What do you think?
Rate this book
Land Marks: A Novel
Once you've experienced the devastation of fracking, nothing but stopping it makes sense. After a year of well site visits and protests, four college student activists become determined to protect the people and the places they love.
In the river-crossed northwoods of Michigan, Kate, Brett, Sonya, and Mark, mentored by their former professor Rebecca, keep watch as North American Energy (NorA) connects a corridor of frack well sites deep in the state forests. When NorA expands in unexpected directions and their awful, bigger plan becomes clear, the action begins.
As grassroots activists gather and prepare to stop NorA’s dangerous superfrac, stresses other than the fracturing of the bedrock appear. Sonya is arrested, Rebecca reveals her hidden past, and the one person who knows both women’s stories arrives in camp. Love and solidarity want to win, even if most showdowns with Big Oil don’t end well for those who take a stand.
Suspenseful, poignant, and galvanizing, Land Marks is a tribute to the waterways that connect us, the land that sustains us, and the moments that inspire us to rise up together to say, “No more!”
In the river-crossed northwoods of Michigan, Kate, Brett, Sonya, and Mark, mentored by their former professor Rebecca, keep watch as North American Energy (NorA) connects a corridor of frack well sites deep in the state forests. When NorA expands in unexpected directions and their awful, bigger plan becomes clear, the action begins.
As grassroots activists gather and prepare to stop NorA’s dangerous superfrac, stresses other than the fracturing of the bedrock appear. Sonya is arrested, Rebecca reveals her hidden past, and the one person who knows both women’s stories arrives in camp. Love and solidarity want to win, even if most showdowns with Big Oil don’t end well for those who take a stand.
Suspenseful, poignant, and galvanizing, Land Marks is a tribute to the waterways that connect us, the land that sustains us, and the moments that inspire us to rise up together to say, “No more!”
- GenresFictionEnvironment
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2024
4 people are currently reading
2829 people want to read
About the author
Maryann Lesert
3 books19 followersMaryann Lesert writes about people and place in equal measure. Her first novel, Base Ten (Feminist Press, 2009) followed an astrophysicist’s quest for self among Lake Michigan’s forested dunes and the stars. Her current novel, Land Marks, is based on two years of boots-on-well-sites research on fracking in the state forests. Her plays have been published by New Issues (2008) and in Smith & Kraus’s Best Ten Minute series. Her articles have appeared in EcoWatch and In These Times, and she is a regular presenter on art and activism. Maryann lives in west Michigan, where she teaches creative writing and writes by the big lake.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 20, 2024
Thank you to the author Maryann Lesert, publishers She Writes Press, and BookSparks for an advance paperback copy of LAND MARKS. Thank you also to NetGalley for an accomanying widget. All views are mine.
This was [the oil and gas industry's] ten-year vision, twenty at most. They knew none of it was going to last. That was the point. Take it now, fast and hard. ..."Frack and run," as Kate put it. Loc.1647
LAND MARKS is an excellent eco thriller which takes place in one of my neighbor states, Michigan. I grew up in this area and I'll never forget how the people fought to protect the health of their lands and families from the deleterious affects of fracking. Reading about this topic felt dreadful to me, and also all the terrifying science about poisoning the land and water built up great tension for the final moment of conflict. I loved the idealistic and unflinching fmc with a secret identity and her small army of rebels. The action of the story made me feel hopeful in the face of great darkness, and I really enjoyed my read of this book! I recommend this one for fans of eco disaster stories, social justice stories, or first person thrillers!
At one meeting, we heard, "We don't frack," fifty-eight times. ..."Why do you need deep injection wells if you’re not fracking?” one woman asked. ...The drilling supervisor leaned into his mic. “We don’t frack.” Loc.211
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I like that this book's big theme is fracking, even though that would now be considered political. It's an insidious form of pollution and doesn't get discussed enough outside of the communities it directly impacts.
2. This author really knows her subject. The details are thorough and the read is immersive. But tge information is not just shoveled at the reader, but delivered in layers that help build tension for the story. Poison is scary. A poisoned setting is pretty freaking terrifying.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. The book is very technical for almost two full thirds, at which point the narrative takes center stage and the more technical aspects of the book's subject, frakking, step back. This causes a sudden shift in pace, tone, even narrative voice. It took me a while to figure out what changed so much actually, because it seemed so much had changed all at once! I like that the pace picked up at this turn, but I missed the corporate-espionage-like tone I often experienced!
