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Wednesday, April 01, 2020

In the Barren Ground


In the Barren Ground by Loreth Anne White takes place in a Canadian wilderness bordering the Arctic Circle.  Tana Larson, young and pregnant, becomes the sole law enforcement for an area that covers 17,500 miles when her superior has some issues with the cold, isolation, and prolonged darkness of the area.

Two young researchers are savaged by wolves, and Tana, after viewing the scene begins to have some doubts about whether the wolves killed the two young people--or arrived after they were dead.

A mixture of legend, madness, and a determined young Mountie who has a surfeit of suspects.

I liked it.  White's writing evokes the atmosphere of the far north.      

Kindle Unlimited.  Read in March.   

The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey was my favorite book in March, but it won't be published until August, so I'm holding the review.

My husband didn't get this,
but anyone who has grown an avocado tree from an avocado pit will.


17 comments:

  1. Can't wait to see what the little T.P. sprout looks like. LOL

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  2. Your TP 'pit'is cute! We tried this with an avacado, but I don't think it ever sprouted much. This was years ago when our daughter was young. Good luck! LOL

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  3. I get it! I grew an avocado plant when I was a preteen, many, many years ago. It actually got to be quite big and full, but never produced any avocados.

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    1. I guess the watching the roots form and the sprout appear was the main goal. The avocado is a tropical plant, but with global warming, maybe we will eventually see fruit. :)

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  4. Too funny! I believe when you grow an avocado tree from the pit, it will not give fruit? I could be wrong about that but Les' comment above bears this out.

    I've never read a mystery featuring Canadian Mounties. Though I did read Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman. It is about a young woman at the turn of the last century who marries a Mountie and lives a hardscrabble life in the wilderness. Definitely a good follow up of any one who enjoyed the Little House books.

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    1. Wonder how many kept it up until there was an actual tree. I think my mother must have disposed of ours after a while.

      Living in the far north must still be a hard life. I don't think I read Mrs. Mike, although the title sounds familiar, and the Little House books could probably give us some useful tips right now!

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  5. Hahaha! Let's hope we won't have to resort to growing our own tp!

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    1. Once when my daughters and I were discussing a dystopian novel, I brought up the importance of tp. Now, the we really know how valuable it is! :)

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  6. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Loreth Anne White's books. :)

    I don't have green fingers so I don't know anything about plants growing but I hope something will sprout from that pit!

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    1. It was funny watching my husband puzzle over that pic when I showed him. In the meantime, we will have to hope companies that make toilet paper ramp us production!

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  7. I did that whole avocado pit thing in grade school! Talk about a fun memory. :D And I've got to read some of Loreth Anne White's books! They all sound so good. I've been working on some postcards, so maybe someday soon I'll have one to send to you.

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    1. The avocado pit is something that most kids remember. One warning, on Loreth Anne White--I tried the first in her Angie Pallorino series, and abandoned it because of graphic sex scenes. I'm not a fan of sex scenes in my mysteries, especially detailed ones. Personal preference.

      And yes, I'd love a postcard from you and would happily send one in return. I know some people are cautious about mail in general, and so am I, but if treated the same way you treat a package from Amazon or any groceries--things should be fine! That's my attitude anyway, and I am always happy to find something other than adds or political stuff in my mailbox!

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  8. Alright, that environment is harsh -- so makes me curious about Tana as a character.

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    1. Tana was born in Yellowknife in Canada's Northwest territories and her mother was a native (I forget the tribe). She grew up with a background in survival skills needed in the far north. That said, it doesn't mean the novel is realistic. :)

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  9. Haha... love that picture! I've never grown an avocado tree but some of my family members have. Too funny. Will need to check out this author and I'm excited that I do have the egalley for the Margot Livesey book. Now if I can just read more and do some reviews. My reading seems to have tanked lately thanks to all the craziness in the world.

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