Into the Forest

by Jean Hegland

Paperback, 256 pages

Published Feb. 5, 1998 by Trafalgar Square.

ISBN:: 978-0-09-925672-4

Set in the near-future, Into the Forest is a powerfully imagined novel that focuses on the relationship between two teenage sisters living alone in their Northern California forest home.

Over 30 miles from the nearest town, and several miles away from their nearest neighbor, Nell and Eva struggle to survive as society begins to decay and collapse around them. No single event precedes society's fall. There is talk of a war overseas and upheaval in Congress, but it still comes as a shock when the electricity runs out and gas is nowhere to be found. The sisters consume the resources left in the house, waiting for the power to return. Their arrival into adulthood, however, forces them to reexamine their place in the world and their relationship to the land and each other.

Reminiscent of Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale, Into the Forest is a mesmerizing and …

Set in the near-future, Into the Forest is a powerfully imagined novel that focuses on the relationship between two teenage sisters living alone in their Northern California forest home.

Reminiscent of Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale, Into the Forest is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking novel of hope and despair set in a frighteningly plausible near-future America.

7 editions

Book_Em_Danno reviewed Into the forest by Jean Hegland

None

4 stars

I'm kind of surprised that this book is apparently in the curriculum at so many colleges. I liked it, but it was kind of hard to find and a little... simplistic. I love apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic stories, even if that is only the backdrop and not the focus of the story, so I'm giving this a four. This book seems divisive though, at least based on the reviews here. There are only two real characters, and one of them will test your patience and have you rolling your eyes. I would have been fine with the book completely changing genres and tone and having the protagonist beat her sister to death at the half way point.

The other point of contention here seems to be the ending. I agree heartily, the ending made me furious. Why did I still like the book? I really like it's anti-consumerist message/vibe. I think the ending kind of spits in the face of that message when it's meant to do the opposite. It was incredibly wasteful, in a world of diminishing supplies. I'll end this with a compliment sandwich, two good things with something bad in the middle.

Good: There is a scene that really seems to upset uptight, prudish conservative types.

Bad: The absolute hubris of Nell implying that "maybe" she and her dumb as rocks sister will contribute/discover new things on par with the knowledge and wisdom of humanity represented in books, so it's okay to destroy books. Shut... the... fuck... up. Even if together they write something better than Shakespeare, who are they going to share it with?

Good: More Bad: I mean really, does she think they will make new medical or scientific discoveries out there alone in the forest? Books should be the new currency in that world. How dare they destroy books.

SpiderKitten reviewed Into the forest by Jean Hegland

Review of 'Into the forest' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I thought this started out well. A bleak look at the decay of society from the point of view of a teenage girl. But unfortunately it did not live up to its promise for me.

I felt that the characters devolved far too quickly for the time period in which the novel was set, and there were several inconsistencies and holes in the story that I couldn't get past.

Very much one for the teen audience, it was an easy read, but at the end of the day not enough substance for me.