A Story That Will Sink Its Teeth Into Your Memory And Hold On Tight
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Two brothers in dire straits, living on the edge of Yellowstone, agree to a desperate act of survival in this taut, propulsive novel reminiscent of the works of Peter Heller and Donald Ray Pollock.
In an aging, timber house hand-built into the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains, two brothers are struggling to keep up with their debts. They live off the grid, on the fringe of Yellowstone, surviving off the wild after the death of their father. Thad, the elder, is more capable of engaging with things like the truck registration, or the medical bills they can’t afford from their father’s fatal illness, or the tax lien on the cabin their grandfather built, while Hazen is . . . different, more instinctual, deeply in tune with the natural world. Desperate for money, they are approached by a shadowy out-of-towner with a dangerous proposition that will change both of their lives forever. Beartooth is a fast-paced tale with moments of surprising poignancy set in the grandeur of the American West. Evoking the timeless voices of American pastoral storytelling, this is a bracing, masterful novel about survival, revenge, and the bond between brothers.
- Publisher Spiegel & Grau
- Published February 11, 2025)
- Hardcover 256 pages
In a few short pages, the author masterfully introduces us to brothers Thad and Hazen, painting a vivid picture of their personalities through their words and actions. This technique draws readers in, making them eager to learn more about these intriguing characters. Despite the absence of any dramatic incidents, the subtle unveiling of their personalities is enough to captivate the audience.
Life in the Montana Mountains
Thad and Hazen live in the beautiful Montana mountains, yet they are facing severe financial hardships. Following the death of their father, they are burdened with overwhelming hospital bills and are on the brink of losing their home. Their daily lives revolve around cutting and selling firewood, but this earns them barely enough to survive. The introduction of a nearby man known as “the Scot,” who offers them lucrative yet illegal poaching gigs, adds a moral quandary to their struggles. Their father’s legacy of integrity looms over them as they weigh their options, questioning what choices they truly have.
Vivid Character and Setting Descriptions
The strength of this story lies in its character development. The author’s skillful portrayal allows readers to almost visualize the characters, as if they are standing right in front of us. The setting, too, is beautifully described, striking a perfect balance that immerses readers without overwhelming them with detail. This delicate balance maintains the flow of the narrative, keeping the storyline intact while enriching the overall experience.
My Concerns
As the story progresses, a couple of actions towards the end left me uncertain about my feelings. Without giving away too much, I suspect fellow readers might experience a similar sense of ambiguity.
Final Thoughts
While the story’s plot is very interesting, it was the intricately crafted characters that truly held my attention. Each character is deeply complex, realistic, and wonderfully flawed, making them both relatable and fascinating. Critics might argue that the book is slow-paced or that not enough happens, but I believe it excels in thoroughly exploring each character’s growth and development. The result is a compelling narrative that resonates long after the last page is turned.
My thanks to Spiegel & Grau for a gifted copy. All thoughts are my own, and I was not required to post a review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Callan Wink is the author of the novels, Beartooth and August and a collection of short stories, Dog Run Moon. He has been awarded fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts and Stanford University, where he was a Wallace Stegner Fellow. His stories and essays appear widely, including in The New Yorker, Granta, Playboy, Men’s Journal and The Best American Short Stories Anthology. He lives in Livingston, Montana where he is a fly fishing guide on the Yellowstone River.
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