Returning to Earth: A Novel
by Jim Harrison
List Price:
Our Price: $2.99
You Save: $11.01 (79%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Jim HarrisonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-09-10
ISBN: 0802143318
Number of pages: 280
Publisher: Grove Press
Book Reviews of Returning to Earth: A Novel
Book Review: A Moving Tale of Death and Mourning
Summary: 4 Stars
Jim Harrison's "Returning to Earth" is a moving tale of the death of Donald, our main character, its aftermath, and various ruminations on death and dying. The book is presented in four chapters, narrated by our decedent, Donald, his friend and relative through marriage, K, David, Donald's brother in law, and Donald's wife, Cynthia. I found this book to be very moving and deep in its "apparent" simplicity (aided in good measure by the writer's simple and straightforward writing style).
Each of the narrators takes a personal approach to Donald's death from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). In order to insure that the family legacy is preserved for his children, Donald chooses to focus on the tale of his forebears. Donald's approach is a reminder that immortality can take the form of stories and traditions passed down through the generations. K's portion is truly the heart of the book, and includes the truly memorable scene describing Donald's ritual "suicide"--his final act of control over his life and death, in the face of the ravages of this terrible disease. This is followed by David's portion--to me the weakest part of the book. True to David's character--a mental and emotional mess--the chapter meanders through his life and experiences, having little to do with Donald. In fact, I wonder what author's intention was in even including it, and is the main reason that I am giving the book 4, rather than 5, stars. As the widow, Cynthia's chapter was understandably about picking up the pieces and moving on.
The discussions of death had an almost eastern feel to them, deriving from Donald's heritage as an Indian. The book gives the reader much to consider, and is worthwhile contribution to the writings on this subject.
One note: I am puzzled by the few comments I have read about the writing in this book being "rambling." While there was a bit of stream of consciousness writing, other than David's portion, I found the book to be very straightforward, very simple, and generally very linear.
This is the first book I have read by Jim Harrison, and definitely not the last.
Literary Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literary Books
Island (Perennial Classics)by Aldous Huxley
Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Published: 2002-07-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
Angelsby Marian Keyes
William Morrow; Published: 2002-05-28; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.11
Price in other shops:
A Tree Grows in Brooklynby Betty Smith
Harper; Published: 2001-11-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.76
Price in other shops:
The Devil and Miss Prym: A Novel of Temptationby Paulo Coelho
Harper; Published: 2006-07-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops:
Boonville: A Novelby Robert Mailer Anderson
Harper Perennial; Published: 2003-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.95
Price in other shops:
Carameloby Sandra Cisneros
HarperAudio; Published: 2002-10-01; Audio Cassette; Book
Best price: $4.60
Price in other shops:
Headhunterby Timothy Findley
PERENNIAL PUBLICATIONS; Paperback; Book
The Crimson Petal And The Whiteby Michel Faber
Harcourt, Inc./Harvest; Published: 2003; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.50
Great Expectationsby Charles Dickens
Macmillan Pub Co; Published: 1979-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
This Side of Paradiseby Fitzgerald
Scribner Paper Fiction; Published: 1988-09-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.95
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
In Search of Small Godsby Jim Harrison
Copper Canyon Press; Published: 2010-08-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.48
Price in other shops:
Herzog (Penguin Classics)by Saul Bellow
Penguin Classics; Published: 2003-02-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.22
Price in other shops:
A Good Day to Dieby Jim Harrison
Delta; Published: 1981-08-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.41
Price in other shops:
The English Major: A Novelby Jim Harrison
Grove Press; Published: 2009-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.24
Price in other shops:
The Beast God Forgot to Invent: Novellasby Jim Harrison
Grove Press; Published: 2001-11-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.75
Price in other shops:
Dalva (Contemporary Classics (Washington Square Press))by Jim Harrison
Washington Square Press; Published: 1991-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.94
Price in other shops:
The Road Homeby Jim Harrison
Washington Square Press; Published: 1999-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.34
Price in other shops:
Legends of the Fallby Jim Harrison
Delta; Published: 1980-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
True Northby Jim Harrison
Grove Press; Published: 2005-07-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.84
Price in other shops:
The Woman Lit by Firefliesby Jim Harrison
Grove Press; Published: 2008-10-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.81
Price in other shops: