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62 pages 2 hours read

Damnation Spring

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Book Brief

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Ash Davidson

Damnation Spring

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021
Book Details
Pages

464

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

California • 1970s

Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson is an epic family drama set in the late 1970s that centers on Rich and Colleen Gundersen, a logging family from northern California. Amidst personal tragedies, including miscarriages, and escalating tensions between environmentalists and the logging community, Rich buys land hoping to secure a better future, while Colleen grows concerned about the environmental impact of logging practices and herbicides. Includes themes of environmental degradation, pregnancy loss, and violence.

Gritty

Melancholic

Suspenseful

Challenging

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.1

14,852 ratings

72%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Ash Davidson's Damnation Spring is lauded for its vivid depiction of a logging community's struggles, showcasing well-developed characters and evocative natural settings. Critics admire the multifaceted narrative and environmental themes, though some find the pacing slow and the plot occasionally predictable. Overall, it’s a compelling exploration of human and ecological endurance.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Damnation Spring?

Readers who relish richly detailed environmental fiction, complex character dynamics, and social justice themes will find joy in Ash Davidson’s Damnation Spring. Fans of Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior or Richard Powers’ The Overstory will appreciate its nuanced exploration of logging communities and ecological impact.

4.1

14,852 ratings

72%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Character List

Colleen Gundersen

A 34-year-old amateur midwife and loving mother, who is driven by her desire for a second child and becomes involved in community activism.

The 53-year-old high-climber and breadwinner, deeply connected to his logging roots, who faces moral and physical challenges while trying to secure his family's future.

The young son of Colleen and Rich, who displays empathy and a protective nature, reflecting the values of his parents and becoming a point-of-view character.

Colleen’s younger sister, known for her wild reputation and pragmatic nature, whose relationship with Colleen evolves over the course of the story.

Enid’s husband, who is characterized by his insecurity, susceptibility to manipulation, and tendency towards violence, complicating family dynamics.

A Yurok academic who returns to Klamath for research, dealing with his past and navigating complicated relationships with the Gundersen family.

The shrewd and manipulative head of the Sanderson logging company, whose business practices serve as a nemesis to Rich and the community.

Book Details
Pages

464

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

California • 1970s

Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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