Rating: 🏞🏞🏞🏞 / 5 polluted waterways
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Apr 15 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley; paperback, BookSparks
Read this book if you like:
🌋 eco disasters
💅 strong female lead
⛑️ social activism
🏕 nature stories
This was [the oil and gas industry's] ten-year vision, twenty at most. They knew none of it was going to last. That was the point. Take it now, fast and hard. ..."Frack and run," as Kate put it. Loc.1647
LAND MARKS is an excellent eco thriller which takes place in one of my neighbor states, Michigan. I grew up in this area and I'll never forget how the people fought to protect the health of their lands and families from the deleterious affects of fracking. Reading about this topic felt dreadful to me, and also all the terrifying science about poisoning the land and water built up great tension for the final moment of conflict. I loved the idealistic and unflinching fmc with a secret identity and her small army of rebels. The action of the story made me feel hopeful in the face of great darkness, and I really enjoyed my read of this book! I recommend this one for fans of eco disaster stories, social justice stories, or first person thrillers!
At one meeting, we heard, "We don't frack," fifty-eight times. ..."Why do you need deep injection wells if you’re not fracking?” one woman asked. ...The drilling supervisor leaned into his mic. “We don’t frack.” Loc.211
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I like that this book's big theme is fracking, even though that would now be considered political. It's an insidious form of pollution and doesn't get discussed enough outside of the communities it directly impacts.
2. This author really knows her subject. The details are thorough and the read is immersive. But tge information is not just shoveled at the reader, but delivered in layers that help build tension for the story. Poison is scary. A poisoned setting is pretty freaking terrifying.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. The book is very technical for almost two full thirds, at which point the narrative takes center stage and the more technical aspects of the book's subject, frakking, step back. This causes a sudden shift in pace, tone, even narrative voice. It took me a while to figure out what changed so much actually, because it seemed so much had changed all at once! I like that the pace picked up at this turn, but I missed the corporate-espionage-like tone I often experienced!
Rating: 🏞🏞🏞🏞 / 5 polluted waterways
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Apr 15 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley; paperback, BookSparks
Read this book if you like:
🌋 eco disasters
💅 strong female lead
⛑️ social activism
🏕 nature stories
May 2, 2024
Before reading this novel, I knew very little about the practice of fracking. While penning an engaging novel of ecological resistance and filling it with well developed, complicated characters, the author presents much needed information about the perils of fracking.
I cared for the activist characters in this novel and I was cheering them on. I was sad and angry for the innocent citizens who suffered the horrible side effects of fracking.
I learned so many things about the dangers of fracking. Chemicals used are known neurotoxins and carcinogens. These chemicals infiltrate and contaminate drinking water and they pollute the air.
I hope to visit the state of Michigan this summer. No doubt, this book will be on my mind during the trip. I am thankful for all that I have learned while reading this book.
We all need to do a better job of taking care of this planet. Please read this book and tell others about it.
I received a complimentary copy of this important book from BookSparks and She Writes Press. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I cared for the activist characters in this novel and I was cheering them on. I was sad and angry for the innocent citizens who suffered the horrible side effects of fracking.
I learned so many things about the dangers of fracking. Chemicals used are known neurotoxins and carcinogens. These chemicals infiltrate and contaminate drinking water and they pollute the air.
I hope to visit the state of Michigan this summer. No doubt, this book will be on my mind during the trip. I am thankful for all that I have learned while reading this book.
We all need to do a better job of taking care of this planet. Please read this book and tell others about it.
I received a complimentary copy of this important book from BookSparks and She Writes Press. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
February 17, 2024
Land Marks is a galvanizing novel about grassroots activism that educates on the dangers of fracking as it tells the story of a passionate professor and her students, who are willing to risk their lives and livelihoods to stop Big Oil. Front-loaded with backstory, the book delves into the professor’s inner world as deeply as it does into the complicated world of environmental activism. Lesert is expert at making you feel like you are hiking through the woods right alongside her characters—mud on your boots, mosquito bites on your arms, panic at getting caught by state troopers and all. The details are immersive and impressive, evidence of Lesert’s boots-on-the-ground research at well sites and with environmental organizations in Michigan. The tale is as convincing and impassioned as nonfiction, with memorable characters whose connection inspires.
