Heather’s Bookshelf: Lost Mountain
Author: Anne Coray
Released: 03/16/21
Genre: Adult Fiction
“He tried to follow its source, high into the hills, past the thick spruce, but it became lost in alder and willow. This land was immense, the helicopter minute as a dragonfly in its breadth. Sunlight fell like a floodlight on the birches and poplars, and fall yellows leapt up with a lawless vibrancy below.”
“Lost Mountain” introduces Dehlia Melven living in a small town in Alaska. She’s a young artist whose husband passed a little over a year ago. She hears rumors of a mining project but is consumed by her own personal issues. Meanwhile, a new solar energy expert, Alan Lamb, arrives in Whetstone Cove.
The small artist town becomes concerned as a mining company, Ziggurat, moves in with plans for a major mining project. While some members of the community support the project, a majority are fearful for what it will mean for their livelihoods, the environment, and the animals.
Meanwhile, Dehlia and Alan begin a romantic relationship which becomes complicated due to their underlying issues, insecurities, and baggage from previous relationships. Will they work through their issues or will they succumb to their issues and just fall apart?
Trigger Warning: adult language, suicide
Overall, I was torn on this story. On the one hand, I enjoyed the scene setting and many of the details of Alaska including the atmosphere and environment of the small town. I used to live in Alaska, so I found this part of the tale enjoyable and reminiscent of my childhood. However, the structure of the book was very distracting and difficult to follow. I found scenes jumping from one to the next without transition, often including different characters not in previous scenes. There were some scenes that were memorable and funny and I enjoyed the comradery of the holidays as well as the friendship between Alan and Mike. I also found the relationship between Dehlia and Alan to be realistic and sweet. However, I found the ending to be too open ended for me. It felt a little unresolved and unfinished.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
An environmentally forward tale about a budding relationship set in Alaska. While the setting and main relationship are beautiful, the transitions are confusing.
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