LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER • A stunning debut novel about love and forgiveness, about the violence of memory and the equal violence of its loss—from O. Henry Prize–winning author Emily RuskovichWINNER OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BOOK AWARD • WINNER OF THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BUZZFEED Ann and Wade have carved out a life for themselves from a rugged … carved out a life for themselves from a rugged landscape in northern Idaho, where they are bound together by more than love. With her husband’s memory fading, Ann attempts to piece together the truth of what happened to Wade’s first wife, Jenny, and to their daughters. In a story written in exquisite prose and told from multiple perspectives—including Ann, Wade, and Jenny, now in prison—we gradually learn of the mysterious and shocking act that fractured Wade and Jenny’s lives, of the love and compassion that brought Ann and Wade together, and of the memories that reverberate through the lives of every character in Idaho.
In a wild emotional and physical landscape, Wade’s past becomes the center of Ann’s imagination, as Ann becomes determined to understand the family she never knew—and to take responsibility for them, reassembling their lives, and her own.
FINALIST FOR: International Dylan Thomas Prize • Edgar First Novel Award • Young Lions Fiction Award
“You know you’re in masterly hands here. [Emily] Ruskovich’s language is itself a consolation, as she subtly posits the troubling thought that only decency can save us. . . . Ruskovich’s novel will remind many readers of the great Idaho novel, Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping. . . . [A] wrenching and beautiful book.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)
“Sensuous, exquisitely crafted.”—The Wall Street Journal
“The first thing you should know about Idaho, the shatteringly original debut by O. Henry Prize winner Emily Ruskovich, is that it upturns everything you think you know about story. . . . You could read Idaho just for the sheer beauty of the prose, the expert way Ruskovich makes everything strange and yet absolutely familiar.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Mesmerizing . . . [an] eerie story about what the heart is capable of fathoming and what the hand is capable of executing.”—Marie Claire
“Idaho is a wonderful debut. Ruskovich knows how to build a page-turner from the opening paragraph.”—Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
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In a sudden act of brutality, a mother kills her six-year-old daughter with a hatchet. With the mother’s lack of history of violence or mental illness, the reader is left to wonder why. The setting is rural and the time frame of the book spans more than a decade. It’s easy not only to get lost in this tragic tale, but in the exquisite prose that will leave you asking: How can something this ugly sound so beautiful?
This story was absolutely beautiful.
Idaho is a little hard to describe without giving much away, but I will try my best. A mother murders her child and this story follows several characters and how they were affected by it. Saying that is incredibly simplistic because there is so much more to the story. The writing is gorgeous, the imagery of Idaho as a setting makes you long for it like a memory–even if you’ve never been.
What I loved most about this book was the fact that it wasn’t plot heavy. Yes, the murder of a child is the focal point of the story, but it’s more about the people surrounding it than that itself. You see different perspectives in different timelines and fall in love with every. single. person. Yes, even the murderer herself. If you’re wanting to read something that will stay with you in the back of your mind for days, sort of like a haunting yet euphoric kind of dream–than look no further. Read this. You won’t forget it. 🙂 Idaho
When I was a young rounder, I had a BFF who subsequently meth-ed himself into heaven. His mother’s name was Ida, and she was quite familiar with our city’s not-so-upscale cocktail lounges, and the men who frequented them. I used to call her Ida Ho behind her back. Sadly, this story of mine is far more interesting than this book.
I don’t understand the hype behind it. I read a review stating how brilliant the writer is for producing a book where people disagree about the ending. Wait, what?
Seriously, there was no ending per se – the story just stopped. A lot of pages, but everything was vague, vague, vague; every relationship just plain odd. I’m educated, but I am not smart enough to read into this story. Perhaps the stacking of wood represents X, the murder represents Y, the slashing Sylvia represented Zed. Perhaps not.
I didn’t get it, that much is clear. If you’re looking for a story chock full of sadness that happens to take place in Idaho, here ya go.
I read this book two years ago and it was then, and still is one of the best books I have ever read. It’s a beautifully written saga that will keep you hanging on every word. It is beautifully written. If you love literature do not deny yourself this novel.
The writing was beautiful, almost lyrical, but I found the story frustrating in that NOTHING was explained by the end of the book, no motives, so many threads left hanging.
More than twenty-four hours after finishing Idaho, I’m still trying to figure it out. At the heart of the book is a murder mystery. From the get-go we know who committed the murder, but the question that kept me reading is why. This is never answered. Likewise a child who went missing when the murder occurred. She is not the murderer; we know that. But waiting for her to show up kept me reading as well. She never does.
Honestly? I felt used.
And yet the prose in this book is beautiful. The author is clearly skilled. She has an MFA in creative writing, currently teaches it, and has been associated with renowned writing programs. Her skill is apparent in descriptions of the setting, the minds of the central characters, the minds of the minor characters, even the mind of a bloodhound that is used to track the missing child.
Did I need to know about the bloodhound? No! Did it add to the plot? No! It was a major intrusion in the flow of said plot, included, I assume, simply to highlight the author’s gift of description.
So Ruskovich is a skilled wordsmith. She is not as skilled a novelist. Time-wise, she flips back and forth in ways that detract from the plot. She touches on an issue like memory that then, like the mysteries, goes nowhere.
I’ve vacillated in rating this book, three stars to two and back. I finally left it at three because of the prose. That said, if you want plot and satisfaction, you might be happier with something else.
This is one of the best fiction novels I read last year. Absolutely stunning.
Even though this wasn’t necessarily an uplifting book, I loved it. My kind of book. Dark, tragic and heartbreaking. A book I thought about long after I finished it.
I need more time to think about what I feel about this book.
In terms of writing and plot flow, I had no comments and enjoyed the writing and the sequence even though the plot continued for several years and jumped back and forth. My interest is with the plot itself, that is, its probability. I think there is nothing worse than the first time we discover something is wrong with us or someone close to us. First is the doubt – why I acted against all human logic, then those fears and finally the acceptance or lack of awareness.
I think this story and its characters will stay with me for a long time.
A beautifully written, in depth exploration of flawed, well drawn characters. Sadly this book is undermined by an extremely disappointing ending that leaves the reader asking “Are you kidding me?”
Well written Great characters. Great storey
My Book Club selected Idaho and after we read it no one would own up to recommending it. It is dark and twisted.
The characters are well formed and the writing is wonderful, but I was so depressed after reading it. I couldn’t get it out of my mind.
I didn’t enjoy reading the book at all. I gave it three stars because of the writing and the characters. The author deserves that.
I feel sure that many readers will like the book much better than I did, but it was just too dark for me.
Brilliant writing, incredible story. One of the best novels I’ve ever read, and I read many in a week.
COULD NOT HOLD MY INTEREST PAST 22% – SORRY
This was a very strange book. But I still found myself turning page after page.
Very disjointed and self-indulgent on the part of the author.
Not much to like. Dark and creepy and kind of weird. Did not finish reading it.
See my Amazon review.
If for no other reason, read this book for the beautiful prose.
The story line is intriguing as are the characters. Personally, I love tales that flip back and forth in time so that you learn new aspects of characters and events that sheds light on what you previously read.