May 18, 2024
i read Land Marks earlier this year and it is truly a captivating work about grassroots activism and the fight against Big Oil. set in Michigan–not too far from my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA–Lessert tells a story of a passionate professor and her students who risk their reputation, lives, and future to secure the future of their small community. i learned so much about the dangers of fracking and how it can devastate. i appreciated Lessert’s enthusiasm and passion about the matter at hand and it was palpable in each page of the novel.
for those of you who are constantly thinking of why a beach has disappeared, why the sun is so damn strong lately, or why communities struggle with issues as fundamental as clean drinking water, i’d definitely recommend pick up Land Marks.
for those of you who are constantly thinking of why a beach has disappeared, why the sun is so damn strong lately, or why communities struggle with issues as fundamental as clean drinking water, i’d definitely recommend pick up Land Marks.
December 10, 2025
Land Marks is a story of environmental activism in two parts. Part One ("Showing Up"), develops the context for Part Two: "Showdown." The backstory was revealed in a fragmented way that made the beginning a little confusing, but Lesert's compelling writing style holds the narrative together until the connections are made clear. The pages turn much faster than I anticipated.
The imagery of Land Marks is immersive, and the reader learns more about fracking than they ever cared to know - but that's kind of the point, isn't it? These activists would probably rather not *need* to know, but moral obligation has forced them to face the ugly truth. The action of Part Two is so exciting that some of the attention to style lapsed. But overall, this is a great novel that honors the land and water and the people who protect them - in Michigan and beyond.
I'm proud to have featured a stand-alone excerpt from this novel in Fracture (2016). I eagerly awaited the novel's release and was not disappointed.
The imagery of Land Marks is immersive, and the reader learns more about fracking than they ever cared to know - but that's kind of the point, isn't it? These activists would probably rather not *need* to know, but moral obligation has forced them to face the ugly truth. The action of Part Two is so exciting that some of the attention to style lapsed. But overall, this is a great novel that honors the land and water and the people who protect them - in Michigan and beyond.
I'm proud to have featured a stand-alone excerpt from this novel in Fracture (2016). I eagerly awaited the novel's release and was not disappointed.
June 30, 2024
This was so boring to me. I really struggled through it. And I’m an environmentalist by profession, so it’s not like the topic wasn’t of interest to me. I just felt like the story was all over the place and I didn’t ever make a connection to the characters or story line.
April 23, 2024
Activism at its finest, this novel offers environmental awareness and insight about fracking. Great read!
April 16, 2024
Brilliant! Shocking! Eye opening! Inspiring! A powerful novel about anti fracking activism that everyone who loves our planet should read.
There are many horrific practices that are being carried out by commercialally driven interests which are harming our planet and ecosystem drastically. One of these man-made practices that are accentuating our climate crisis is fracking.
The author has very skillfully and brilliantly written this story around true events, and woven it with disgraceful and shocking facts about fracking.
This book, follows four students who turn into anti fracking activists. , Brett, Sonya, Kate and Mark get together along with their professor Rebecca start discovering all frack sites in Michigan and stand up against Nora North American energy. The story is narrated from Rebecca's perspective. The story also explores the past of Rebecca and her earlier years of research. These four students then plan an anti fracking campaign against Nora and line up a team of activists and protesters at the front end .
Review:
The book is very stimulating and inspiring. All the activists we meet in this book, are filled with so many strong emotions to save their planet and people they have met. Their empathy, their blood boiling anger, and their extremely strong willingness to make sacrifices at any level, is so inspiring and so thought provoking.
It is heart breaking to read about the stories of people who have been impacted by fracking.
Maryann Lessert 's writing style is very impressive. She has shaped the story into a suspenseful , and fast paced novel which is loaded with knowledge, Power packed with emotions, and oozing with motivation. This book has tremendous potential in raising awareness about the horrifying terrors of fracking . A must read for everyone who loves this beautiful planet.
If and only if everyone living on this planet is aware of the dreadful effects of fracking and other such industrial greed driven practices, it will make a lot of difference. There is an unbelievable power in the Collective efforts no matter how big and small.
This book needs to be talked about, needs to be read, to be shared. Us humans are more accustomed to learn through stories than through facts. What a better way to make the world aware.
