Strangers in the Forest

by Carol Ryrie Brink, Mary E. Reed (Foreword)

Strangers in the Forest , originally published in 1959, was included in the Reader's Digest Condensed Books series. Set in the white-pine timberland of the Idaho panhandle in 1908, the story explores the efforts of the early U.S. Forest Service to instill a sense of conservation in the land--a new concept affecting Idaho's seemingly inexhaustible forests. Bundy Jones heads west to investigate the people taking timber homesteads in the north Idaho woods, suspecting that their real intention is to sell out for profit to lumber companies. Jones befriends the homesteaders, wins their confidence, and even admires them. When his connection with the Forest Service is revealed, most of the homesteaders turn against him. But the inferno of a north Idaho forest fire once again unites Jones and the timber settlers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

314 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Born Caroline Ryrie, American author of over 30 juvenile and adult books. Her novel Caddie Woodlawn won the 1936 Newbery Medal.

Brink was orphaned by age 8 and raised by her maternal grandmother, the model for Caddie Woodlawn. She started writing for her school newspapers and continued that in college. She attended the University of Idaho for three years before transferring to the University of California in 1917, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1918, the same year she married.

Anything Can Happen on the River, Brink's first novel, was published in 1934. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Idaho in 1965. Brink Hall, which houses the UI English Department and faculty offices, is named in her honor. The children's section of the Moscow, ID Carnegie public library is also named after her.

Reviews

[Rrshively · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author scores with me again with an outstanding novel with all of the elements a good novel should have. I would recommend this to anyone liking novels of 30-40 years ago. I got so engossed that I finished it within a day and a half. This novel is about early 20th Century homesteaders in the White Pine Forest of Northern Idaho. Each person has an agenda of his/her own. Pitted against the homesteading in this non-agricultural landscape is a representative of the National Forest Service. What happens when he gets to know these people personally? Read to find out. All of Ms. Brink's novels went out of print and then some were reprinted by Washington State University Press. Outside of the Pacific Northwest these novels might be difficult to find in libraries. They are available on Amazon.com: used from $6.96 up, new from about $10.00 up.

[Carol Bakker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel takes place in the white pine forests of the Idaho panhandle. The inchoate National Forest Service is opposed to homesteaders who plan to live six months on their land, sell it to a lumber company for a profit, who intend to log the forests for an even greater profit.

The characters are well-drawn: a John Muir-ish wanderer; a young woman who discovers a strength she never before possessed; a French-Canadian lumberjack; a strikingly beautiful and manipulative woman and the men who desire her; a milliner spinster who leaves her thriving business to speculate on a homestead, an old-school ranger who loves his dog.

Tragedy seems to pervade all of Brink's adult novels. I didn't experience the warm satisfaction of a feel-good ending; but the writing provoked me to many imaginings of my own ability to survive in a homestead built in the forest clearing. And I find that Carol Ryrie Brink's writing is its own reward.

Recommended to anyone interested in early Forest Service history, Idaho novels, or Carol Ryrie Brink fans.

This quote tickled me:
"After a while the air in the cabin reeked with the close relaxation of men who had spent an active day in the open." Page 57

[Nola Strimbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author and this book! It was first published in 1959 and republished in 1993, but is timeless in its telling. The exploitation of natural resources is nothing new and Carol Ryrie Brink has done a masterful job of writing both sides of story while her descriptive narrative gives life to the characters and the wildness of their surroundings.
This is the second of her books I have read, the first being Buffalo Coat (also excellent). And there is a third book in this trilogy that I will be tracking down to read. I believe they are all loosely based on people in her life and stories that her relatives passed on to her. Well worth the read!

[Eika Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book that makes me want to move to a tiny cabin in the woods. This story unfolds as a young girl discovers her love for the forest and the newness it brings as she grew up in the city. I may be partial to this book since it is set near where I am from, but it has been one of my recent favorites, with a good mixture of novel and forestry/botany

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I thought this was boring but then I did end up enjoying it more by the end. The best was her insight into western life/culture. Some perfect observations that I’d say still ring true today.

[Lynne Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written story about real life circumstances that shaped the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900s. The characters were interesting and the ending was satisfying as well.

[Clover White · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a reason this author is much better known for her (excellent) children's books. Brink wants to bring alive the conservation movement of the early twentieth century, but her characters fail to come to life. In particular, the first character introduced, Bundy Jones, seems to have no personality or thoughts whatsoever. The elements for a good story were there (women homesteaders, Idaho forests, love), but it never came together. Think I'll stick with her more well-known works in the future.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but old-fashioned. Very heavy with exposition and a story based on character development and history rather than plot made the book slow. Not bad--there were some fabulous aphorisms, and I got a lot out of the reading. The ending was quite dramatic and lovely--I felt like I was reading Jane Austen in a way. Not sure I'll pick up another of her books, but I got a lot out of this one.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't get enough of this author, I wish she'd written more books. Again for me this was Alaska-esque (although not set in AK). Made me really interested in Homesteading-not literally, as in want to actually do it-but still I'd like to think I could! I can't believe what people went through, even though it's about somehting I can't relate too, I still really related to their hopes and struggles. Great characters.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be extremely well written and engaging, however, I was rather surprised that, once again, Carol Ryrie Brink built up such characters and got me so caught up in the story and then, BAM! Started killing them. However, this book had a much more satisfying ending and I do think it turned out to be all's well that ends well.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marilyn recommended this--after living in the place where it was written. The book helped my understand Nate & Marilyn's North Idaho experience more.

[Becky]

Interesting that some things (like the question of the fate of the western white pine) have really not changed in 100 years.

[Jacob Bembry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good adventure but bogged down with too many soap operatic twists