The Great Outdoors

[blkeyesuzi]

What a wonderful post.  I couldn't possibly add anything that would improve on what you've shared.  You've said what I wish I had!  Particularly your comment regarding nature and the outdoors being a binding force withing the story so far.  I think you are absolutely correct in this.  The warmth of the sun, beautiful surroundings and wonderful beginnings. 

Having lived in Southern California for most of my life, I completely relate to being outdoors more than in.  My family spends most of our time out, as the air is fresh and it's so much more pleasant.  In fact, I think the beautiful weather is what makes living in smaller houses here so much more doable.  Our garden is an extension of our house where we have meals and enjoy visitors.  Indoors is basically a place to sleep and recharge for the next day of outdoor pleasures. 

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Amanda-Louise wrote:
Although I am not 'outdoorsy' I find that this book being set in the outdoors in the perfect thing at a time when I'm stuck in doors! It's cold and somewhat miserable here (can't remember the last time I saw the sun) and I love reading about the sun warming their bodies. When they were in the lodge, I felt as thought they were almost testing themselves as a new couple. The entire thing had been surreal and they were both wondering how it would be once they were off the river. I think that it gave them a glimpse of the relationship working once back in 'real' life. The natural world is a binding force through the story so far. It is what brings Mary and Cobb together and it's one of the things that brings the chungamunga girls together. The river certainly gives them a sample of the ups and downs of life and helps Cobb and Mary get to know each other. They are challenged by the river in a great way and find they can work together in difficult times, and the river is also calm, peaceful and serene at others. They find that through the ups and downs they can manage together. I think it's one reason the relationship works so quickly. They are challenged together within days and find out how each person deals with difficulties.

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[Bonnie_C]

I don't think Mary and Cobb were "playing house".   I really think they were so into each other they just wanted some privacy even if that meant sleeping in a tent in rainy weather rather than in a nice comfy cabin.  It must be love.

Mother Nature is a character in everyone's lives. Many people just take her for granted.  The people in this story are just smart enough to get to know her in a more up close and personal way.   They leave their cell phones, laptops, i-pods and big screen TV's behind and open themselves up to something wonderful. 

The river is the cornerstone of this story.  Not only does it bring all the characters together, it teaches them many lessons.  You can enjoy the tranquility and beauty at times, but be prepared to navigate the rough spots.  You have to be focused and work together as a team.  The river also ignites the first fear in Mary that maybe she does have Huntington's disease when her kayak capsizes.

[Deltadawn]

The fact that we spend most of our time outdoors is essential to this fascinating story - both Mary and Cobb thrive and are their most authentic selves, it seems, when they are outdoors.  Mary wants to sleep out of doors every night so that she can be directly below the stars.  Their relationship is developing naturally (albeit quickly) in a natural setting.

I am not an outdoors person the way these two characters are, but I can certainly appreciate the feelings they have in relation to nature. I am not personally familiar with the river in the book.

[Deltadawn]

I agree completely with this statement! Beautifully stated!

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thewanderingjew wrote:

To me the river, as a character, represents life, with its twists and turns, unexpected surprises and gifts. It seemed to be the road Mary and Cobb would travel together. All roads do eventually come to an end where another begins.

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Rachel-K wrote:

Are any readers familiar with this river in real life?

How is the natural world a character in the story?

How does the river play a role in the novel so far?

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[jabrkeKB]

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Rachel-K wrote:

What do you make of the fact that so far, we spend almost no time indoors? Even when Mary and Cobb make friends and visit a lodge for a small dinner party, they head back outside as soon as they possibly can. How does this play a part in their brand new relationship? Did it feel to you as if they were "playing house" while they visited?Mary and Cobb are both "outdoorsy" type of people. They came to this place with a purpose. Mary wants to live each day to its fullest and Cobb wants to experience a simpler life like Thoreau. Their relationship is free from the pressures of the daily "rat race" for now. I did not feel as if they were "playing house" they were just enjoying nature and each other.

Are any readers familiar with this river in real life?No, but it sounds beautiful.

How is the natural world a character in the story?Mary seems more connected to nature than Cobb. Through Mary's stories nature becomes a character. The animals, river, trees, fire and weather have all played a part in the story.

