Beasts of the Earth

Life is not easy; in fact, it can be very hard.

1965

Michael Fischer has been forced to grow up fast. He provides for his sister and Mother. He resorts to stealing from trap lines to take care of/feed his family. This is a hard life and is about to get harder when his father is released from prison. When his father is released, life changes drastically for Michael and flees leaving behind all that he knows. But he is taken by Remus who teaches him all the things his father should have.

1985

Harlan LeBlanc keeps to himself. He lives a solidary life and works as a groundskeeper at a local school. His days are basically the same including what he eats for lunch. He is a quiet man with a secret. A violent act changes everything. When someone he knows his accused, Harlan sets out to find answers.

This is not a happy go lucky book. It is raw, poignant, and thought provoking. This is a beautifully told story that explores what it takes to be good when surrounded by evil. It shows determination, harshness, brutality, the burdens we carry, how love and positive influences can change a person, how we carry out pasts with us, how desperate people find ways to survive, overcome and move on. There is a sadness that seeps through the pages but there are also glimmers of hope.

I listened to the audiobook and initially it took me some time to decide if I liked it, but once I found footing with the narration, I enjoyed it. The book is full of beautiful writing, descriptions, and flawed characters.

Atmospheric, richly detailed and raw, Beasts of the Earth was my first book by James Wade and I look forward to reading more of his work.

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Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.