Rettung

by Daniel Griffin

Ein Holzkonzern zerlegt hemmungslos den einzigartigen Urwald im Westen Kanadas – mit dem Segen der Politik. Eine Gruppe vom Umweltschutz kämpft gegen die Abholzung. Sie planen ein Attentat und Pete meldet sich freiwillig, den Sprengsatz im Lagerhaus des Konzerns zu platzieren. Als die Bombe hochgeht und ein Mensch stirbt, flieht Pete in Panik. Tagelang irrt er im Wald umher und trifft schließlich an der Küste auf eine Siedlung von Aussteigern. Er findet Unterschlupf bei Inez und verliebt sich in sie, verschweigt ihr aber sein Verbrechen. Mit hohem Tempo erzählt, handelt dieser Thriller von Gewalt als Mittel für einen guten Zweck; glaubwürdig, fesselnd und hervorragend erzählt

Hardcover

Published July 23, 2018

About the author

Daniel Griffin is the author of the collection of stories Stopping for Strangers and the novel Two Roads Home. He was born in Kingston, Ontario, and has lived in Canada, the United States, Mexico, the UK, France, New Zealand, India and Guatemala where he met his wife Kimberly Longenecker. He attended Queen’s University and received an MFA from UBC. He and his wife live in Victoria, BC, with their three children, a cat and a recently adopted dog from the family’s time in southern Mexico.

Reviews

[Ann (Inky Labyrinth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Every story that starts with a stranger arriving in town ends in trouble, Inez.'

One July night on Vancouver Island in the early 90's, a bomb goes off deep in the woods. It was set off by Earth Action Now, a small group of young Canadians determined to save one of the last patches of old growth forest left in North America. But something goes wrong--and the four activists involved are forced to ask themselves if a man's life is worth more than their cause.

Broken off from the rest of the group in the chaotic aftermath of the bomb, we mostly follow Peter as he's on the run in the wilderness, and eventually finds sanctuary with a group of coastal squatters who are cut off from the news of the world. The story also progresses with perspectives from Pete's mother, who's hell-bent on finding her son; Inez, a single mother who rescues Pete; and the other activists who now are in hiding as well.

I'm disappointed that this book hasn't found more readers because it's a great read with a lot of relevance to the present day as we are in the throes of climate change. I wouldn't call it fast-paced per se, but it was hard to put down as the story is always moving forward and the tension rises and falls nicely throughout. I did think some parts could have been shorter to keep things moving, and I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I wanted a more definitive answer as to what happened to some of the characters, as the rest of the book did such a great job making them feel like real people.

The majesty of the Pacific Northwest was described beautifully. Vancouver Island is a bucket list location for me, so I loved reading about the massive pine trees meeting the stormy Pacific Ocean and the coziness of Inez's beach cabin during the rain. You can really feel the author's love for the land, and it does feel uniquely Canadian.

Though it's set almost 30 years in the past, Two Roads Home is a timely story that makes us question about what is most important to us when the shit inevitably hits the fan. Definitely recommend this hidden gem to anyone interested in Canadian or eco fiction.



Thank you so much to Kelsey and everyone else at Freehand Books in Calgary that sent me a copt of this book years ago. I'm sorry it took me so long but I truly read it at the right time.

[Donna Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a page-turner from beginning to end. From the opening page I was connected to the characters and compelled to find out what happens to them. The story covers a full gamut of human emotions: anger, frustration, jealousy, hate and love and the characters are incredibly diverse. Set in the beautiful, wild, west coast of Vancouver Island, the story challenged my own moral standing on the environment. Well done Daniel. I'm looking forward to your next book!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won as a goodreads giveaway. Without giving anything away, compelling story where you really connect with the characters and the journey they go on. Would definitely recommend

[Kristina (Bold BookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I would like to thank Freehand Books for sending me a copy of this book after I won the Goodreads Giveaway.

Two Roads Home is a compelling historical fiction novel that gives a glimpse of what may have been if the peaceful anti-logging protests of the 1990s had went too far; if someone had crossed the line in order to right injustice.

It also delves into the lives and feelings of the many characters within. It focuses on the activists who set off the bomb; which did not go as they had planned; squatters who live in the luscious wilderness away from civilization; and a Mother who will do anything in hopes to clear her son's name.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read (even though I do not regularly read historical fiction novels). I would highly recommend this book to people who do. It had an interesting plot and was very well written. I'll definitely have to keep other Daniel Griffin books in mind once they are published!

[Britta Juergens · Rating 5 out of 5]

'A real page turner' it said on the back and I agree - I even took the morning off work -wrapped up in it until the final page !!!

The story is well constructed on all levels - Griffin's characters feel familiar in every move - the politically pressing topic is highly contemporary and timeless at once. It inspired me to reconsider some of the everlasting big questions - a real feast for heart and mind alike : )))

[Cyndi Moskal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm an environmentalist at heart so I thought this book would be right up my alley. It was engaging enough, meaning I never considered not finishing it. But I wasn't hooked by the characters or taken anywhere unexpected by the story. Pete's journey was the most interesting of them all because I think he was impacted the most by the turn of events and the choices he had made. His mother's story line felt like a distraction from the main characters.

I did like the overall theme because it stands out and is very different from a lot of other fiction stories.

[jampo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sehr gutes Buch über Umweltaktivismus auf einer persönlichen Ebene.
Spannende Geschichte gut zu lesen, Fokus liegt stark auf Erfahrungen, Gedanken und Sichtweise der einzelnen AkteurInnen.