Title: Beautiful words, contrived plot
Product review: Yes, I loved Snow Falling on Cedars and was anxiously awaiting his new novel. Although Guterson very ably shows his love of the land, I thought he fell disappointingly short in his depiction of Ben Givens and the adventures he encounters along his trek to end his life. Some were OK, others were downright hokey. The flashback scenes were the best part of the book. Still, it wasn't enough to save this story whose denouement, I'm sorry to say, seemed so contrived and unconvincing.
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