Wintering: A novel

A highly acclaimed novelist now gives us a true epic: a love story that spans sixty years, generations worth of feuds, and secrets withheld and revealed. The two principal stories at play in "Wintering" are bound together when the elderly, demented Harry Eide escapes his sickbed and vanishes into the forbidding, northernmost wilderness that surrounds the town of Gunflint, Minnesota instantly changing the Eide family, and many other lives, forever. He d done this once before, more than thirty years earlier in 1963, fleeing a crumbling marriage and bringing along Gustav, his eighteen-year-old son, pitching this audacious, potentially fatal scheme winter already coming on, in these woods, on these waters as a reenactment of the ancient voyageurs journeys of discovery. It's certainly something Gus has never forgotten, nor the Devil s Maw of a river, a variety of beloved (possibly fantastical) maps, the ice floes and waterfalls (neither especially appealing from a canoe), a magnificent bear, the endless portages, a magical abandoned shack, Thanksgiving and Christmas improvised at the far end of the earth, the brutal cold and sheer beauty of it all. And men hunting other men. Now with his father pronounced dead Gus relates their adventure in vivid detail to Berit Lovig, who d spent much of her life waiting for Harry, her passionate conviction finally fulfilled over the last two decades. So, a middle-aged man rectifying his personal history, an aging lady wrestling with her own, and with the entire saga of a town and region they d helped to form and were in turn formed by, relentlessly and unforgettably.

About the Author :
PETER GEYEwas born and raised in Minneapolis, where he continues to live. His previous novels are "Safe from the Sea" and "The Lighthouse Road.""

Review :
Suspense, unforgettable characters, powerful landscapes, and even more powerful emotions. John Timpane, "The Philadelphia Inquirer"
Gripping. . . A page-turning cross between Jack London s naturalism and Jim Harrison s poetic symbolism. . . . [Stitches] together two frequently dissociated strands in American literature: its dramas of beset manhood and its domestic chronicles. . . "Wintering "gives us both, vividly imagining an outward bound journey that eventually brings us home to a fuller understanding of ourselves. Mike Fischer, "The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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If Jack London s Yukon tales married William Faulkner s Yoknapatawpha County s blood battles, their thematic and geographic offspring would be Peter Geye s "Wintering." . . . There s a lot to love about this novel: the beauty of the wilderness, the tenderness of relationships, the craft. . . . [There] is the feeling you get at the funeral of a loved one how you ache to hear the stories you never knew so that you might round out the man. . . . But in the sharing of stories there is healing, if not complete comprehension and that, it seems to me, is the point and triumph of this novel. Christine Brunkhorst, "Minneapolis Star Tribune"
Geye s assured narrative gradually unfolds a Jack London-like tale of survival blended with a Richard Russo-like picture of small-town intrigue. . . .Geye dips into history with ease and comes up with a story as contemporary as anything flashing across our screens today."Wintering "is a novel for the ages. Bruce Jacobs, "Shelf Awareness"
Beautifully written [and] supported by immaculately conceived characters [and] Geye s instinctive sense of narrative movement. . . . The relatively small and enclosed community is Geye s perfect laboratory for exploring human nature. Brad Hooper, "Booklist"
Geye s powerful third novel journeys to the frozen places in the American landscape and the human heart. . . . Capturing the strength and mystery of characters who seem inextricable from the landscape, Geye s novel is an unsentimental testament to the healing that s possible when we confront our bleakest places. "Publishers Weekly"
Reminiscent of Jack London s 'To Build a Fire' and Jon Krakauer s "Into the Wild," Geye s narrative takes us deep into both human and natural wilderness. "Kirkus Reviews"
In one beautifully etched sentence after another, Peter Geye s "Wintering" explores the remote wilderness of Minnesota, and the even more remote and mysterious wilderness of family history. I found myself lost inside it, in all the best ways a reader can be lost. Alix Ohlin
There s no greater literary pleasure than watching a master emerge. I ve witnessed Peter Geye grow into that distinction for coming on two decades now. All I can say is "Wintering" proves his finest, most powerful work yet. Joseph Boyden
The last time I read a literary thriller so profound Cormac McCarthy s name was on its spine. But Peter Geye is his own man and "Wintering" is as unique and menacingly beautiful as its Minnesota borderlands setting. Richard Russo
