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Temple Grove: A Novel
Deep in the heart of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula lies Temple Grove, one of the last stands of ancient Douglas firs not under federal protection from logging. Bill Newton, a gyppo logger desperate for work and a place to hide, has come to Temple Grove for the money to be made from the timber. There to stop him is Paul, a young Makah environmentalist who will break the law to save the trees. A dangerous chase into the wilds of Olympic National Park ensues, revealing a long-hidden secret that inextricably links the two men. Joining the pursuit are FBI agents who target Paul as an ecoterrorist, and his mother, Trace, who is determined to protect him. Temple Grove is a gripping tale of suspense and a multilayered novel of place that captures in taut, luminous prose the traditions that tie people to this powerful landscape and the conflicts that run deep among them.
Scott Elliott is associate professor of creative writing and English at Whitman College and author of the novel "Coiled in the Heart." He lives in Walla Walla, Washington.
Scott Elliott is associate professor of creative writing and English at Whitman College and author of the novel "Coiled in the Heart." He lives in Walla Walla, Washington.
- GenresFiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 16, 2013
A very strong first effort in the legacy of edward abbey, david james duncan and david guterson. Those of us in the Pacific Northwest will relate closely to the descriptions of the Olympic Peninsula.
February 13, 2024
PopSugar 2020 reading challenge #9
A young man gets involved in environmental activism, the kind where you try to keep the loggers from destroying the earth by ruining their equipment, which is not entirely legal (although, morally, it may be correct). Paul is almost immediately labeled an 'ecoterrorist' (don't get me started) and the FBI is tracking him down. He flees and along the way comes across a logger who, as it turns out, is someone who should be familiar to him... but due to circumstances of the past, is a stranger.
Makah discussions throughout the novel are worthy of some scholarly attention. Notes include those on the whaling controversy of the 1990s, issues with logging, and how the Makah are attempting to keep their traditions alive in a modern world.
A really good read, one that makes you wonder how Paul is the 'ecoterrorist' when the loggers are the one destroying the environment on the daily (again, don't get me started). Loved the book, truly.
A young man gets involved in environmental activism, the kind where you try to keep the loggers from destroying the earth by ruining their equipment, which is not entirely legal (although, morally, it may be correct). Paul is almost immediately labeled an 'ecoterrorist' (don't get me started) and the FBI is tracking him down. He flees and along the way comes across a logger who, as it turns out, is someone who should be familiar to him... but due to circumstances of the past, is a stranger.
Makah discussions throughout the novel are worthy of some scholarly attention. Notes include those on the whaling controversy of the 1990s, issues with logging, and how the Makah are attempting to keep their traditions alive in a modern world.
A really good read, one that makes you wonder how Paul is the 'ecoterrorist' when the loggers are the one destroying the environment on the daily (again, don't get me started). Loved the book, truly.
August 10, 2013
I had a tough time in the very beginning of the book. All the semicolons in the second paragraph and the way the author packed in all that naming history along Trace's drive to the woods was a turn-off. But I stuck with it because I really love reading rugged PNW fiction. I am glad I kept going. It seemed to be vacillating between coming-of-age/redemption story and eco-thriller/suspense novel. It felt like there was a lot the author was trying to accomplish...again, the feeling like things were packed in (like Tom's job driving ships to their end in India?, what did that do for the story?). It may have benefited from more focus. Overall a pretty good story set in an amazing place. The author did do a great job of communicating the phenomenal setting.
September 6, 2014
I could not sufficiently suspend my disbelief: Native American (or First Nation, as they say here in the Pacific Northwest) woman's son is involved with ecoterrorism. His father had raped her and then left for Alaska, so of course he comes back to log the very forest his son he never met before is protecting.
March 8, 2024
Love, love, loved this book. Wow! First take the Olympic Peninsula and it's people; such a place of beauty and history. Then add in the environment and a conflict over old growth timber. Then a family drama with hidden truths and emotions.
All of this written with so much great description of the place and the nature, as well as a powerful dose of native American (in this case Makah) culture and the history too of others populating this area.
There is conflict and drama here but what struck me was the compassion and humanity in the way all involved here were treated.
Some favorite subjects and themes here for me but to have it all done so well was a perfect treat! No theme was taken too far; the story ruled and absorbed and was wonderful.
All of this written with so much great description of the place and the nature, as well as a powerful dose of native American (in this case Makah) culture and the history too of others populating this area.
