As a naturally fast reader, I had to slow myself down on this one.
The words flowed so well, that I was racing through the book and not appreciating it.
It is beautifully written.
Centred around one location through many years, it's like a short story book, but each tale feels slightly familiar due to the location.
The poems and songs add an extra little something.
Very lovely book.

North Woods by Daniel Mason is an immersive literary experience that effortlessly transports the reader through the tumultuous history of a single plot of land in New England. This book encapsulates such an expansive narrative, yet manages to weave intricate, personal stories of its diverse characters spanning hundreds of years.

The richly developed characters, from the young Puritan couple on the run to a haunted son with buried secrets, evoke a sense of empathy and attachment as their lives unfold within the walls of this secluded house in the woods. Each character's story provides unique perspectives on love, ambition, family dynamics, and survival amidst varying historical settings.

Mason's masterful command of the language, vivid descriptions, and captivating dialogue create an atmosphere that is as lush and enchanting as the mysterious woods themselves. The emotional threads connecting each character are delicately braided, revealing centuries-old patterns filled with madness, dreams, and hope.

North Woods is a monumental achievement that mirrors the depth and complexity of human nature against the backdrop of an ever-changing world. The seamless blend of historical events, raw emotion, and haunting tales leaves a lasting impact long after the final page has been turned.

A must-read for fans of epic storytelling and those who appreciate literary prowess.

Wow what a book I’ve spent the last few days completely immersed in the novel which is quite extraordinary
The novel follows a place through a long succession of people who occupy the land use it for their needs and die leaving others to take over .At times it wax unclear if the person talking is a spirit or alive and I enjoyed this immensely
The book is peopled with a large number of individual characters all interesting and incredibly real
Chapters are told as songs or letters in first or third person .The variety is refreshing and makes for an unusual novel
There are some images within the novel which didn’t come out very clearly in the kindle version I read but were clearly carefully chosen
I loved the section that told of what happens to Seeds from ballast on a ship to grew in distant lands and when a Painter describes his world in colours
The author has a highly visual but also poetic prose style and writes with wit and intelligence ,the novel is a literary gem
I read a copy on NetGalley uk when it was gifted on their wish list system ,I feel very lucky to have read it before it is published by on 14tg September 2023 by John Murray Press
This review will appear on Goodreads NetGalley uk and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.Wordpress.com

I feel breathless, speechless, almost lost for words. Daniel Mason has taken all the good words, put them in North Woods, and who am I to judge his choices? But I dare a little:
This is a dream of a novel, full of enchanting characters, and packed with the visual magic of Western Massachusetts, through centuries of birth, life, death and rebirth. The author is surely the finest prose stylist working in the English language.
Long before I had finished I was aching with emotion, my empathy for characters such as Mary and Alice, triumphant in their tragedy, was overpowering and hypnotic.
Combining all the rich details of endurance and accomplishment with romance and myth this is a journey of self-discovery and epiphany for author, those in the narrative, and reader.