Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

Birdie’s keeping it together, of course she is. So she’s a little hungover on her shifts, and has to bring her daughter to the lodge while she waits tables, but Emaleen never goes hungry. It’s a tough town to be a single mother, and Birdie just needs to get by.

And then Birdie meets Arthur, who is quieter than most men, but makes her want to listen; who is gentle with Emaleen, and understands Birdie’s fascination with the mountains in whose shadow they live. When Arthur asks Birdie and Emaleen to leave the lodge and make a home, just the three of them, in his off-grid cabin, Birdie’s answer, in a heartbeat, is yes.

Out in the wilderness Birdie’s days are harsher and richer than she ever imagined possible. Here she will feel truly at one with nature. Here she, and Emaleen, will learn the whole, fearful truth about Arthur.

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Black Woods, Blus Sky was one of my most anticipated books of Q1 and I’m so glad that, in my attempt to not buy all the books this year, I prioritised it.  I absolutely loved it.

The main protagonist is Birdie.  She’s in her 20s, and has a six-year-old daughter, Emaleen, whom she absolutely adores.  That said, her parenting is, at times, questionable.  She’s struggling to make ends meet, and has a job in a bar / restaurant, but her hours mean that she either has to take Emaleen to work with her, or leave her on her own.  Neither option is ideal.  And she does need to let her hair down sometimes and get drunk, despite the impact this has on her already stretched finances.  I loved this portrayal of a young woman who is torn between her desire for freedom but who is equally conscious of her responsibility to this young human that she has created.  She’s such a brilliant written character – warm and loving but flawed and full of contradictions.

We get Emaleen’s perspective throughout the novel as well as Birdie’s.  I think it can be really difficult to write from the perspective of such a young child without making them sound precocious or older than their years.  Ivey manages it really well in Emaleen – capturing the slightly babyish language that children may use but without overdoing it and making the character too hard to warm to.  And I loved her depiction of Emaleen’s desire to be seen as a big girl whilst simultaneously capturing her innocence and naivety.  Emaleen is such an adorable character, and while I’m not always keen on view points from someone so young, it works really well here.

The third main character is Arthur.  He’s considered a little odd by those who are acquainted with him and is seen as a quiet man who likes to be by himself.  Birdie has had a few dodgy dates and relationships – and she does always consider Emaleen’s needs when considering a potential partner – and Arthur is something of a breath of fresh air.  He doesn’t flirt or attempt to touch her (whether she’d like him to or not) and he’s always calm and considered in what he says, avoiding the bragging and brashness that some men resort to.  And he is so patient with Emaleen, answering all of her questions with complete honesty, and never tiring of her excitement when many would tell her to calm down.  There are certainly worse men out there. 

Having said that, Birdie’s decision to move to Arthur’s off grid cabin – several days hike from their nearest neighbours and with no electricity or hot water – is questionable.  It’s hard to judge her for it when it’s clear that she craves freedom that such a move will bring, but while Birdie might relish the challenge of such a move, placing one’s young daughter in that scenario is another matter entirely.  And this is Alaska – there’s some truly wild wildlife to consider in what can be a harsh and unforgiving landscape, despite its beauty.  Of course, Emaleen proves to be extremely adaptable in the way that children are, and if she misses ice cream and some other comforts, there’s plenty to make up for it. 

Black Woods, Blue Sky is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, incorporating elements of Alaskan folklore.  I wasn’t sure at first how this retelling would come about, but I found it to be incredibly well done.  I can’t say too much about it here, but Ivey’s novels do contain elements of otherness without becoming truly fantastical, and I absolutely loved this element of the story even as I wasn’t sure what it would mean for Birdie and Emaleen.  It’s very cleverly done and there was something of a surprise around two thirds into the novel that really caught me off guard.  It’s a deceptively simple narrative that went in an unexpected direction, and I loved every page.

Black Woods. Blue Sky is an absolutely brilliant novel and one that I highly recommend.  Ivey always captures the setting of her novels beautifully, and this one is no exception.  I loved the portrayal of the Alaskan wilderness – its beauty and savagery perfectly juxtaposed and forming a stunning backdrop as this clever and beautifully written narrative unfolds.