Wilderness by Lance Weller is Lemuria’s September First Editions Club choice. In April Wilderness caught my attention when my pal Jeffrey Lent sent me an e-mail proclamation about this novel.
It was many years ago when Jeff became a Lemurian. Over the years Lemuria has chosen three of his titles as First Edition Club selections. Jeffrey was our first reader to suggest two other authors for us to read which then became First Edtions choices: Edward P. Jones and David Anthony Durham.
Jeffrey has traveled to Dixie, stayed with me, and we have talked books over much beverage while sharing our joys of reading. Jeff has not been shy about offering reading suggestions. Over the years he has shared many of his favorites with Lemuria.
Jeff, our fine author and friend, has another trait he likes to help other writers he admires. He is a champion in trying to get authors a bookstore home. He understands the sense of bookstore place and what that means. He can match tastes so well. I cannot figure out how he evaded becoming a bookseller.
With all that said, you can see why I took note when I received an e-mail about Lance Weller’s Wilderness. When I got my advance reading copy with his quotation on the front–“Magnificent!”–that meant something to me.
I agree Wilderness is an astonishing first novel with a large scope, conveying fictional reality. By large, I mean this beautifully written novel is set in 1965, 1899 and during the Civil War. Expert writing keeps the reader from being jerked by time.
I’m not really interested in talking about the fine plot or the journey of this story. However, I will mention the humanity of these characters, about how well they seem to convey something hidden about life. Wilderness lets the substance of man unfold. An evolution of the human core is expressed as souls travel through physical action. The reader experiences relationships in hard, trying times. Somehow Lance lets Abel, the main character, and others convey a heart essence of living experiences while experiencing turmoil and extremes.
Lance captures the human side of brutality without giving into the neurosis of fear and revenge. Writing with softness, Lance lets the reader thrive within his characters’ actions and especially their feelings. However, this writing is not emotionally driven and somehow the reader fills in the gaps with their own emotions.
Heminway’s old standard of looking between the lines for what is not said doesn’t fit for me, but it’s real close and different. Wilderness does not offer up what the characters are feeling so the reader must dig deeper. For me, this writer’s skill and touch makes Wilderness unique and extraordinary.
Nature plays a huge role in Wilderness. It’s almost like a character. Man’s fate interweaves the human heart with the soul of nature. Nature seems to offer a God-likeness for life, within life and when life no longer exists.
Complexities within the simple, bigness and smallness all at once. Cosmically, Abel’s story weaved with a universal essence inside the reader’s mind. What’s amazing to me is that Lance achieves all these elements without becoming mythologically influenced or overly symbolized.
Wilderness is a beautiful novel, harsh and loving. A “magnificent” reading experience there is no doubt to quote Lent. I’ve been moved by many writers who have touched my spirit and help guide my path. Wilderness is now a guide so to stand with those other fine works who have touched me the most.
I also want to mention Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain and Kent Haruf’s Plainsong, both First Edition Club choices, as they have a similar essence. Wilderness is no less of an accomplishment.
Please consider reading this book. With that said, I acknowledge so many fine contributions members of our First Editions Club have been able to enjoy, collect and talk about with other readers.
Study our past selections, if you like our choices, join our club and don’t miss the future. We have our choices. These books are chosen with reason and judgement and we work hard selecting our prize titles.
Lance Weller will be signing and reading at Lemuria on Wednesday, September 5th at 5:00 and 5:30.
Wilderness is published by Bloomsbury and is available at Lemuria for $25.
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