The Other

A convincing argument can be made that "Snow Falling on Cedars" is a better-crafted novel than "The Other," but for my money, this new novel is a more direct line to the elusive David Guterson's heart and soul. Pulling heavily from personal experience (Guterson, like the protagonist, was a high school English teacher for over a decade), he has delivered a wrenching tale of friendship and loss spiked with plenty of subversive humor. The imagined memoir format gives the narrative a rambling quality, but make no mistake: this is a carefully constructed narrative. The dichotomy between the uncompromising, unbalanced John William and the quiet, levelheaded Neil Countryman gives us much to ponder: Is it better to for us to make our peace with "hamburger world" (modern, consumerist society) and do the best we can to make it a better place, or withdraw from it completely? Is pragmatism "selling out" or simply the only viable option? Guterson provides no easy answers, but in giving us these two beautifully realized characters, he has equipped us with the tools to make our own decisions.

Thank you very much! Great condition and extremely quick delivery-- your're a pro and I appreciate your efforts.

An extraordinarily gifted writer has written an extraordinary book. For me it was impossible to put down. The story, the character development of a profoundly eccentric young man, the hauntingly beautiful descriptions of nature, of the hiking experiences, of an unusual friendship... how could one not love this book?

I lived in Seattle, went to Roosevelt High, camped in the Olympics and had very strict parents who showed little interest or ability in mentoring me. There was so much in the book that helps me understand who I am. The author's characters seemed so real to me and the the images of the friends adventures on the Hoh will last a long time. It's not that the book has a great plot; it's about descriptions, believable characters, friendships, youthful expressions and human frailty. There were several stretches where I had to force myself though but it was a great read and one I'll remember for a long time. But if I were well-adjusted and never had friends who went to Reed College and never ate at Dicks or drove by 5 corners, it might not have been the same.