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My Starry Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reason for Rating: It was a suspenseful read
What I Learned: Don’t sacrifice your happiness to make someone else happy
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars- it does not capture the vibe of the book, should have been darker
Publication Date: June 25, 2024 by Hogarth
Genres: Literary Fiction
DESCRIPTION:
A mesmerising novel of two sisters on a Pacific Northwest island whose lives are upended by an unexpected visitor — a tale of family, obsession, and a mysterious creature in the woods, by the celebrated, bestselling author of Disappearing Earth.
They were sisters and they would last past the end of time.
Sam and her sister, Elena, dream of another life. On the island off the coast of Washington where they were born and raised, they and their mother struggle to survive. Sam works long days on the ferry that delivers wealthy mainlanders to their vacation homes while Elena bartends at the local golf club, but even together they can’t earn enough to get by, stirring their frustration about the limits that shape their existence.
Then one night on the boat, Sam spots a bear swimming the dark waters of the channel. Where is it going? What does it want? When the bear turns up by their home, Sam, terrified, is more convinced than ever that it’s time to leave the island. But Elena responds differently to the massive beast. Enchanted by its presence, she throws into doubt the plan to escape and puts their long-held dream in danger.
A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us — and within us — Bear is a propulsive, mythical, rich novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers in America.
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REVIEW:
Bear by Julia Phillips was a surprising story, slightly depressing, moody, and suspenseful. Who would think that a simple story about two sisters being stalked by a bear on the North West coast of the USA would make for such a gripping story?
Sam and Elena live on an island off the coast of Washington state in a dilapidated house with their ailing mother. The sisters work dead end jobs, have no money, and are struggling to survive, with only their sisterly bond keeping things afloat. When a bear appears in their lives, coming to their house and following them through the woods, it becomes a symbol of all that the sisters are and risk losing.
This story had dark fairytale vibes, with its woodsy rustic scenery juxtaposed with a grim reality for the the two sisters who faced threats in the woods of their relationship. The bear as a metaphor and symbol for mothers, sisters, maternal love, and protection were explored through the lens of Sam and Elena’s tight bond, such as how love can easily turn into beastliness when it no longer nurtures, but consumes. The bear became a symbol of both freedom and danger for each sister, forcing them to embrace their inner wildness- of choosing their independence, dreams, and personal needs over co-dependency, fear, and complacency.
This was a fast read for me, simple, but thrilling with a lot of symbolic value.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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