Overall, I enjoyed the book, and read it through in one weekend. I did like the characters, but their story as told by Cobb, almost seemed like one of Mary's allegories. Lessons to be learned, and all that.
The best parts were the stories and descriptions of nature; I think that must be where the author's true interest lies. I'm not an adventuring outdoorsperson myself; I have camped, but rarely in wilderness and I mostly enjoy animals from a safe and domestic distance. But the parts about ravens and turtles and wolves were wonderful. Very well written. I'll hold off commenting on the different settings until later in the discussion, but they were highlights, too.
I have only once personally observed the "llove at first sight" thing - a young co-worker met a man on an airplane, the next day he sent flowers to our office and four months later they were married. How that all worked out, I'm not sure. Most of the good relationships I've known came out of much less impetuous beginnings, a more slowly developed dance.
What rang really false for me were the lengthy descriptions of lovemaking. Would a man really go on and on to a stranger, on the day of his wife's death, about how much with what passion they kissed one another? Suddenly I'd find myself in a not-very-well-done romance novel, and I'd wonder, "Doesn't this author know his likely readers are adults, and are pretty familiar with how women lie with their heads on their partners' chests already?" How many times did we need to read about that? OK, I get it, very strong physical attraction. Been there, done that, just show me once. And maybe one more mention later, to show it endured throughout their life together.
I thought the opening, and knowing of Mary's eventual death, didn't detract from the story at all; rather, it drew you in. At first I couldn't tell if this couple had had a long life together before she died, but then the hints of modernity in the early scenes made it more clear.
As for wanting to know about a physical condition, if I had no idea it was likely, I'd probably not get tested, but if I were aware of the familial odds, I'm sure I'd want to know for a host of reasons. It's not like Mary was really able to live in blissful ignorance; she worried every time she stumbled or got confused or even had a nightmare. If she knew for sure she had it, it would be very little different. But if she knew she didn't, her life could have a whole different trajectory, and that wouldn't preclude her from counting her blessings and still living very much in the present, doing the things she loved.
The stories of the Chungamunga girls are part of what made this life story sound like a fanciful story; the potential tragedy, the fairy and princess fantasies, the wise and good giant, all the little heroines sweet and loving and working together. Nice, but not very realistic. Just there, as I said, to teach a nice lesson.