An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent" If Jack London s Yukon tales married William Faulkner s Yoknapatawpha County s blood battles, their thematic and geographic offspring would be Peter Geye s "Wintering." . . . There s a lot to love about this novel: the beauty of the wilderness, the tenderness of relationships, the craft. . . . [There] is the feeling you get at the funeral of a loved one how you ache to hear the stories you never knew so that you might round out the man. . . . But in the sharing of stories there is healing, if not complete comprehension and that, it seems to me, is the point and triumph of this novel. Christine Brunkhorst, "Minneapolis Star Tribune"
Geye s assured narrative gradually unfolds a Jack London-like tale of survival blended with a Richard Russo-like picture of small-town intrigue. . . .Geye dips into history with ease and comes up with a story as contemporary as anything flashing across our screens today."Wintering "is a novel for the ages. Bruce Jacobs, "Shelf Awareness"
Beautifully written [and] supported by immaculately conceived characters [and] Geye s instinctive sense of narrative movement. . . . The relatively small and enclosed community is Geye s perfect laboratory for exploring human nature. Brad Hooper, "Booklist"
Geye s powerful third novel journeys to the frozen places in the American landscape and the human heart. . . . Capturing the strength and mystery of characters who seem inextricable from the landscape, Geye s novel is an unsentimental testament to the healing that s possible when we confront our bleakest places. "Publishers Weekly"
Reminiscent of Jack London s 'To Build a Fire' and Jon Krakauer s "Into the Wild," Geye s narrative takes us deep into both human and natural wilderness. "Kirkus Reviews"
In one beautifully etched sentence after another, Peter Geye s "Wintering" explores the remote wilderness of Minnesota, and the even more remote and mysterious wilderness of family history. I found myself lost inside it, in all the best ways a reader can be lost. Alix Ohlin
There s no greater literary pleasure than watching a master emerge. I ve witnessed Peter Geye grow into that distinction for coming on two decades now. All I can say is "Wintering" proves his finest, most powerful work yet. Joseph Boyden
The last time I read a literary thriller so profound Cormac McCarthy s name was on its spine. But Peter Geye is his own man and "Wintering" is as unique and menacingly beautiful as its Minnesota borderlands setting. Richard Russo
An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent" Geye s assured narrative gradually unfolds a Jack London-like tale of survival blended with a Richard Russo-like picture of small-town intrigue. . . .Geye dips into history with ease and comes up with a story as contemporary as anything flashing across our screens today."Wintering "is a novel for the ages. Bruce Jacobs, "Shelf Awareness"
Beautifully written [and] supported by immaculately conceived characters [and] Geye s instinctive sense of narrative movement. . . . The relatively small and enclosed community is Geye s perfect laboratory for exploring human nature. Brad Hooper, "Booklist"
Geye s powerful third novel journeys to the frozen places in the American landscape and the human heart. . . . Capturing the strength and mystery of characters who seem inextricable from the landscape, Geye s novel is an unsentimental testament to the healing that s possible when we confront our bleakest places. "Publishers Weekly"
Reminiscent of Jack London s 'To Build a Fire' and Jon Krakauer s "Into the Wild," Geye s narrative takes us deep into both human and natural wilderness. "Kirkus Reviews"
In one beautifully etched sentence after another, Peter Geye s "Wintering" explores the remote wilderness of Minnesota, and the even more remote and mysterious wilderness of family history. I found myself lost inside it, in all the best ways a reader can be lost. Alix Ohlin
There s no greater literary pleasure than watching a master emerge. I ve witnessed Peter Geye grow into that distinction for coming on two decades now. All I can say is "Wintering" proves his finest, most powerful work yet. Joseph Boyden
The last time I read a literary thriller so profound Cormac McCarthy s name was on its spine. But Peter Geye is his own man and "Wintering" is as unique and menacingly beautiful as its Minnesota borderlands setting. Richard Russo
An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent" Beautifully written [and] supported by immaculately conceived characters [and] Geye s instinctive sense of narrative movement. . . . The relatively small and enclosed community is Geye s perfect laboratory for exploring human nature. Brad Hooper, "Booklist"
Geye s powerful third novel journeys to the frozen places in the American landscape and the human heart. . . . Capturing the strength and mystery of characters who seem inextricable from the landscape, Geye s novel is an unsentimental testament to the healing that s possible when we confront our bleakest places. "Publishers Weekly"
Reminiscent of Jack London s 'To Build a Fire' and Jon Krakauer s "Into the Wild," Geye s narrative takes us deep into both human and natural wilderness. "Kirkus Reviews"