Thank you @Booksparks for my gifted copy.
There are many horrific practices that are being carried out by commercialally driven interests which are harming our planet and ecosystem drastically. One of these man-made practices that are accentuating our climate crisis is fracking.
The author has very skillfully and brilliantly written this story around true events, and woven it with disgraceful and shocking facts about fracking.
This book, follows four students who turn into anti fracking activists. , Brett, Sonya, Kate and Mark get together along with their professor Rebecca start discovering all frack sites in Michigan and stand up against Nora North American energy. The story is narrated from Rebecca's perspective. The story also explores the past of Rebecca and her earlier years of research. These four students then plan an anti fracking campaign against Nora and line up a team of activists and protesters at the front end .
Review:
The book is very stimulating and inspiring. All the activists we meet in this book, are filled with so many strong emotions to save their planet and people they have met. Their empathy, their blood boiling anger, and their extremely strong willingness to make sacrifices at any level, is so inspiring and so thought provoking.
It is heart breaking to read about the stories of people who have been impacted by fracking.
Maryann Lessert 's writing style is very impressive. She has shaped the story into a suspenseful , and fast paced novel which is loaded with knowledge, Power packed with emotions, and oozing with motivation. This book has tremendous potential in raising awareness about the horrifying terrors of fracking . A must read for everyone who loves this beautiful planet.
If and only if everyone living on this planet is aware of the dreadful effects of fracking and other such industrial greed driven practices, it will make a lot of difference. There is an unbelievable power in the Collective efforts no matter how big and small.
This book needs to be talked about, needs to be read, to be shared. Us humans are more accustomed to learn through stories than through facts. What a better way to make the world aware.
Thank you @Booksparks for my gifted copy.
March 28, 2024
Land Marks follows anti-fracking activists Kate, Brett, Sonya, and Mark and their former professor Rebecca. The story, set mostly in the woods of Michigan, is told through Rebecca's point of view. When the activists realize the magnitude of North American Energy's aggressive goals, they set into motion a plan to try to stop the energy company and raise public awareness.
Land Marks illustrates the horrors of fracking in describing the desecration of land, water and wildlife and the negative impact on human health. The reader learns that government agencies who should be protecting the land and people instead are complying with energy companies and violating Native American treaties. Lesert's writing is vivid, immersive and tense leading the reader to feel that they are in the woods accompanying the activists. The tension and strong emotions are palpable as the energy company employees and police arrive to remove and arrest the activists. The characters are relatable, complex, and well-developed. It is evident that Lesert meticulously researched the complicated issue of natural gas fracking, as it often feels like reading non-fiction. Land Marks is a compelling, powerful and timely story of resistance, courage and the fight for wild places.
Thank you to BookSparks and SheWritesPress for a gifted copy.
@BookSparks #MaryannLesert #LandMarksNovel #SpringPopUp
Land Marks illustrates the horrors of fracking in describing the desecration of land, water and wildlife and the negative impact on human health. The reader learns that government agencies who should be protecting the land and people instead are complying with energy companies and violating Native American treaties. Lesert's writing is vivid, immersive and tense leading the reader to feel that they are in the woods accompanying the activists. The tension and strong emotions are palpable as the energy company employees and police arrive to remove and arrest the activists. The characters are relatable, complex, and well-developed. It is evident that Lesert meticulously researched the complicated issue of natural gas fracking, as it often feels like reading non-fiction. Land Marks is a compelling, powerful and timely story of resistance, courage and the fight for wild places.
Thank you to BookSparks and SheWritesPress for a gifted copy.
@BookSparks #MaryannLesert #LandMarksNovel #SpringPopUp
April 16, 2024
Thank you to Maryann and Book Sparks for the gifted copy.
“For the lands,”
This is a story about perseverance. Determination. Passion. A tale of grassroots efforts to hold commercial corporate greed not only accountable, but to impact their processes. To bring about change. To protect the only planet we can call home. Fracking. The way it leaves a path of destruction, damage and death. A teacher. Her history. The students. Their impact.
It seems so simple to me. We only have one planet to live. Without clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, we don’t exist. I don’t understand what is so hard to grasp about protecting and saving our planet. Yet the destruction not only continues, it’s amplified. As you can tell, this book fired me up. Maybe it spoke to me more, being a Michigan native. Experiencing time on the Kalamazoo River, Lake Michigan, Mackinac. Knowing the beauty of this state. Wanting to protect it.
