Rating: 
Summary: Guterson has lost his way.
Review: When compared to Snow Falling on Cedars, Guterson's East of the Mountains, has disappointed this reader. It's as if he had to publish another book quickly to recapture his audience. I fault his publisher. He would have better spent more time and write about a more interesting subject. He even could have used this theme if he had found some way to develop his characters in more depth. They are all very shallow and superficial. Hopping from character to character did nothing for me. Guterson should reread his "Snow Falling..." to find a book worth writing. I know he has the talent. Please try again, Mr. Guterson.
Rating: 
Summary: East of the Mountains Another Classic
Review: Maybe you have to be a novelist yourself to appreciate the rich texture and intimate characterization of David Guterson's EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS, but I don't think so. Given a chance, readers will find it. In my own Authors Workshop, I've come to appreciate how truly rare is novelistic talent -- the gift of placing one's reader precisely inside another mind in another place -- and twice now, in SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS and EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS, David Guterson has shown it. If the major publishing houses can still find acquisition editors who can appreciate such work, readers will reward them, and publishing may not be dead.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Picture of Eastern Washington
Review: No, it is not Snow Falling on Cedars, but it is not supposed to be. Guterson's ability to create scene and atmosphere supports this good story of a man determined to call it quits on life once he finds he has a terminal disease. The novel actually embodies a quest for Ben Givens who finds reasons for life he had not before imagined. Rather than suspenseful, it is a thoughtful trip of discovery,
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: There have been a number of Snow Falling on Cedar fans who found East of the Mountains not exactly what they had in mind. I'm certainly not going to say that David Guterson has no talent and that East of the Mountains is not literary. As someone very familiar with nature, I admire his observations and his manner of expression. Nonetheless, this is a book read once that will not be read a second time. Somehow, it just fell flat.I've met David Guterson and understand his point of view comes, admittedly, from Russian ancestors. Perhaps I'm just too non-Russian to understand why anyone would have wanted to write this book.
Rating:
Summary: Be a little more flexible, Guterson fans!
Review: Sure, this 2nd novel isn't as good as the first one, and true, it is about something depressing. But the middle and last part of the book is well worth sticking with the first part. Guterson's main character's description of his mother is as beautiful as a song, and his vignettes with various migrant workers seem authentic and enobling. If you liked the novel "Cold Mountain," you'll like the descriptions of the natural world found in Gutterson's new one. Both books are incredible treats for gardeners more than anyone else, maybe outdoorsy types too, like me, who are more interested in the acual running of a real apple farm than the running of, say, Wall Street or the White House.
Rating:
Summary: Nice story but could be better
Review: This novel had so much potential, but fell short. The plot showed promise, the style of writing flowing, but the story soon disappointed me. The characters were shallow and needed to be developed,, with more engaging scenes. I never felt the actual transition of Ben like one expects in really great books.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment at best.
Review: I'm disappointed. It took me months to buy this book, because I thought Snow Falling on Cedars was a little too soft for me, but then I saw this over and over on the bestseller list, and decided it must be good. Wrong! What IS the author's point? I couldn't feel sorry for Ben, I think I would have respected and liked him more if he had gone on with his plan. Ben is not even developed to the point where one could identify with him, instead he is written about as though he was never really supposed to exist anyway. The beginning of the story holds a little, but begins to fade in the middle, when Ben's exploits and adventures (if you can call them that) are being described, and the ending is really stupid. I'm horrified that the hardcover edition of this book costs $17.50! It isn't worth $2.00 at a bargain basement. Still, I gave it two stars instead of zero because it filled a few hours of my time, and anyone interested in a mindless trek into nothing might just enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Had to put this down...
Review: Determined to try this as a big fan of Snow Falling, I didn't make it past the early chapters. I was mildly shattered when I first learned about the cancer themes - a subject too personal for this reader. However I live in Washington state and wanted to try it and love it. Just could not get past the gruesome, dying man themes to enjoy Guterson's lovely nature writing. Bought the book at Amazon and have since donated it to my library. I hope there were good motivations for the cancer themes as they are excruciating to read about for those who have had the disease.
Rating:
Summary: more realistic and hopeful than Snow; not as well-written
Review: This novel does a better job than Snow at showing the fullness of its protagonist's life, rather than concentrating heavily on the past. The novel puts down roughly equal roots in the past and present. However, there is a flatness to the telling; it lacks the drama and emotion of Snow for the most part.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful prose, but . . .
Review: I'm a reader who prefers tension, conflict, and suspense driven novels like The Triumph and the Glory to more reflective fiction, but thought so highly of Snow Falling On Cedars that I ordered East of the Mountains with solid expectations of a refreshing change of pace to my reading habits. I was disappointed that it just seemed to go nowhere. The concept promised great pontential drama but Guterson just couldn't seem to pull it off with this new one.
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