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When people think of Northwest regional authors one of the first names that comes to mind is David Guterson. He's best known for his 1994 novel, Snow Falling on Cedars. To date it has sold four million copies. It won the 1995 Pen/Faulkner Award and was later made into a film. It is what brought this school teacher to national acclaim — and gave him the chance to quit his day job and become a full-time writer.
David Guterson's new novel, The Other, is the story of two friends from Seattle who take very different paths in life, but never let go of their friendship. One from a blue-collar background becomes suddenly wealthy. The other, from an elite family, decides to leave civilization as we know it and isolate himself in nature. Some critics have compared this story to Jon Krakauer's nonfiction book Into The Wild.
On Monday David Guterson joins Think Out Loud for an hour-long discussion of his life, his writing, and his home — the Pacific Northwest. Of course he'll take your questions. Have you picked up The Other yet? What did you think of it? Do you remember reading, or watching, Snow Falling on Cedars? What impact did it have on you? Can you relate to the characters Guterson portrays in his novels? Have you always wanted to escape to the woods like John William Barry in The Other? Have you struggled with prejudice in your community like in Snow Falling on Cedars? Or are you an aspiring writer hoping to get a bit of career advice?
GUEST:
David Guterson: author of numerous novels including Snow Falling on Cedars and The Other
Tagged as: david guterson · fiction
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I wonder how much of this story may be in line with Hermann Hesse's Narcissus and Goldmund, and other stories of the dynamic between the need to participate in society or to investigate the inner and spiritual aspect of self.
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This is an interesting interview.
Henh, see that button on the bottom of the "Post Your Reply" window that says "Submit"? Ironically, that ought to read "Take Action", or "Get to Work" for this program.
imho -
This topic is close to my heart; growing up in the northwest and seeing the natural beauty disappear, as it has in many other parts of the country and world, only for instant gratification and monetary profit of a few. Similarly expressed by Edward Abbey who issolated himself and wrote about the abuse of the southwest desert and saw humans as the most distructive force. However; the dynamic as an individual who feels the intense pleasures from family and social discourse, isolation was more of a dream gone unrealized, but is still a burning desire. Even more when efforts to live peacefully in a good community and try making the least possible foot print on the world becomes more difficult.
Thank-you for such a great topic! -
Just listened to your interview. I applaud the split you have presented in "The Other", the split created using the two characters you and your radio "team" discussed. Now, I'm not going to say it is middle age angst, or merely the view from another plateau reached through the climb of Time. But I will say this: having done a couple of lengthy stints, alone, in remote Alaska, and being 52, and now living in what honestly has to be called an ordinary town, yet finding meaning and reach in ordinary life; I will say that society will take care of itself, but there is nothing like a good retreat to care for one's Self.
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This new book sounds rather cliche' - Seattle stereotypes: microbrews, smoking pot, etc. This is disappointing.
That said, I'm curious if the author actually did any research into the existing gnostics such as those you can find in Turkey and even parts of Egypt, where the isolation (living in caves as a hermit) is still followed?
It sounded like his references are all based on historical information, but was the author aware that there are still several hundred men who practice this in the Middle Eastern area of the world today?
If so, did it influence his book, and if not, I'd be curious if he's a "write what you know" style author? The overview of the book does sound like it was far more influenced by "Into the Wild" than the current, living gnostics so I would like to know how much he knows about those currently living that way? Cheers, Rob V.