Leaves on Frozen Ground (11)

by Dave Carty

Céline Vaillancourt saw the untamed forest in shades of apprehension. But Edmund, her 11-year-old son, was possessed of a different vision, as though he had put the very same brooding colors together and produced a painting shot through with adventure and the light of discovery. There was no talking to him. But talk no longer seemed to matter. Edmund was his father's son, stubborn and willful. His dog and the wild country beyond their orchard owned his heart. But now it was December, and cold. And neither dog nor boy were paying attention.

Genres: Fiction

226 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2019

About the author

Dave Carty attended Colorado State University and the University of Colorado, where he majored in Journalism. During his twenties he worked at a variety of jobs too numerous to list in their entirety: waiter, bartender, carpenter, salesman, ski instructor, real estate agent, and day laborer. But ultimately he returned to writing and by age 30 was making a living as a full-time professional writer.

For the next three decades, Carty published over 1000 articles in a host of national publications while simultaneously writing novels on the side. Leaves On Frozen Ground is the upshot of that apprenticeship, and his first published work of literary fiction.

Carty writes from his home in southwestern Montana, where he lives with three English Pointer bird dogs and indulges his non-literary passions: dancing, bird hunting, woodworking, and all things outdoors.

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great storyline. I felt sad when I finished this book. The characters and scenes are wonderful. I really bonded with the characters as I followed their transition. Such a surprising ending that stuck with me. Dave Carty's writing is refreshing and insightful. A great author. A story that everyone can relate to. I loved the small town setting. I am looking forward to your next book. Highly recommend.

[Lynn Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the fiction I read lately is not linear in nature, There There by Tommy Orange and The Overstory by Richard Powers for example, both of which I liked. I think it is hard to write a straight linear narrative and hold the reader's interest throughout unless the writer is very careful. What drew me to Carty's novel was the story and character development. It is beautifully written and the reader truly gets to know this family, and of course their dogs. From the first few pages I was drawn into the dynamics of their relationships and the events that shape them. After I finished the book, I found that I continued to think about it and reread passages that particularly resonated with me. To me, that is the sign of a good book.

[Tracey Setzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave I finished your book a few days ago and wanted to take a little time to digest it. I've never left a review for books I have read. What a wonderful read, a very heart felt, real life situations read!! The inter mingling of the relationships between a boy and his dogs, the relationship of the dogs and whom they chose to attach themselves to, we know that one well don't we!! The whole aspect of the relationships they have to one another!! Awesome book, yes I cried a little, how could a mom not!! Laughed a little but really enjoyed the book. Your Friend Tracey Setzer

[Rick Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Carty's debut novel is a survival tale, both in the man-versus-nature sense and in the exploration of those domestic crises that can erode even the most loving family relationships. Outdoor flavor is nicely balanced with scenes of everyday home life and workplace concerns and challenges. The three main characters (actually five, counting the two border collies) are imperfect but likable and you can't help relating to their struggles, cheering their successes and lamenting their failures. Fans of Peter Heller (The Dog Stars, The Painter, Celine, and The River) will find Carty's work equally compelling. Leaves on Frozen Ground is poignant, powerful and haunting.

[Kary Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a book that could bring out every emotion I’ve ever felt. Dave is the most intellectually gifted writer to date. Leaves on frozen ground is such a heartfelt, loving, emotional piece of literature on the market. It took me a couple days to just come out of his characters when I was done reading it. If you are an avid reader as I am, do not pass this book up. VERY WORTHWHILE READ. Do yourself a favor and get this book. Can’t wait for more books by him.

[Scott Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful word pictures and intriguing characters. Engaging plot and an enjoyable read!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Carty has intertwined beautiful imagery with a heartfelt story to remind us of the simpler, important things in life. A compelling read and a welcome escape into nature and the realities of family.

[Mark Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

In " Leaves on Frozen Ground", Dave Carty has crafted a very compelling novel.

Setting the stage: Family Vaillanciurt, consisting of Celine, Gastonia and 11 year old son Edmund are living on a farm. Their farm abuts a vast, unruly wilderness near the shore of Lake Superior. The omnipresence of this dramatic landscape plays a dominant role in the everyday life of the family. Nearby there is a small, rural, conventional town.

The protagonist in the story (Celine) is the one most concerned with the survival of her family. She provides the inspiration for adaptation to the family's circumstances. The author demonstrates the surprising ability to understand events from a woman's point of view.

Once the book settles in, "Leaves " turns to a series of rolling vignettes. This is a method which helps Carty to maintain a rhythm in the narrative. He has a solid sense of timing in when to conclude a vignette and move on. He enhances the prose with spot on analogies. His choice of metaphors is tangible and deepens the understanding of the characters. Altogether, startling incidents and surprising plot twists serve to make this novel a captivating read.

[Lauryn F Pederson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m grateful to the friend who shared this book with me. The simple, powerful language draws you into this family and you find you care about the characters as you are enveloped into their relationships. In each character, you may find you recognize yourself or someone you know. The story and the personalities show a deeper understanding of marriage and partnership than is usually present in more modern novels. It’s a good read and is just the right length. This book feels carved from whole stone rather than constructed word by word. You might be surprised by the simplicity of the story and the complexity of the understanding of human (and dog) behavior.

[K Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories about dogs and boys, nature and family, have been and will be with us forever, yet most are too sentimental for me. Not this one. The feelings are there, the ones that tighten a band around one’s heart and gut, but great restraint is shown in the prose. Its family is real, their personal hardship are relatable, and the dogs are what every boy would want. That said, one of the indelible images is the pair of spike heeled shoes which the mother adds to her yard sale pile of clothing that no longer is relevant to northern Wisconsin. Lives change.

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a Best of the Best for the month of June, 2019, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet. You can find me at http://forums.delphiforums.com/stevo1, on my Stevo's Novel Ideas Amazon Influencer page (https://www.amazon.com/shop/stevo4747) or search for me on Google for many more reviews and recommendations.

[Tom Maguire]

I found this to be a very good book. The development of characters was excellent as was inclusion of detail. The detail rather than being separated from the story was made part of the story. I also think that issues faced by all the characters were very real life and could certainly happen to anyone. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a well written book with a very believable story line.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seldom write reviews but am making an exception for Leaves on Frozen Ground. I obtained a copy by chance. Once I started reading it I was taken in by the characters, the town situated on the shores of Lake Superior, the happiness and hardships of life in the setting which I could identify with. I found it to be a very good read and am going to keep looking for other works by Dave Carty.

[Lucas James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, I didn't want to put it down and hated for it to be over... Carty does a wonderful job of character development and an even better job of setting the scenes. I felt like I had known the characters for quite some time and was in the room, on the baseball field, or the woods with them.

Can't wait for more from this author.

[Kevin Hocevar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding story of boyhood, parenthood, nature and a dog! Hit home for me in a number of ways. An emotional read that I couldn't put down once I started. Carty puts forth great character development with a humanistic touch that is bound to relate to all. A great story and well worth picking up!

[Tony Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine gave me this book and promised I would love it. He was right. This is a very well written and compelling story. It's a real life story with all the ups and downs; one you could picture yourself in. I laughed and cried and found inspiration in the grit of Gaston and Celine. This one is worth your time.

[Karen Greenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story drew me in further with each page. Dave’s writing is powerful - I felt I could practically see, hear, smell the Vaillancourt’s home, orchard and the woods beyond. I read this book in almost one sitting - on a dreary rainy Sunday. I couldn’t put it down with a sense of forbidding and hope as I turned the pages.

I highly recommended this book.

[WILLIAM H]

good read; attention to detail, good character interaction. The silent exasperation and ennui the main character goes through shows up well in Carty's writing. It is easy to see the world around through the author's eyes. I finished it a month ago and can still see the book and the characters well defined in my memory; this speaks well for the book.
Bill Stevens

[Dan Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about relationships.. husband to wife, parents to children, humans to animals.
To me , it inspires the reader to seriously think about and evaluate their own past and present relationships, whether good or bad, and to possibly chart a new course in life , taking those current relationships in to consideration.

[Monna Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and I could place myself in the book and imagine the location in rich detail.
It is a sad but redemptive story that is timeless. A family struggling with economic and personal tragedy that reveals the true character in each member; two legged and four.
Well done, Dave Carty.

[Lynn Shanahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully compelling read. Beautifully descriptive language with incredible insight into the human emotions surrounding uncertainty, tragedy, and loss. Read it in one sitting. Cannot stop thinking about it.

[Randy Setzer]

I've known Dave for many years as an outdoor writer. I thoroughly enjoyed Dave's writing using a very different skill set.

I think all of us that grew up in small town America can see ourselves and relate to life's ups and downs experienced by the Vaillancourt family.

[Laura Jutras · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vaillancourt family live a successful, secure life in Port Landing. By all appearances, they appear to be the perfect family. But this is a story about what happens to a family when life happens to them. And that we discover our true selves when the tough times come.
The author has written an engrossing story that left me reflective but hopeful at the end. I actually didn’t write this review for a few days after I finished the book. I had to think about the story for awhile. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I won this book on Goodreads and leave this review voluntarily.

[Lori Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well,I really enjoyed this book.I felt it was a little slow in the beginning, but I really felt like I understood the characters, and what they were feeling. I would recommend to friends, not too short , or too long, perfect book to bring on a trip!

[Ian Munn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart wrenching story, an amazing writer, a must read book for those who love the emotional roller coaster of life.

[Steven N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story, I really enjoyed this book.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Cartys book is a masterpiece. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are deep and memorable. The descriptions are haunting. The writing is brilliant and the story is unforgettable. It shook me to my core. Leaves on Frozen Ground left an indelible memory.

[Patricia Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was filled with descriptive imagery, it was wonderfully written. I enjoyed reading a book about a seemingly real life family dynamic with beautiful scenery to boot. I kept on thinking while reading that I got to the apex of the novel, and then nope the climb kept me going up up up. And boy did I cry when it got to that point. Not a usual book I would read as a mom, as it tore at my heartstrings. I am glad I read it and congratulate the author on his first novel. Keep it up.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very compelling story and excellent writing make this book one that I will be recommending to friends. The author uses the geographical setting of the Northwoods almost as another character in this novel, which tells the story of a city woman adapting to the milieu of her husband's indigenous roots, and exploring the relationship between a mother and son as the young boy yearns to explore the natural wilds around him, leading to serious consequences. It is also the story of the strains on a young family floundering during economic hard times and within a marriage that is beginning to crack apart. I look forward to reading more from this author; his descriptions of the wild country make the book even more fascinating.