In one beautifully etched sentence after another, Peter Geye s "Wintering" explores the remote wilderness of Minnesota, and the even more remote and mysterious wilderness of family history. I found myself lost inside it, in all the best ways a reader can be lost. Alix Ohlin
There s no greater literary pleasure than watching a master emerge. I ve witnessed Peter Geye grow into that distinction for coming on two decades now. All I can say is "Wintering" proves his finest, most powerful work yet. Joseph Boyden
The last time I read a literary thriller so profound Cormac McCarthy s name was on its spine. But Peter Geye is his own man and "Wintering" is as unique and menacingly beautiful as its Minnesota borderlands setting. Richard Russo
An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent" Capturing the strength and mystery of characters who seem inextricable from the landscape, Geye s novel is an unsentimental testament to the healing that s possible when we confront our bleakest places. "Publishers Weekly"
Reminiscent of Jack London s 'To Build a Fire' and Jon Krakauer s "Into the Wild," Geye s narrative takes us deep into both human and natural wilderness. "Kirkus Reviews"
In one beautifully etched sentence after another, Peter Geye s "Wintering" explores the remote wilderness of Minnesota, and the even more remote and mysterious wilderness of family history. I found myself lost inside it, in all the best ways a reader can be lost. Alix Ohlin
There s no greater literary pleasure than watching a master emerge. I ve witnessed Peter Geye grow into that distinction for coming on two decades now. All I can say is "Wintering" proves his finest, most powerful work yet. Joseph Boyden
The last time I read a literary thriller so profound Cormac McCarthy s name was on its spine. But Peter Geye is his own man and "Wintering" is as unique and menacingly beautiful as its Minnesota borderlands setting. Richard Russo
An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent" Reminiscent of Jack London s To Build a Fire and Jon Krakauer s "Into the Wild," Geye s narrative takes us deep into both human and natural wilderness. "Kirkus Reviews"
In one beautifully etched sentence after another, Peter Geye s "Wintering" explores the remote wilderness of Minnesota, and the even more remote and mysterious wilderness of family history. I found myself lost inside it, in all the best ways a reader can be lost. Alix Ohlin
There s no greater literary pleasure than watching a master emerge. I ve witnessed Peter Geye grow into that distinction for coming on two decades now. All I can say is "Wintering" proves his finest, most powerful work yet. Joseph Boyden
The last time I read a literary thriller so profound Cormac McCarthy s name was on its spine. But Peter Geye is his own man and "Wintering" is as unique and menacingly beautiful as its Minnesota borderlands setting. Richard Russo
An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent" In one beautifully etched sentence after another, Peter Geye s "Wintering" explores the remote wilderness of Minnesota, and the even more remote and mysterious wilderness of family history. I found myself lost inside it, in all the best ways a reader can be lost. Alix Ohlin
There s no greater literary pleasure than watching a master emerge. I ve witnessed Peter Geye grow into that distinction for coming on two decades now. All I can say is "Wintering" proves his finest, most powerful work yet. Joseph Boyden
The last time I read a literary thriller so profound Cormac McCarthy s name was on its spine. But Peter Geye is his own man and "Wintering" is as unique and menacingly beautiful as its Minnesota borderlands setting. Richard Russo
An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent" There s no greater literary pleasure than watching a master emerge. I ve witnessed Peter Geye grow into that distinction for coming on two decades now. All I can say is "Wintering" proves his finest, most powerful work yet. Joseph Boyden
The last time I read a literary thriller so profound Cormac McCarthy s name was on its spine. But Peter Geye is his own man and "Wintering" is as unique and menacingly beautiful as its Minnesota borderlands setting. Richard Russo
An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent" An elegant, quietly profound, and harrowing novel. I loved this book. Emily St. John Mandel
Peter Geye s third novel is a work of great power and primal beauty, an epic literary journey into the forbidding wilds of Northern Minnesota Geye is a masterful writer whose elegiac prose captures both the holiness and brutality of nature. "Wintering" is a stunning book, one that takes hold of the reader from the first haunting line and never lets go. Amy Greene
In starkly elegant prose that matches neatly the deep northern landscape in which it's set, "Wintering "is a vivid portrait of fathers and sons, generational battles of love and exhaustion, forgiveness and mystery. The bonds crack, shimmer, and hold, like ice, like granite ledges. Peter Geye writes with a nigh-mythic force. An extraordinary novel. Jeffrey Lent"