How does the river play a role in the novel so far?I see the river as a metaphor for life. The river has it's twists and turns, calm spots and rough spots, just like life.

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[TamCG]

I thought about that throught he first several chapters.  I was definitely wondering how life would be for them once they were back in the "real world".  But as it turns out that honestly was their real world.  They enjoyed being outside with nature and basically built their lives around that aspect of it (that rocks - wish I could do that!). 

Not familiar with the river but after reading this book I have marked down "several places to visit".

The natural world is a huge character in the book.  We were constantly reminded of it, what it was doing, what it looked like, how it smelled, etc.  I absolutely loved it!  I had never read a book where it took you to so many different areas and I was intrigued by that. 

Ah - the river - Eternal on the Water - need we say more

[Kittysmom]

Thanks Mike, I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the lake, it gives one more perspective on what the characters are living!

Gail

[Kittysmom]

I love the fact that Mary and Cobb are spending most of the time outside, it's a great place to be and obviously they are outdoorsy people.  I didn't have the slightest feeling that they were "playing house", it never crossed my mind,  Only that it seemed they were drawn to each other awfully fast, almost as if they've know each other forever!'

     I have never heard of the Allagash river but it really sounds like a good place to be and they are lucky to be there!

    I liked the idea that they were able to go into the lodge and make two new friends which they will obviously need in the future.

I have been sick so have not read as far as I would have liked - but I'm pushing on!

Gail

[Sirscha]

How does this play a part in their brand new relationship? Did it feel to you as if they were "playing house" while they visited?

Being in the outdoors allows Mary and Cobb an element of freedom.  They develop a reliance on each other quickly - a reliance forged when having to deal with the temperaments of the natural world.

Are any readers familiar with this river in real life?

I am not familiar with the Allagash but I did canoe for a length of time on the Conway River.  The river is such a force with varying personalities - I assume the Allagash is similar. 

How is the natural world a character in the story?

Mother nature brings Mary and Cobb closer together; the cold and the rain and the wildness of the river, forge a bond between them.  Stories of crows and ravens, interactions with moose, the buck during the night, even the tales of bears taking human form; all contribute to the romantic, passionate, accelerated relationship Mary and Cobb have developed.  The Chungamunga girls have embraced nature and created myths and rituals around various facets in the natural world.  

How does the river play a role in the novel so far?

The river allows Mary and Cobb to come together.  It ebbs and flows bringing people into their lives, allowing them space from each other, forcing increased intimacy.  It is a personality that the characters have to deal with.  

[LRH1223]

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thewanderingjew wrote:

I am not familiar with the river in this story, but we have all seen rivers ramble somewhere, if not in the flesh then on tv, in a movie, or read about them in a book.

To me the river, as a character, represents life, with its twists and turns, unexpected surprises and gifts. It seemed to be the road Mary and Cobb would travel together. All roads do eventually come to an end where another begins.

The river will take Mary and Cobb on their journey and it will take us along with them, wherever it leads.

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Wonderful, wonderful description!

[Clevegal42]

I'm only 2 chapters in (the schedule change worked against me), but so far it is very clear that the outdoors is a character of its own.  As we are being introduced to the human characters of Mary and Cobb, the river and the forest and the parks are being introduced as well.  I'm not outdoorsy, but I can appreciate beautiful scenery and the explanations paint awesome mental pictures of the setting of the story. 

I'm really enjoying it so far and can't wait to start up again this evening.

[kpatton]

Alright, I started to read other posts so that I wasn't repeating anyone, but after most of the first page, I just have to write my thoughts.  I want them to be my thoughts first not influenced by other posts.  I'll probably respond to posts as I get to reading them all.

The preface (first chapter) sets the stage for this to be about the river and the importance of it in Mary and Cobb's lives.  I didn't even think about everything taking place outdoors.  They were both planning on running the river, so it would obviously be outdoors.  I especially liked how the author even had them sleeping outside of their tents.  It made it especially important when Mary said she liked to sleep where she could see the stars becausde she didn't know how many nights she would be able to do that.

I believe that there are times, given the right circumstances, people connect (in this country, in this state, on this river, in this boat).  Different state and place but this is pretty true for my husband of 35 years and I met and knew we were meant for each other.

