Bear: A Novel
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the celebrated author of Disappearing Earth comes a tale of family, obsession, and a mysterious creature in the woods—“a mesmerizing story about hope, sisterhood, and survival with a truly shocking twist at the end” (People, Book of the Week).
NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE • A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BUZZ PICK!
FINALIST FOR THE JOYCE CAROL OATES PRIZE • LONGLISTED FOR THE CAROL SHIELDS PRIZE FOR FICTION • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, Vulture, Chicago Public Library
“Thrilling and propulsive, glorious and terrifying. Julia Phillips is a brilliant writer.”—Ann Patchett
“Beautiful and haunting . . . this is brilliant.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
They were sisters and they would last past the end of time.
Sam and Elena dream of another life. On the island off the coast of Washington where they were born and raised, they and their mother struggle to survive. Sam works on the ferry that delivers wealthy mainlanders to their vacation homes while Elena bartends at the local golf club, but even together they can’t earn enough to get by, stirring their frustration about the limits that shape their existence.
Then one night on the boat, Sam spots a bear swimming the dark waters of the channel. Where is it going? What does it want? When the bear turns up by their home, Sam, terrified, is more convinced than ever that it’s time to leave the island. But Elena responds differently to the massive beast. Enchanted by its presence, she throws into doubt the desire to escape and puts their long-held dream in danger.
A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us—and within us—Bear is a propulsive, mythical, richly imagined novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers in America.
NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE • A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BUZZ PICK!
FINALIST FOR THE JOYCE CAROL OATES PRIZE • LONGLISTED FOR THE CAROL SHIELDS PRIZE FOR FICTION • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, Vulture, Chicago Public Library
“Thrilling and propulsive, glorious and terrifying. Julia Phillips is a brilliant writer.”—Ann Patchett
“Beautiful and haunting . . . this is brilliant.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
They were sisters and they would last past the end of time.
Sam and Elena dream of another life. On the island off the coast of Washington where they were born and raised, they and their mother struggle to survive. Sam works on the ferry that delivers wealthy mainlanders to their vacation homes while Elena bartends at the local golf club, but even together they can’t earn enough to get by, stirring their frustration about the limits that shape their existence.
Then one night on the boat, Sam spots a bear swimming the dark waters of the channel. Where is it going? What does it want? When the bear turns up by their home, Sam, terrified, is more convinced than ever that it’s time to leave the island. But Elena responds differently to the massive beast. Enchanted by its presence, she throws into doubt the desire to escape and puts their long-held dream in danger.
A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us—and within us—Bear is a propulsive, mythical, richly imagined novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers in America.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Julia Phillips' Bear undoubtedly showcases her talent for vivid, atmospheric writing. The descriptions of both the wilderness and the internal struggles of the characters are evocative and compelling. Phillips has a knack for painting a scene and giving life to the landscape.
However, despite her skill with prose, Bear often feels like it's trying a little too hard. The plot, which revolves around an unusual and darkly symbolic premise, veers into territory that feels more absurd than poignant. The see-saw between the emotional depth of the characters and the increasingly outlandish events they find themselves caught in makes for a jarring and at times frustrating reading experience. The more the book tries to build depth, the more it risks turning into an over-wrought melodrama.
While Phillips' writing can be beautiful at times, the story itself doesn't always match the ambition behind it. The narrator's motivations are at times unclear or exaggerated to the point of ridiculousness, making it difficult to connect with their journey and creating a convoluted plot.
In short, Bear is a book that could have been more if it didn’t stretch so far. I was left feeling that this was one long and drawn-out story in what should have been part of a short story collection. Phillips' talent is evident, but the book's execution ends up feeling overly dramatic and weighty, leaving the reader caught between admiration for the writing and eyerolls at the story as it falls short of its mark.
Follow my reviews on Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World
However, despite her skill with prose, Bear often feels like it's trying a little too hard. The plot, which revolves around an unusual and darkly symbolic premise, veers into territory that feels more absurd than poignant. The see-saw between the emotional depth of the characters and the increasingly outlandish events they find themselves caught in makes for a jarring and at times frustrating reading experience. The more the book tries to build depth, the more it risks turning into an over-wrought melodrama.
While Phillips' writing can be beautiful at times, the story itself doesn't always match the ambition behind it. The narrator's motivations are at times unclear or exaggerated to the point of ridiculousness, making it difficult to connect with their journey and creating a convoluted plot.
In short, Bear is a book that could have been more if it didn’t stretch so far. I was left feeling that this was one long and drawn-out story in what should have been part of a short story collection. Phillips' talent is evident, but the book's execution ends up feeling overly dramatic and weighty, leaving the reader caught between admiration for the writing and eyerolls at the story as it falls short of its mark.
