2 posts tagged “washington state”

I didn't have a clue that there had been an avalanche disaster at Steven's pass, just a few miles from where I live, until I first heard about this book, about an avalanche that took out two trains during a several days of snow storms in 1910.

About 100 people died. Reading about the experiences of some of the survivors, and the speculation about what it was like for the people who didn't die instantly, I felt pretty guilty for my morbid curiosity.

However, it was interesting to read about, and it made me think about how we take modern conveniences like car and air travel for granted.

It took me quite awhile to finish this book. It sounded really good; it's about a vinyard in Eastern Washington, and a lot of the book takes place in and around Seattle. It's very locally oriented, with discussions of the gentrification of Ballard, farming issues, endangered salmon runs, and a character clearly based on Bill Gates.

The plot ought to be fairly exciting, with wildfires, murder, and corporate ingrigue.

I'm not sure I can put my finger on why I didn't enjoy it more. The title character certainly didn't help. She just wasn't the least bit likeable. You know how you're reading a book before bed, and you get to the end of your chapter (or another stopping place), but you just have to keep reading because you're intrigued, or curious, or concerned about the characters? That didn't happen to me a single time with this book.