Kathy

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[Lisa1971]

What do you make of the fact that so far, we spend almost no time indoors? Even when Mary and Cobb make friends and visit a lodge for a small dinner party, they head back outside as soon as they possibly can. How does this play a part in their brand new relationship? Did it feel to you as if they were "playing house" while they visited?

I think it's part of what pulls me into this book is all the vivid details that makes me feel like I'm right there and can visualize every step, move, and sound. The details our one of the things I like best about this book so far.

Are any readers familiar with this river in real life?

I don't have a lot of experience myself with nature and wildlife. I think that's one of the things that pulled me into this book.

How is the natural world a character in the story?

I think the nature is absolutely a character in this book because it presents a life of its own. And this can be as enticing to the reader as the human characters themselves.

How does the river play a role in the novel so far? 

The River plays a role because it is the deep dark force that starts the book off with marries dead body floating in it. this makes the reader already aware of the dangers that lurk.

[MSaff]

  Hi Gail,

  Good to see that you are up and around. 

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I have been sick so have not read as far as I would have liked - but I'm pushing on!

Gail

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[HBT]

It seemed to me that Mary and Cobb began to play house when they visited the people in the lodge. (I did not watch the video until after I read the first 8 chapters, but when I read the description of the kitchen, it was like the kitchen in the video)They spoke about kids, yet Mary knew she cannot have any. They did the dishes together and it was so sweet that it is almost unrealistic. This to me is when Mary realized that the relationship was more than casual. I have never been to Main so this book is giving me an idea of what it is like. 

The natural world is a character, in my opinion because it is always present, changing, adding bumps and calmness into their lives. The river started it all. This is the beginning of the Chungamunga girls as we know them, the beginning of how Mary became who she is, the  location Thoreau spent time at causing Cobb to go there for research. Then it became the beginning of a relationship, a fairy tail wedding and I am speculating here (I just finished Chapter 8), the end of the story and Mary's life.

What do you make of the fact that so far, we spend almost no time indoors? Even when Mary and Cobb make friends and visit a lodge for a small dinner party, they head back outside as soon as they possibly can. How does this play a part in their brand new relationship? Did it feel to you as if they were "playing house" while they visited?

Are any readers familiar with this river in real life?

How is the natural world a character in the story?

How does the river play a role in the novel so far?

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[Sunltcloud]

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear, nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."

Henry D. Thoreau WALDEN, Anchor Books edition 1973, page 80

[Bedelia]

Without the outdoors there would be no Mary and Cobb meeting and really not story at all.  The outdoors is much more than a setting, it is a conduit through which all the characters interact not only with nature, but each other also.  It is essential to Mary's welling being.  The outdoors is used to heal not only the chungamunga girls and also Francis.  

[babzilla41]

How does the river play a role in the novel so far?

I think the river is a character reference for Mary and Cobb.  In the beginning Mary is encouraging towards Cobb who is a less experienced kayaker.  Cobb puts his trust in Mary, follows her direction and believes in her confidence.  When Mary tips her kayak over, she puts her trust in Cobb when he convinces her to get back in the river, to get to their camp site.  She relies on him to keep her safe and ultimately save her from hypothermia.  They've both seen that they can rely on each other without judgment.  I think that says alot for two people who have basically just met each other.

[MACanler]

I am a big canoe and camping fan.  This book takes me away to the great outdoors and I love it!!!!  It is a perfect read to take you away from the reality of winter's freezing temps and snow.

I think Mary was daydreaming of what a normal family life with Cobb would be like.  I think the cabin(indoors) put her in that state of mind.  I think the natural world and river both represent the magic, surprise and the mystery of the story.       

[molter1970]

I think that with Mary and Cobb spending the majority of time outdoors it shows that they both enjoy the outdoors and have a great appreciation for what has been created. The outdoor theme is constant throughout their relationship from the start to the conclusion. Another apect of this is that they are able to share the beauty of what they see together and possibly view it from a different perspective instead of just their own.

Until reading this book I have never heard of the Allagash river. My familiarity with rivers is more what is close to where I live.  The river is a symbol of sorts it is where the relationship starts and unfortuantely has it's end. Hence the reason for eternal water in the title in my mind.