders are so witty and funny, each islander has their own idea about the bear, some think it is the devil!
Gentle, absorbing, witty yet sad and with a hint of magic, this really is a very good read.
'The Summer of the Bear' tells the story of Letty and her three children who have just moved back to the windswept Scottish island after the death of Nicky - Letty's husband, the children's father and formally a British Diplomat and adored by his family. At the same time a bear has escaped from it's owner and is living somewhere on the island. The family are struggling to come to terms with Nicky's death which has been shrouded in secrecy. The death has been kept entirely from Jamie, the youngest and only boy - he struggles to understand where his Dada is, when is he coming back? Jamie soon convinces himself that the escaped bear is, in fact, his father.
With a really engaging plot, well thought out and well written and some superb characterisation, this book is not really about the missing bear or about the family, but more about communication and how the lack of communication and keeping things from each other can really have a terrible impact on people and families. At times the struggles of the family are really heartbreaking. The children trying to come to terms with a whole new life, a new home and no Dada and Letty struggling to put on a brave face whilst wondering just how Nicky died. Although very sad at times, there is also some wonderful humour. The islanders are so witty and funny, each islander has their own idea about the bear, some think it is the devil!
Gentle, absorbing, witty yet sad and with a hint of magic, this really is a very good read.
September 12, 2011
The thing that stopped me giving this 5 stars was the ending, which felt really rushed in its efforts to tie up all the loose ends, and made me feel a tiny bit cheated. But apart from that, I loved it.
I loved the story, and the tangled-up threads of all the different stories. I loved the bear's perspective. Though I'm not normally a fan of either children or constantly shifting POVs, I loved both in this. The children felt very real, very disfunctional, you really got inside what was going on in their heads after their father's death, and the differing interpretations of events that their ages gave was really clever and really funny.
Which is another thing this book did really well - mingle comic and tragic. And the setting, of the Hebridean island, was done in a way that made me feel that the author knew it really well and wasn't just falling back on 'Whisky Galore' cliches.
This is a gentle, touching and funny book with a great story and characters that you really empathise with in the most unexpected way. And to my surprise, when I read the notes at the end, I found that I remembered the bear story from the news all those years ago. I'd highly recommend it.
I loved the story, and the tangled-up threads of all the different stories. I loved the bear's perspective. Though I'm not normally a fan of either children or constantly shifting POVs, I loved both in this. The children felt very real, very disfunctional, you really got inside what was going on in their heads after their father's death, and the differing interpretations of events that their ages gave was really clever and really funny.
Which is another thing this book did really well - mingle comic and tragic. And the setting, of the Hebridean island, was done in a way that made me feel that the author knew it really well and wasn't just falling back on 'Whisky Galore' cliches.
This is a gentle, touching and funny book with a great story and characters that you really empathise with in the most unexpected way. And to my surprise, when I read the notes at the end, I found that I remembered the bear story from the news all those years ago. I'd highly recommend it.
August 20, 2013
What an odd and wonderful book this was! I'd been looking forward to it since reading about it after publication a few years ago, and was not disappointed.
I don't want to say too much for fear of giving away some surprises, but something strange is happening in Scotland's Outer Hebrides where the family of Nicky Fleming, a charming and clever diplomat, is mourning his sudden death...which may or may not have been an accident.
Letty is his widow, Georgie, Alba, and Jamie are his children, and it is Jamie who knows only that his father has promised to return to them. Also on the remote island is a tamed grizzly bear who has been marooned--and who Jamie believes is connected to his father.
The story jumps in time and between points of view, but isn't confusing. Bella Pollen writes beautifully and, I have to say, I may have to read the last few pages again, as my eyes were blurring with unexpected tears.
I don't want to say too much for fear of giving away some surprises, but something strange is happening in Scotland's Outer Hebrides where the family of Nicky Fleming, a charming and clever diplomat, is mourning his sudden death...which may or may not have been an accident.
Letty is his widow, Georgie, Alba, and Jamie are his children, and it is Jamie who knows only that his father has promised to return to them. Also on the remote island is a tamed grizzly bear who has been marooned--and who Jamie believes is connected to his father.
The story jumps in time and between points of view, but isn't confusing. Bella Pollen writes beautifully and, I have to say, I may have to read the last few pages again, as my eyes were blurring with unexpected tears.
April 22, 2011
This book was so slow at the start that I almost didn’t get beyond my 50 page test. If you find the same, don’t give up – it’s an excellent book on all sorts of levels, and once it took off I couldn’t put it down. First of all there’s a family coping with grief at the death of a husband and father – all three children are complex, interesting, and exceptionally well drawn. Then there’s the diplomatic story – why did Nicky Fleming die, and was he really a traitor? Mix in a touch of mysticism with the escaped bear, an environmental disaster in the making, some wonderful Hebridean characters and a nail-biting climax and you have a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Thanks to netgalley for the advance e-book copy.
Thanks to netgalley for the advance e-book copy.
July 12, 2013
This is the story of a family struggling to cope with the death of Nicky, their father and husband, a British diplomat stationed in Bonn, Germany during the Cold War. The family returns to the mother's childhood home on an island in Scotland and struggles with their grief and their new norm. I found the mysteries to be engagingly a week as the mystical aspect of the bear. The characters were well crafted. Even if I could not identify with their behaviors, I found myself caring about them. Although the plot was engaging, I found the ending to be too pat. It did, however, wrap everything up.
May 10, 2022
There are so many books that cover the destruction of a family or the dysfunction of family that are both real and depressing, frequently with out much in the way of redemption. This book is about an event that threatens to destroy a family, about the family's response to it and ultimate redemption. The plot has a definite deus ex machina aspects to it but sometimes when tragedy strikes it's nice to think that the hand of God reaches down to set things right. And there's a bear. And bears are cool.
August 3, 2019
An interesting storyline spoiled a bit by the author's style. I found sentences in the style of "she had to be dragged into it like an inmate to be executed on an electric chair" extremely off-putting. But that is just my personal taste. The incessant repetitions of certain foibles or mannerisms of speech of some of the characters (i.e. "Lea-tic-ia" over and over again) grew a bit tiresome.
I also found it rather difficult to warm up to the characters, especially Alba.
Overall, the author still handles the background mystery very well and captures the setting beautifully.
I also found it rather difficult to warm up to the characters, especially Alba.
Overall, the author still handles the background mystery very well and captures the setting beautifully.
May 26, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It features a family of three children, each quite troubled, each in a different way. Their beloved father was a diplomat for the UK, and he (initially) inexplicably falls to his death off the flat-roofed embassy building in Bonn, where he'd been stationed. The bereaved mother takes her children back to the remote island in the Outer Hebrides where she was born and raised, hoping to heal them all. The healing happens eventually, and there's a lot of drama along the way. Including a grizzly bear. This is a bit of crime mystery and a bit of a fable.
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