I hope more people pick up this book. That it brings about change. Our future generations require it.
“Your sins will follow you.”
“There is no harness that can hold the power or mystery of nature.”
“For the lands,”
This is a story about perseverance. Determination. Passion. A tale of grassroots efforts to hold commercial corporate greed not only accountable, but to impact their processes. To bring about change. To protect the only planet we can call home. Fracking. The way it leaves a path of destruction, damage and death. A teacher. Her history. The students. Their impact.
It seems so simple to me. We only have one planet to live. Without clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, we don’t exist. I don’t understand what is so hard to grasp about protecting and saving our planet. Yet the destruction not only continues, it’s amplified. As you can tell, this book fired me up. Maybe it spoke to me more, being a Michigan native. Experiencing time on the Kalamazoo River, Lake Michigan, Mackinac. Knowing the beauty of this state. Wanting to protect it.
I hope more people pick up this book. That it brings about change. Our future generations require it.
“Your sins will follow you.”
“There is no harness that can hold the power or mystery of nature.”
April 19, 2024
So I requested this book because I have a strong connection to nature and have been studying about the environment for a while now. Activism is widespread to raise awareness on human impacts to nature but I haven’t read a book that touches upon these as a work of fiction. I think this book does a great job of depicting activism to stop fracking (which is a method used to extract natural gas and oil from deep rock formations) and showing the story of a group of activists going through challenging situations. It’s rather fast paced and some of the descriptions made me feel like I’m actually witnessing the scenes myself. Reading this made me angry, frustrated and sad because even though this is fiction it’s so real at the same time. I hope you find some time to give this book a read to understand some of the most harmful human effects to nature and take a moment to recognize the importance in protecting the environment. After all, we breathe, drink and consume what’s given to us by the environment and without it we would not be able to sustain ourselves….
Thank you Booksparks for my ARC. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
Thank you Booksparks for my ARC. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
April 2, 2024
𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪-𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯. 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦-𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦.
𝘈𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦.
𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴...𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.
Thank you BookSparks for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
@booksparks #Maryannlesert #landmarksnovel #springpopup
𝘈𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦.
𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴...𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.
Thank you BookSparks for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
@booksparks #Maryannlesert #landmarksnovel #springpopup
April 11, 2024
Thank you BookSparks for my copy. My opinions are my own.
Rebecca has a past to hide. One she hasn't told her four former university students about, despite her encouragement to them to resist the fracking tearing the northern Michigan woods apart. But when one of her students is arrested and someone from Rebecca's past appears, will solidarity and respect from the environment win over big business exploiting the land?
A deep and abiding love of nature pierces the narrative, in both detailed and sweeping descriptions. We can see close up how action in protection of the land and our health begins. It's also an individual journey of finding (or re-finding) self through activism, in protecting something better. This is an intense, hopeful story of how the companies tearing apart the land don’t have to win.
Rebecca has a past to hide. One she hasn't told her four former university students about, despite her encouragement to them to resist the fracking tearing the northern Michigan woods apart. But when one of her students is arrested and someone from Rebecca's past appears, will solidarity and respect from the environment win over big business exploiting the land?
A deep and abiding love of nature pierces the narrative, in both detailed and sweeping descriptions. We can see close up how action in protection of the land and our health begins. It's also an individual journey of finding (or re-finding) self through activism, in protecting something better. This is an intense, hopeful story of how the companies tearing apart the land don’t have to win.
May 2, 2024
nature in general never wavered even when government agencies that should be protecting our planet made deals with the industry to sell our natural resources in spite of anti-fracking activists’ sincere efforts.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This fiction seemed so real that I almost forgot these exact events haven’t happened (although sadly, similar fracking activities occur all over the U.S. all the time). While I enjoyed Rebecca’s POV, I would have liked a few other POVs to learn each person’s “why” they are a tree sitter, choose to spend their weekends photographing illegal fracking activity, and risk their livelihoods to fight for this cause.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you to @booksparks for this copy of Land Marks as part of their #SpringPopUp!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This fiction seemed so real that I almost forgot these exact events haven’t happened (although sadly, similar fracking activities occur all over the U.S. all the time). While I enjoyed Rebecca’s POV, I would have liked a few other POVs to learn each person’s “why” they are a tree sitter, choose to spend their weekends photographing illegal fracking activity, and risk their livelihoods to fight for this cause.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you to @booksparks for this copy of Land Marks as part of their #SpringPopUp!
