Lost in the Woods: A Tale of Seventies Turmoil and the Van Laar Family's Tragedy
Forest Deity's Reign in the Rooted Decades of the Wild '70s
Let's talk about a book that made it onto Barack Obama's reading list - quite a feat indeed! This novel, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, connects American wilderness with a wild storm of interpersonal drama.
Set in 1975, we find the Van Laar family living on a stunning lakefront estate nestled at the foot of the Adirondacks, a forested mountain range in New York. This family rules their city, their children, and a summer camp they founded by the lake. They live it up with their wealth and typical transgressions typical of the era, all that is, until their eldest son Bear disappears. A crying shame, as Bear vanished just as a child ran into the woods before him, never to return.
Fifteen years later, history repeats itself, as Barbara, Bear's younger sister, goes missing from the summer camp. The children at the camp are convinced that Jakob Sluiter, the infamous serial killer, has returned, while Detective Judyta suspects the commanding grandfather, who was less than helpful during the initial investigation into Bear's disappearance. And then there's the grieving mother, Alice, who desperately seeking a clue that connects the two disappearances.
But The God of the Woods isn't your run-of-the-mill crime novel. The story unfolds across multiple timeframes without a central detective, offering a more nuanced exploration of the Van Laars and the summer camp within the nature reserve. It skips the gruesome shock moments and excessive violence, opting for psychological tension instead. The British "Guardian" aptly described the novel as a "literary thriller," where the Adirondacks compete with the dominant family for menace.
A Wooded Protagonist
You could call the Adirondacks the real star of the show. Or maybe it's Trudy, a twelve-year-old girl who would never see her friend again. Perhaps it's Alice Van Laar, or Louise, the counselor whose abusive boyfriend was also lurking in the woods that fateful night. The children at the summer camp are warned time and again not to venture into the wilderness, to cry for help if they're lost, and never to swim alone in the lake. The woods, they say, can be treacherous, quick to swallow the unware, and easy to get lost in.
With a Nighttime Liaison
The children at the camp aren't the only ones frequenting the woods after dark. Counselors seem to sneak away at all hours, sometimes for illicit smoke sessions, other times to pursue clandestine romantic encounters. And it seems Barbara, the missing girl, wasn't immune to the allure, slipping away under the cover of darkness to meet a mysterious person.
Nature as a Predator
Liz Moore challenges the 1970s myth that everything was simple and innocent, with kids roaming the woods and adults partying. In The God of the Woods, nature is a force to be reckoned with, and while its exact role in the Van Laar children's disappearance remains a mystery for a while, it undoubtedly obstructs the investigation.
If you struggle with German translations, there's no need to worry, as the English version of the nearly 600-page novel has been beautifully translated by Cornelius Hartz. Keeping track of three different time periods, a motley cast of characters, and multiple generations of Peter Van Laars is no easy task, but Hartz's clear and unaffected language brings the thoughts of twelve-year-old Trudy and sixty-year-old Ranger Carl to life. This makes the novel a delight even in translation, rewarding those who stay the course with a satisfying conclusion, although not every plot thread may be immediately clear.
Overall, Liz Moore has crafted a compelling tale that is sure to leave you captivated - whether you're a president or not.
Genres: Thriller, MysterySetting: USA, Forest, Missing PersonsThemes: Nature, Family Dynamics, Interpersonal Conflict, Mystery, Disappearances
- ♪ I'm not gonna let you go ♪ echoes in the mind of Alice Van Laar as she searches for clues in the books about Adirondacks, seeking answers related to the disappearances of her children.
- Under the cover of darkness, as the counselors and campers engage in their clandestine activities, the forest stands ominously, its pace reminiscent of the mysteries it conceals, a predator in the entertainment of everyday life.
