An Unexpected Forest

by Eleanor Morse

In this quirky first novel, the U.S. Forestry Department mistakenly delivers 1,000 spruce tree seedlings to former attorney Horace, who decides to plant the tiny trees in the wild. Horace's wife begins to think he's gone mad. Into the mix come an ex-convict, who helps Horace plant the trees, and his girlfriend. Four souls adrift finally come together on a Maine island, where they discover unexpected joy in each other's company and ultimately come together as a family.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2007

About the author

Eleanor Morse is the author of Margreete's Harbor, the most recent of four novels. White Dog Fell from the Sky was a Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week; An Unexpected Forest won the 2008 Independent Book Publisher's Award for best regional fiction and the 2008 Maine Literary Award. She is on the faculty of Spalding University's School of Creative and Professional Writing and lives on a small island off the coast of Maine.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author's first book. Well written. Pleasant read. I wanted to read other works by Eleanor Morese after reading "White Dog Fell from the Sky".

[Kathleenmanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story, perhaps too simplistic. I enjoyed the older characters and felt like I knew them. I also enjoyed the sense of place: Maine woods and especially Vinalhaven Island.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book, which explores challenges common during two phases of life -- the 20s and 60s. It's also set mostly in a very accurately drawn state of Maine. I think Eleanor Morse should be better known.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting is compelling and the characters unexpected. I found myself pulled right in to this story of unexpected change, catalyzed by the older male protagonist being fired from his routine job as a hospital lawyer and finding 1,000 seedlings all over his lawn. One thing leads to another, and an openness on the part of this older man and his wife leads to transformation in their lives and in the lives of those they touch.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friend at the Ellsworth City Library suggested this book--and I enjoyed it, as did Andy. One must suspend disbelief a bit, but it's a nice world Morse creates, one in which people's instincts are unpredictable but, on the whole, good. Its humor is understated but real: the main character trying to plant 10,000 little trees in the Maine woods. . . black flies, bears, fire ensue, as well as an unusual friendship. Great depiction of a long-time marriage, too. Not great literature, but well-written and well worth reading.

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maine author tells tale of a 64 year man who plants trees from the Maine Forest Service that were delivered to his house by mistake, and his artist wife. They meet a young couple and everyone learns a new role for their lives.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An "unexpected" delightful book. A quirky Maine novel with great characters and story development.

[Marni]

It starts out light and breezy, but then the story moves into a prison, becomes decidedly not light and breezy, and I had to stop reading.

[Betsy Panayides · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful characters. Beautiful story.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may be biased on this one since I was its editor.