Follow my reviews on Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World
thenextgoodbook.com
What’s it about?
Sam and Elena are sisters. They are in their late twenties and are barely scraping by. They live on an island off the coast of Washington with their ailing mother. The island is affordable only for those who don’t make a living there. Sam lives off the dream that one day (after their beloved Mom dies) they will sell their house and leave this place. When a bear suddenly appears near their home Sam is terrified- but Elena is captivated.
What did it make me think about?
Sisterhood.
Should I read it?
So this goes on my list of novels that I deeply admire- but did not love. Sam is the sole narrator and she often left me cold. I absolutely understand why this book is being called “a masterpiece”. But admiring a story and loving a story are two separate things. I would definitely recommend this one. Maybe it was my mood. I just never got emotionally attached to anyone in the book.
Quote-
” ‘I saw it again,’ Elena said. ‘The bear. It was right next to me.’ “
What’s it about?
Sam and Elena are sisters. They are in their late twenties and are barely scraping by. They live on an island off the coast of Washington with their ailing mother. The island is affordable only for those who don’t make a living there. Sam lives off the dream that one day (after their beloved Mom dies) they will sell their house and leave this place. When a bear suddenly appears near their home Sam is terrified- but Elena is captivated.
What did it make me think about?
Sisterhood.
Should I read it?
So this goes on my list of novels that I deeply admire- but did not love. Sam is the sole narrator and she often left me cold. I absolutely understand why this book is being called “a masterpiece”. But admiring a story and loving a story are two separate things. I would definitely recommend this one. Maybe it was my mood. I just never got emotionally attached to anyone in the book.
Quote-
” ‘I saw it again,’ Elena said. ‘The bear. It was right next to me.’ “
A more accurate synopsis of this book:
"Elena lives a life held captive by caring for her years-on-her-death-bed mother and supporting her narcissistic, and possibly borderline psychotic, sister. She works hard to make ends meet and keep everyone afloat, especially her self righteous and lazy sister. When Elena finds herself at one of the lowest and saddest points of her life, her sister sets out to destroy the lives of every living thing either of them has ever come across, including the one bit of hopefulness and cheer in Elena's life, to ensure Elena continues to enable her pathetic life. Unfortunately, this story isn't told by Elena, but told for her by the insufferable, condescending sister who the reader might think is intended to represent a psychopath given her complete inability to relate to another living thing or apply rationality to her own behavior but is actually just the worst kind of person someone can be."
I've read plenty of books told by narrators you're meant to hate or the villain of the story. That's not usually a problem. But when one is as awful as this one AND written by someone who doesn't seem to have ever had a sister or seen any sort of animal in her life, the narrator just becomes unbearable and unbelievable.
The pace of this story is nauseatingly slow, if it hadn't been the only book I downloaded before losing WiFi at a mountain cabin for the weekend, I would absolutely have given up. There is an unjustifiable amount of repitition, only further lengthening the dragging pace. I thought for sure some of these things that were stated OVER AND OVER would mean something more in the end but, alas, they did not.
The ending is just insufferable. The "twist" is lame and the narrator's warping of it is maybe meant to give us an inside view of a psychotic break but is so inelegantly done it feels like a high schooler's attempt at dramatizing some psychiatric condition they read about once in their Intro to Psych textbook.
"Elena lives a life held captive by caring for her years-on-her-death-bed mother and supporting her narcissistic, and possibly borderline psychotic, sister. She works hard to make ends meet and keep everyone afloat, especially her self righteous and lazy sister. When Elena finds herself at one of the lowest and saddest points of her life, her sister sets out to destroy the lives of every living thing either of them has ever come across, including the one bit of hopefulness and cheer in Elena's life, to ensure Elena continues to enable her pathetic life. Unfortunately, this story isn't told by Elena, but told for her by the insufferable, condescending sister who the reader might think is intended to represent a psychopath given her complete inability to relate to another living thing or apply rationality to her own behavior but is actually just the worst kind of person someone can be."
I've read plenty of books told by narrators you're meant to hate or the villain of the story. That's not usually a problem. But when one is as awful as this one AND written by someone who doesn't seem to have ever had a sister or seen any sort of animal in her life, the narrator just becomes unbearable and unbelievable.
The pace of this story is nauseatingly slow, if it hadn't been the only book I downloaded before losing WiFi at a mountain cabin for the weekend, I would absolutely have given up. There is an unjustifiable amount of repitition, only further lengthening the dragging pace. I thought for sure some of these things that were stated OVER AND OVER would mean something more in the end but, alas, they did not.
The ending is just insufferable. The "twist" is lame and the narrator's warping of it is maybe meant to give us an inside view of a psychotic break but is so inelegantly done it feels like a high schooler's attempt at dramatizing some psychiatric condition they read about once in their Intro to Psych textbook.
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