There is conflict and drama here but what struck me was the compassion and humanity in the way all involved here were treated.
Some favorite subjects and themes here for me but to have it all done so well was a perfect treat! No theme was taken too far; the story ruled and absorbed and was wonderful.
August 24, 2014
Interesting novel set in the Olympic Peninsula. I understand criticisms from other readers that there may have been too many simplistic plot contrivances but there were more reasons to enjoy this story.
The novel opens with a young Native American girl, Trace walking to an isolated bridge over a gorge in the Olympics intending to throw over her newborn who conceived from a rape. I liked the miracle twist at the end of the chapter which set the stage for the interesting, usually complex characters. The novel then jumps forward to her son Paul's senior year in high school and his efforts to stop a controversial logging along the national park boundary. One of the bandit gyppo loggers is Bill Newton, Paul's biological father. I found Newton especially interesting, the author successfully avoided making him a caricature. The interaction between the two when they realize their connection was a highlight of the book as was their spontaneous attempted summit of Mt Olympus while the FBI is looking for Paul in an ecoterror investigation
Recommend this as a good first novel by Washington state author set in our own Northwest
The novel opens with a young Native American girl, Trace walking to an isolated bridge over a gorge in the Olympics intending to throw over her newborn who conceived from a rape. I liked the miracle twist at the end of the chapter which set the stage for the interesting, usually complex characters. The novel then jumps forward to her son Paul's senior year in high school and his efforts to stop a controversial logging along the national park boundary. One of the bandit gyppo loggers is Bill Newton, Paul's biological father. I found Newton especially interesting, the author successfully avoided making him a caricature. The interaction between the two when they realize their connection was a highlight of the book as was their spontaneous attempted summit of Mt Olympus while the FBI is looking for Paul in an ecoterror investigation
Recommend this as a good first novel by Washington state author set in our own Northwest
July 12, 2014
Paul Granger spends most of his time in Washington state's Olympic national park. One day he learns that a big logging company is planning to cut down some of the trees in the peaceful, thousand-year-old Temple Grove. Enlisted by a veteran park ranger, Paul sets out to keep the loggers from felling the sacred trees of the grove.
Paul is caught by the loggers after he spikes their trees, and a chase ensues--but it isn't until later that Paul realizes his chaser is his biological father.
The trees are ultimately saved and Paul answers questions about his conception, where he came from, and why he is on this Earth.
Paul is caught by the loggers after he spikes their trees, and a chase ensues--but it isn't until later that Paul realizes his chaser is his biological father.
The trees are ultimately saved and Paul answers questions about his conception, where he came from, and why he is on this Earth.
October 2, 2014
I truly enjoyed reading about the Olympic National Park and so many towns and places I've visited and many I still hope to visit. It felt like I was right there with the characters. As a PNW transplant from the Midwest, it's great to learn so much about the Makah people and visiting Neah Bay and the museum is on my bucket list. The viewpoint of the loggers and timber supporters was interesting, too. There were some elements that just didn't feel believable and there was a little too much detail in some areas so that I caught myself skimming a few paragraphs which I try to never do. Overall, I'm glad I read it and I have a renewed interest to get back to the ONP soon.
December 12, 2016
This was a tough read for me because I really respect Scott Elliott as a person and as a writer, but I had trouble with the way that the rape was handled in this novel. I feel like the rape was almost used as a plot device which made it feel inauthentic and insensitive.
I appreciated everything else about this novel. Scott's language, his research about the Makah tribe, his beautiful descriptions of nature, etc. were all positive points, but I think the way that rape is addressed in this novel is going to be too much of an issue for many people to enjoy everything else that is done well. I wish that this one plot point would have been written completely differently.
I appreciated everything else about this novel. Scott's language, his research about the Makah tribe, his beautiful descriptions of nature, etc. were all positive points, but I think the way that rape is addressed in this novel is going to be too much of an issue for many people to enjoy everything else that is done well. I wish that this one plot point would have been written completely differently.
July 13, 2013
Temple Grove is characterized by beautiful sentences and an unexpectedly suspenseful plot, insightful character development and gorgeous lists of species. It often lays out what I'd wish to deduce, but does so with such consistency that it feels intentional-- I haven't yet decided if I like that aspect or not. Still, when I think back on its entire construction, I feel secure in the hands of a word- and story-smith who works with great intention and success.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews