In 1994, Tim O’Brien released the thrilling fiction novel titled In the Lake of the Woods. During the time of the book’s debut, it was one of the first novels to be written in such a unique format. The author strategically uses the chapters as a way to jump back and forth between the past and present tense. He is able to utilize the narrator as a separate character apart from those involved with the story. O’Brien created a suspenseful mystery novel that engages the reader with the dilemma of solving a missing person’s case. The story begins with the main character, John Wade, and his wife, Kathy Wade, in their cabin in Lake of the Woods. They are discussing their future and all the dreams they want to accomplish together. Any reader would assume that it is a classic love story, but then the author gives an unexpected twist. Upon completing the novel, it is apparent to the reader that one could never truly know a person. The actions of the characters confirm that love has a blinding effect which causes one to see only what they want to see, making it so that truly knowing someone completely is not possible.
John Wade is an incredibly secretive character. From his childhood, he has always been one of those closed off people who keep to themselves. Growing up, he spent most of his time alone in his basement, practicing his magic tricks. Magic was his escape from the world; it was the one thing he had complete control over. With all of his practice, he became very skilled and it was something he took much pride in. Once he got older, he met a young girl named Kathy. The two fell head-over-heels for each other instantly. Kathy was the first person John had ever had such a connection with. She meant everything to him, and his greatest...
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...e narrator said:
But there is also a craving to know what cannot be known. Our own children, our fathers, our wives and husbands: Do we truly know them? How much is camouflage? How much is guessed at? How many lies get told, and when, and about what? How often do we say, or think, God, I never knew her. How often do we lie awake speculating – seeking some hidden truth (O’Brien, 295).
John and Kathy’s love was true; there is no denying that. The couple could not stand the thought of losing each other, which is why they dealt with the endless lies and secrecy. But that love was not really felt for the other; it was felt for the person they wanted to believe the other one was. Love blinded them and caused them to never truly know who the other one was.
Works Cited
O'Brien, Tim. In the Lake of the Woods. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing, 1994. Print.
Nature has a powerful way of portraying good vs. bad, which parallels to the same concept intertwined with human nature. In the story “Greasy Lake” by T. Coraghessan Boyle, the author portrays this through the use of a lake by demonstrating its significance and relationship to the characters. At one time, the Greasy Lake was something of beauty and cleanliness, but then came to be the exact opposite. Through his writing, Boyle demonstrates how the setting can be a direct reflection of the characters and the experiences they encounter.
Throughout the novel, Still Missing written by Chevy Stevens, the protagonist, is taken on a frightening journey of being drugged, kidnapped, sexually abused, and eventually left to fend for herself. Because of the author's unique writing style and use of first person, a sense of understanding is created for the reader's feelings and reactions. At the beginning of the novel, Annie O’Sullivan was extremely oblivious to her surrounding and would never imagine something like this ever happening. As the chapters continued, and she began to reveal what happened to her the first few days, she was unsure of what to do other than to be in complete shock, unable to react and grasp the entire situation. As the reader, I was intrigued by the ‘journey’
Gary Paulsen Author Profile - p.1. Gary Paulsen Author Profile - p.1. Reading Tree Productions, 18 June 2013.
Cronon, William “The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature” ed., Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the Human Place in Nature, New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1995, 69-90
of the book. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2007. 695-696. Print. The.
Perkins, George B., and Barbara Perkins. "The Beast in the Jungle." The American Tradition in Literature (concise). 12th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. 1148-1177. Print.
of the book. Ed. Charles Bohner and Lyman Grant. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2006. Fitzgerald, F. Scott.
In the book, John Wade and Sorcerer are one. They are qualities of one person that ultimately makes him. It seems as the book progresses, Sorcerer takes over more and more until towards the end when Wade goes looking for Kathy. It seems Wade is able to overcome his loneliness and deteriorating mental state to come back as the respectable, good looking man people saw him as. We may never know what happened to Kathy and if the evidence chapter is really true in figuring out her fate but we see John Wade let go of Sorcerer and becomes himself again.
Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2005.
Born in Home, Pennsylvania in 1927, Abbey worked as a forest ranger and fire look-out for the National Forest Service after graduating from the University of New Mexico. An author of numerous essays and novels, he died in 1989 leaving behind a legacy of popular environmental literature. His credibility as a forest ranger, fire look- out, and graduate of the University of New Mexico lend credibility to his knowledge of America’s wilderness and deserts. Readers develop the sense that Abbey has invested both time and emotion in the vast deserts of America.
In this foreword, former U.S, president Jimmy Carter stresses the importance of the preservation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as he argues that this refuge is not only the last remain of American wilderness but also a "symbol of our national heritage."Carter builds up his argument to persuade his audiences by using logos, a personal anecdote, and pathos.Carter begins by recounting in a nostalgic way his experience of hiking and camping in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with his wife. He describes that experience as " one of the most unforgettable and humbling experiences of our lives," to illustrate the wonderfulness of the refuge. Carter also gives detailed descriptions of the wild animals and plants of which he encountered during his hike, saying that there is a "timeless quality about this great land." Upon reading these descriptions, the audiences will involuntarily create an image of the refuge that is similar to that an untouched-by-human-civilization paradise which, in the modern world, seems to exist only in fairytales.
“Goose Pond”, written by Thomas Williams seemingly is a novel about the tranquil rural life but intricately portrays the mind and state of a fifty-eight year old man who has just lost his wife. Having natural and peaceful aspects, the story itself is not about the simple rural life in the woods. It depicts how Robert Hurley began to deal and come to terms with his sudden loneliness and realization of his eventual death. Including both the realistic cruelty of life alone and the expectation readers would have from a novel—such like a Norman Rockwell painting; he keeps the readers indulged in the mind and heart of the lonesome Robert Hurley.
Slaughter, Thomas P. Exploring Lewis And Clark Reflections on Men And Wilderness . New York: First Vintage Books Edition, 2003.
Kathy and Tommy’s special connection has been evident since the beginning of the story when Kathy tries to calm down Tommy during one of his tantrums. When they are around 16 years old, Tommy and Ruth start dating and for a brief period of time, Ruth and Tommy break up. Many of Kathy’s peers noticed the connection between Kathy and Tommy and deemed her the “natural successor” of who should date Tommy next. However, Ruth believed that she and Tommy belonged together and asked Kathy to convince Tommy to get back together with her. Tommy and Ruth begin dating again and remain dating until they leave the Cottages. With Kathy’s loyalty to both Ruth and Tommy, Ruth and Tommy’s relationship constantly complicates the dynamics of their friendship. However, Ruth saw the special relationship between Kathy and Tommy all along and did not admit it until she and Tommy are donors and Kathy is a carer. Ruth asks for Kathy’s forgiveness and admits that keeping Tommy and her apart was the worst thing she did. Ruth then says, “ I’m not even asking you to forgive...
Krakauer, Jon. Into the wild. New York: Anchor Books , a division of Random House Inc.,, 1997. Print.