April 18, 2024
Who knew? I shake my head in disgust… people, we only have one planet. I had no idea what harm fracking does to our ecosystem. The author did a fantastic job of opening my eyes. Wide. She coupled true stories with facts and made quite an impression on this gal. I never knew a story about fracking could be so suspenseful and heartbreaking. Told from Rebecca's perspective, the story follows four college activists as they try, against all odds, to make a difference. It’s time we all learn a bit more about this subject. And greed.
November 3, 2025
I enjoyed this book about grassroots environmentalism based in Michigan from author Maryann Lesert. I taught at Grand Rapids Community College for a couple years and lived in West Michigan for more than 15 years, so there is a strong connection to the place these characters are protection from Big Oil. I also felt pride for Michiganders as I often relate the topic of this book and their activism more to the West and legendary activists like Edward Abbey. Michigan and its amazingly intertwined waterways are fully deserving of our protection.
December 1, 2024
Storytelling at its finest, Lesert uses the power of story with the solidarity of bonded friendships, their strong voices in passionate pleas in environmental activism, to inspire many to give it their all towards anti-fracking in the forests of Michigan. A well-narrated book that not only highlights the consequences of fracking but also the ecological endangerment of the Great Lakes.
September 2, 2024
I love how it keeps a constant pace of warning and urgency.
January 2, 2025
“Why I needed to stand under a white pine, touching its trunk with one hand and my heart with the other, was something he would never understand.”
Rebecca is a professor who has mentored some of her students regarding anti-fracking. Not one to be in the middle of the action, Rebecca observes and writes articles that are then submitted for publication. However, in her past she had a more overt role as an activist, but a horrible event changed things. Her students know nothing of her past. When they get involved in a big protest and one of them gets arrested, Rebecca decides she must once again enter the action instead of staying on the sidelines.
Land Marks is about the ways we as people and our planet are connected and how a group of people come together to fight fracking. At times, Rebecca’s narrative seemed to flow from the past to present and back to the past again, all within a few paragraphs, which was a bit confusing. Fracking is explained in some detail and parts almost read as non-fiction which I liked. It’s a devastating process and even though I was familiar with it, I didn’t know details and frankly, I’m horrified. I love nature, and trees in particular provide me a comfort and solace I could not live without.
It’s clear Maryann Lesert loves nature and has spent time in forests as well as around the fracking process, because her writing transported me right into the thick of things. I felt as if I was in the middle of a huge active protest! All of the planning and preparation that goes into a coordinated ‘action’ was intense. I enjoyed getting a taste of the life of an eco activist!
Thank you Maryann Lesert and BookSparks for the gifted copy.
Scroll down for potential spoiler trigger warnings.
⚠️Trigger Warnings: mention of cancer and death
Rebecca is a professor who has mentored some of her students regarding anti-fracking. Not one to be in the middle of the action, Rebecca observes and writes articles that are then submitted for publication. However, in her past she had a more overt role as an activist, but a horrible event changed things. Her students know nothing of her past. When they get involved in a big protest and one of them gets arrested, Rebecca decides she must once again enter the action instead of staying on the sidelines.
Land Marks is about the ways we as people and our planet are connected and how a group of people come together to fight fracking. At times, Rebecca’s narrative seemed to flow from the past to present and back to the past again, all within a few paragraphs, which was a bit confusing. Fracking is explained in some detail and parts almost read as non-fiction which I liked. It’s a devastating process and even though I was familiar with it, I didn’t know details and frankly, I’m horrified. I love nature, and trees in particular provide me a comfort and solace I could not live without.
It’s clear Maryann Lesert loves nature and has spent time in forests as well as around the fracking process, because her writing transported me right into the thick of things. I felt as if I was in the middle of a huge active protest! All of the planning and preparation that goes into a coordinated ‘action’ was intense. I enjoyed getting a taste of the life of an eco activist!
Thank you Maryann Lesert and BookSparks for the gifted copy.
Scroll down for potential spoiler trigger warnings.
⚠️Trigger Warnings: mention of cancer and death
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews