Counterpoint LLC
The Bog Wife
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FINALIST FOR THE WORLD FANTASY AWARDS
"A lush, beautifully written novel about trying to be a person in our strange world . . . Pick this one up for its exquisite characterization, decaying settings and a dash of Southern gothic horror." --Kiersten White, The New York Times Book Review
A "haunting, brilliant" Appalachian folktale evoking the Southern gothic suspense of Sharp Objects and the eco spine-tinglers of Jeff Vandermeer (Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts)
Five siblings in West Virginia unearth long-buried secrets when the supernatural bargain entwining their fate with their ancestral land is suddenly ruptured
Since time immemorial, the Haddesley family has tended the cranberry bog. In exchange, the bog sustains them. The staunch seasons of their lives are governed by a strict covenant that is renewed each generation with the ritual sacrifice of their patriarch, and in return, the bog produces a "bog-wife." Brought to life from vegetation, this woman is meant to carry on the family line. But when the bog fails--or refuses--to honor the bargain, the Haddesleys, a group of discordant siblings still grieving the mother who mysteriously disappeared years earlier, face an unknown future.
Middle child Wenna, summoned back to the dilapidated family manor just as her marriage is collapsing, believes the Haddesleys must abandon their patrimony. Her siblings are not so easily persuaded. Eldest daughter Eda, de facto head of the household, seeks to salvage the compact by desecrating it. Younger son Percy retreats into the wilderness in a dangerous bid to summon his own bog-wife. And as youngest daughter Nora takes desperate measures to keep her warring siblings together, fledgling patriarch Charlie uncovers a disturbing secret that casts doubt over everything the family has ever believed about itself.
At once a gothic eco-horror, a psychological drama, and a family saga, The Bog Wife is a propulsive read for fans of Shirley Jackson, Karen Russell, and Matt Bell that speaks to what is knowable and unknowable within a family history and how to know when it is time to move forward.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781640096622
EAN:
9781640096622
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
336
Authors:
Kay Chronister
Publisher:
Counterpoint LLC
Published Date: 2024-01-10
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I would read every prequel and sequel about this family ever to be released for a lifetime. Weird, gothic, unnerving, comforting, relatable, unimaginable. Kay Chronister is now among my favorites forever.
I loved this well-written and otherworldly book. Finished it a few days ago and continue to think about it. It’s the first book I’ve read by Kay Chronister - she’s a real talent.
Very well written and imaginative. Enjoyed reading it. The characters were well developed and interesting. Easy reading and I highly recommend.
I didn’t realize when I picked this book up that the setting was West Virginia. Though I’ve since moved, it’s always special to see my home state represented in literature.However, it’s very clear that no research was done into the surrounding area. The idea of Marlinton having a greyhound station, a Walmart, an old Kmart, and a neon strip with multiple bars is frankly laughable. When other towns are mentioned, it seems as though they’re just random names off a map that looked close enough. Unfortunately, this completely overshadows the story for me.
Initially this very well written story seemed very sad and hopeless until the meaning utterly shifted. Then, there was so much to think about. I read this with my book club.
