Rating: 
Summary: East of the Mountains- a full course meal
Review: I was utterly shocked when I saw that this book had only earned 3 stars (at the time of this review). It is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. My wife and I were about 2 weeks from relocating to the area where the book is set so that may have played a role in my enjoyment of the book
The travels of the protagonist lead him, and the reader, to consider life and death. I gave this book away after I read it only to go and buy another copy for myself. I will read it again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: A meditation on what matters
Review: I agree with other reviewers who believe this work falls short of SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS (just short, however). Guterson's second novel is, nonetheless, a worthy and well-written work about a man's journey into the mountains to commit suicide. Ben Givens, formerly a skilled heart surgeon, believes he has lost all reason to live. He has lost his wife, his work, and now his health because of incurable cancer. In essence, his decision represents a failure of heart.
Before leaving, he makes it appear that he intends to return home, setting the stage for his act to appear like an accident. He heads east into the Cascades, in his old International Scout with hunting dogs, provisions, and shotgun. Soon there's a problem. Distracted by his dogs, he skids on a wet mountain road and slams into a tree. Suddenly, he is need of help, from others, and it arrives in unlikely ways: from a young couple, a drifter, a veterinarian, a migrant worker, and a rancher. They help Ben beyond their understanding, and beyond his, too.
This is a story that weaves its magic slowly, patiently, and on more than one level, much like COLD MOUNTAIN. This is a journey of the spirit. This is a journey forward through the mountains and backward through a life. This is a journey into what matters when all seeems lost. Along the way, Ben reminisces about his childhood, his roots, his family, his military service in World War II, and his wife -- a summing up and a reconciliation, a meditation on what mattered most in his life.
Guterson continues to craft novels of artistry and literary merit, tales that tackle substantial themes. He is a writer to watch.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book...
Review: I'm quite suprised by the reviews that rate this book a poor follow up to Snow Falling on Cedars. They are very different books, and East of the Mountains is intentionally more focused on an internal journey of an individual man. If you understand that going in, the book completely lives up to what we expect from Guterson's writing. It does lack the intricate weaving of multiple characters and storylines of Snow Falling on Cedars, but I really enjoyed the attention Guterson gives to Ben's character development. And no one has ever captured the essence of Eastern Washington like this author has--having lived there for 5 years (now in Seattle, much like the lead character), his visual portaits of the land are both accurate and stunning. If you appreciate understanding what motivates characters, and enjoy rich, descriptive detail of landscapes, you will like this book.
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