The Forest Lover

The Forest Lover - Susan Vreeland If being completely honest, I wasn't taken or impressed with "The Forest Lover" in the long haul, and much of the reason isn't because that Susan Vreeland wasn't a talented writer in some respects or even that Emily Carr's story isn't remotely interesting to hear. I was put off by the mundane portrayals, wandering/fragmented portrayal and the stereotypical coats that plagued this work. Really - this woman has a absolutely interesting life and it's presented in this way? I learned more about Emily Carr reading about her in many other sources than this book, and there's no inrtigue that makes the reader want to continue in its progression. The book seems to drag its heels in many places, even as it's written in a series of mini-chapters that revolve around a particular experience or interactions within the artist's life. The problem is that despite this sectioning, the prose feels nice, but the portrayal feels stagnant and dry. She doesn't make use of it in ways that are inventive or even remotely close to being immersive. I felt I couldn't relate with the character much in her interactions, and the purpose of the story often meandered in several sections. Transitions from one measure to the next were not very good at all.I give it an extra half-star for the strong prose within itself, but I wouldn't recommend this particular book for those who like Emily Carr's work and want to know more about her in an intriguing format. I'll probably look into Vreeland's other offerings because I know she can write well, but this particular story didn't do much more than offer itself in the coat of strong prose, particularly when there were so many other elements working against it.Overall score: 1.5/5