Title: Harry’s Trees

Author: Jon Cohen

Publisher: MIRA 2018

Genre: Magical Realism

Pages: 432

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Thirty-four-year-old Harry Crane works as an analyst for the US Forest Service. When his wife dies suddenly, Harry, despairing, retreats north to lose himself in the remote woods of the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. But fate intervenes in the form of a fiercely determined young girl named Oriana. She and her mother, Amanda, are struggling to pick up the pieces from their own tragic loss of Oriana’s father. Discovering Harry while roaming the forest, Oriana believes that he holds the key to righting her world.

Harry reluctantly agrees to help Oriana carry out an astonishing scheme inspired by a book given to her by the town librarian, Olive Perkins. Together, Harry and Oriana embark on a golden adventure that will fulfill Oriana’s wild dream—and ultimately open Harry’s heart to new life.

Not really my type of book, but a decent read for the week. I am usually very wary of any type of heart-warming books and this one definitely fits into that mold. We get a man at sea with his life and a precocious child who changes that life. Right there, I figured this wasn’t going to be my favorite book. I was right. I wasn’t a big fan of the path of discovery in this book. My favorite parts were when things got a little strange and magical. Those portions kept me engaged with the story and characters. Overall, the story ended too neatly for me with everything wrapped into a bow. I like books with more open endings I think. I bristle at the neat and tidy finality at the end of these types of books.

Next up on the TBR pile: