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Burning Ground
Isolated from the outside world, Percy Turner spends her summer at a fire tower deep in the Canadian wilderness, where she spends her time keeping watch for fires and struggles to come to terms with her lifelong passion for her best friend, Marlea, who has a male lover, and with her troubled family past. Original.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 5, 2009
It has been a while since I read this book, but I remember being surprised that I enjoyed it so much, given what might, at first, appear to be a somewhat mundane setting!
October 11, 2014
This was a very strong piece of Canadian writing. Set in the fire-watch towers, one woman tries to recover from an on-again-off-again relationship with her lover (and also tries to recover from this woman's frustrating hot-and-cold sexuality), and also tangles with the thought of a romance with another fire-tower watcher - this one a man.
With some solid past-and-present flashback use, and deep characterizations, this is an enjoyable read from start to finish.
With some solid past-and-present flashback use, and deep characterizations, this is an enjoyable read from start to finish.
July 4, 2021
This is not the type of book I would normally read and yet I really found myself enjoying it. Percy is a complex and flawed character, and although her life is something I struggle to find aspects I relate to, I surprisingly enjoyed reading and exploring a character that I did not understand. I think that’s the point - Percy becomes easier to understand as the story progresses and she begins to understand herself.
Upon first glance, it’s a story with no real start, climax or resolution but there is unexpected depth in it.
Upon first glance, it’s a story with no real start, climax or resolution but there is unexpected depth in it.
June 16, 2023
Kind of fun to read this one while I had a fire lookout but it wasn't really for me.
December 28, 2014
I got a copy of "Burning Ground" by Pearl Luke over goodreads and even if this is not the sort of book I read in general I really liked it.
Story:
Over the summer, Percy Turner lives in a fire tower in Canada. For month she's alone in the forest, watching out for fires, reporting them and the weather over the radio and only seeing other people when she they bring her food and more once a month.
It's her 7th time on the fire tower, but this year is different. On the radio she hears the voice of Gilmore who's in another fire tower and they start writing profound and personal emails. Furthermore, her relationship with Marlea is at a point where Percy can't see a future anymore.
Protagonist:
Protagonist Percy Turner is in her late 20s, reclusive and mousy. It was interesting reading about her, the life at the fire tower and about her childhood in a trailer park. She's likeable to me in a way I can't put into words, but on the other hand there is a big distance between her and the reader.
We only learn about other people in the book from Percys memories and thoughts. Marlea is her big love, a girl she lived with in the traile park and that became more than a best friend. At least for Percy. Marlea has her boyfriend Andrew and only occasionally comes back together with Percy.
Gilmore is the writer of the emails Percy gets, even if the reader never reads his mails, only Percys replies. She seems to like him, but as he never appears in person, only in written and hearable words, he's more a shadow than real.
Writing:
It took me some time to start liking the story, but the middle part was really good. The book has its lenghts, when Percy is alone in the forest at her fire tower, you don't really know what the story aims at, what should happen or what the intension of the author is, despite telling about the process of a fire watcher.
I didn't know about this job before and it was really interesting and new for me.
I also like the way Luke writes, it's very realistic, shocking and crucial in some parts and when Percy cuts her finger in the lawn mover I nearly had to put the book away, because of the description of the instance.
The trailer park childhood of Percy, her relationship with Dan and the one with Marlea including her discovery of her own sexuality were well written, realistic and oppressively unpleasant (Dan using Percy as a kind of domina). Luke isn't palliate something, she describes the real world and that's fascinating.
I give 4 of 5 fires for this books. I really liked the middle part, but the beginning and the end didn't really persuade me, nevertheless they were good.
Story:
Over the summer, Percy Turner lives in a fire tower in Canada. For month she's alone in the forest, watching out for fires, reporting them and the weather over the radio and only seeing other people when she they bring her food and more once a month.
It's her 7th time on the fire tower, but this year is different. On the radio she hears the voice of Gilmore who's in another fire tower and they start writing profound and personal emails. Furthermore, her relationship with Marlea is at a point where Percy can't see a future anymore.
Protagonist:
Protagonist Percy Turner is in her late 20s, reclusive and mousy. It was interesting reading about her, the life at the fire tower and about her childhood in a trailer park. She's likeable to me in a way I can't put into words, but on the other hand there is a big distance between her and the reader.
We only learn about other people in the book from Percys memories and thoughts. Marlea is her big love, a girl she lived with in the traile park and that became more than a best friend. At least for Percy. Marlea has her boyfriend Andrew and only occasionally comes back together with Percy.
Gilmore is the writer of the emails Percy gets, even if the reader never reads his mails, only Percys replies. She seems to like him, but as he never appears in person, only in written and hearable words, he's more a shadow than real.
Writing:
It took me some time to start liking the story, but the middle part was really good. The book has its lenghts, when Percy is alone in the forest at her fire tower, you don't really know what the story aims at, what should happen or what the intension of the author is, despite telling about the process of a fire watcher.
I didn't know about this job before and it was really interesting and new for me.
I also like the way Luke writes, it's very realistic, shocking and crucial in some parts and when Percy cuts her finger in the lawn mover I nearly had to put the book away, because of the description of the instance.
The trailer park childhood of Percy, her relationship with Dan and the one with Marlea including her discovery of her own sexuality were well written, realistic and oppressively unpleasant (Dan using Percy as a kind of domina). Luke isn't palliate something, she describes the real world and that's fascinating.
I give 4 of 5 fires for this books. I really liked the middle part, but the beginning and the end didn't really persuade me, nevertheless they were good.
July 26, 2016
I stumbled upon this book at a thrift store some months ago. I hadn't heard of the title or its author. I bought it because it was cheap, and set in Canada (I was born in Michigan and still live here, but my mother is Canadian; I have dual citizenship thanks to her, and my sister lives in Alberta). I also bought it because I am a sucker for coming-of-age stories, and the little blurb on the back said that this book was one.
I liked it a lot, and think it will stay with me for a long time.
This book was published sixteen years ago-- long before lgbtq+ literature became a prominent genre. Turns out, the protagonist is bisexual. I loved this, because I think bisexual people are grossly underrepresented in literature and other forms of media.
I don't know. My reviews on Goodreads are always subjective, written in the moments right after I finish reading, and am still sort of drunk on the experience. This is more of a reading log for my own personal recollection than it is a solid review for anyone else. Sorry, I guess.
Anyway. This book was really good. The writing was beautiful. It caught me off guard in all the best ways, and made me think about shit that's been buried deep for a long time. I also learned some new things, because the setting (fire towers in the Canadian wilderness) was entirely unfamiliar to me.
Day off well spent.
I liked it a lot, and think it will stay with me for a long time.
This book was published sixteen years ago-- long before lgbtq+ literature became a prominent genre. Turns out, the protagonist is bisexual. I loved this, because I think bisexual people are grossly underrepresented in literature and other forms of media.
I don't know. My reviews on Goodreads are always subjective, written in the moments right after I finish reading, and am still sort of drunk on the experience. This is more of a reading log for my own personal recollection than it is a solid review for anyone else. Sorry, I guess.
Anyway. This book was really good. The writing was beautiful. It caught me off guard in all the best ways, and made me think about shit that's been buried deep for a long time. I also learned some new things, because the setting (fire towers in the Canadian wilderness) was entirely unfamiliar to me.
Day off well spent.
February 2, 2012
The writing is savagely beautiful. Luke is a damn fine writer. This is clear by the middle of the first page.
The plot itself buckled up and left me wanting more. It needed more to make it on par with the language Luke uses so effectively.
And while I understand that everything that transpires happens inside her head, the lack of quotation marks for dialogue was EXTREMELY distracting. Where does the talking end and thoughts begin. Frankly this took me out of the story far too many times for it to be a stylistic choice that works.
But her positioning of words, made for a very fulfilling read. And an she is surely and author to watch.
The plot itself buckled up and left me wanting more. It needed more to make it on par with the language Luke uses so effectively.
And while I understand that everything that transpires happens inside her head, the lack of quotation marks for dialogue was EXTREMELY distracting. Where does the talking end and thoughts begin. Frankly this took me out of the story far too many times for it to be a stylistic choice that works.
But her positioning of words, made for a very fulfilling read. And an she is surely and author to watch.
January 29, 2015
I've had this book for ages and didn't read it. It takes patience to read a book sans-plot and set in a fire tower in the isolating canadian wilderness.
The middle section of the book (about the protagonist's childhood) was interesting, though a bit too dark for my liking. This section reminded me of The Glass Castle and would appeal to those who like reading about other people's hardship. Many people like that kind of grit in a story. I however, found it a bit slow to slog through.
Artfully written and full of character depth and complexity, this is a book for the patient arty types. Not the page-turner seekers.
The middle section of the book (about the protagonist's childhood) was interesting, though a bit too dark for my liking. This section reminded me of The Glass Castle and would appeal to those who like reading about other people's hardship. Many people like that kind of grit in a story. I however, found it a bit slow to slog through.
Artfully written and full of character depth and complexity, this is a book for the patient arty types. Not the page-turner seekers.
July 26, 2012
I felt an immediate connection to this book from the first random page i read while flipping through. When I did get to read it, I really enjoyed the writing and the detailing in the book.
The landscape where the story is happening is unique and it was very interesting just to know and experience it through the character as she goes about her work and life; The writing was honest and bold and it helped bring the character closer, her conflicts and thoughts were almost tangible and real.
The landscape where the story is happening is unique and it was very interesting just to know and experience it through the character as she goes about her work and life; The writing was honest and bold and it helped bring the character closer, her conflicts and thoughts were almost tangible and real.
January 24, 2013
Shortly after I read this book (I mean, within a few days after I finished it) I was at U of C having a cig between classes in an isolated spot. The door open, and Pearl Luke walks out heading towards the parking lot. I don't have many regrets in my life, but I wish I'd stopped her to say how much I enjoyed this book.
And I really, really loved it. It's about isolation and growth and learning to love yourself. I still think about it all the time.
And I really, really loved it. It's about isolation and growth and learning to love yourself. I still think about it all the time.
October 27, 2013
You know that a book speaks to you when, after you've finished it and a couple of days have passed, you pick it up again and read the last few chapters for the second time. It lingers in your psyche Not a conventional read, but a good one.
September 3, 2008
Good. Startling. Dark. Good.
April 29, 2009
Love among the fire watch towers - unusual.
February 3, 2011
Very good - but then I'm a fan of Pearls : )
July 26, 2023
I've never seen the landscape Luke describes, but she does it so beautifully that I felt immersed in the scenery and landscape. Great easy read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews