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Down from Cascom Mountain
Ann Joslin Williams grew up observing the craft of her father, Thomas Williams, was a National Book Award-winning novelist. Many of his stories were set in the fictional town of Leah, New Hampshire, and on nearby Cascom Mountain, locations that closely mirrored the landscape of the Williamses' real hometown. With Down from Cascom Mountain , Ann Joslin Williams proves herself a formidably talented novelist in her own right, while paying tribute to her father by setting her debut novel in the same fictional world-the New Hampshire he imagined and that she has always known.
In Down from Cascom Mountain , newlywed Mary Hall brings her husband to settle in the rural New Hampshire of her youth to fix up the house she grew up in and to reconnect to the land that defined her, with all its beauty and danger. But on a mountain day hike, she watches helplessly as her husband falls to his death. As she struggles with her sudden grief, in the days and months that follow, Mary finds new friendships-with Callie and Tobin, teenagers on the mountain club's crew, and with Ben, the gentle fire watchman. All are haunted by their own losses, but they find ways to restore hope in one another, holding firmly as they navigate the rugged terrain of the unknown and unknowable, and loves lost and found.
Praise for The Woman in the Woods :
"The Woman in the Woods marks the debut of a wise and beautiful voice in American fiction, one that will stand as a powerful new presence in our literary landscape." -Julie Orringer, author of How to Breathe Underwater and The Invisible Bridge
In Down from Cascom Mountain , newlywed Mary Hall brings her husband to settle in the rural New Hampshire of her youth to fix up the house she grew up in and to reconnect to the land that defined her, with all its beauty and danger. But on a mountain day hike, she watches helplessly as her husband falls to his death. As she struggles with her sudden grief, in the days and months that follow, Mary finds new friendships-with Callie and Tobin, teenagers on the mountain club's crew, and with Ben, the gentle fire watchman. All are haunted by their own losses, but they find ways to restore hope in one another, holding firmly as they navigate the rugged terrain of the unknown and unknowable, and loves lost and found.
Praise for The Woman in the Woods :
"The Woman in the Woods marks the debut of a wise and beautiful voice in American fiction, one that will stand as a powerful new presence in our literary landscape." -Julie Orringer, author of How to Breathe Underwater and The Invisible Bridge
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2011
2 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Ann Joslin Williams
5 books15 followersAnn Joslin Williams is the author of The Woman in the Woods, a collection of linked stories (Eastern Washington University Press, 2007), which won the 2005 Spokane Prize. She earned her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and was a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. She is also the recipient of a 2008 National Endowment for the Arts grant. Her work has appeared Storyquarterly, The Iowa Review, The Missouri Review, Ploughshares, and elsewhere. Her first novel, Down From Cascom Mountain, will be published by Bloomsbury, USA, in spring, 2011. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 16, 2025
Absolutely gorgeous and haunting, characters that now live in my mind with me.
We’re reissuing this book in Spring 2026 🥹🍾👀🏔️🐷
We’re reissuing this book in Spring 2026 🥹🍾👀🏔️🐷
November 26, 2021
So few books are set in New Hampshire, my old haunt and love, and so with much pleasure I picked up this book and it didn’t disappoint.
Mary is back home, up in Cascom Mountain, New Hampshire, after the death of her parents in the mountain home she grew up in. She is high up on the mountain with her new husband Michael when they stop for a moment. As he takes his pack off he loses his balance and in a moment falls to his death.
As a child she had worked the trails and did mountain search and rescues as a teenager. It is this new group of young people who carry her lifeless husband down the mountain. Now alone she finds solace with these people and we get to know the interesting story of many of them and how they intersect with Mary's life as she tries to move forward in her life.
Every book has a different feel to it and a world you enter into. This was one I just loved and always looked forward to entering into. I was sad to leave it as I closed the book for the last time. Recommended reading.
Mary is back home, up in Cascom Mountain, New Hampshire, after the death of her parents in the mountain home she grew up in. She is high up on the mountain with her new husband Michael when they stop for a moment. As he takes his pack off he loses his balance and in a moment falls to his death.
As a child she had worked the trails and did mountain search and rescues as a teenager. It is this new group of young people who carry her lifeless husband down the mountain. Now alone she finds solace with these people and we get to know the interesting story of many of them and how they intersect with Mary's life as she tries to move forward in her life.
Every book has a different feel to it and a world you enter into. This was one I just loved and always looked forward to entering into. I was sad to leave it as I closed the book for the last time. Recommended reading.
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June 13, 2011Article originally published on blogcritics.org.
Down From Cascom Mountain, to be released June 14th by Bloomsbury Publishing, is a haunting character study set in a sparsely populated mountain with a mysterious pull. Mary Walker brings her new husband, Michael to her deceased parents’ vacation home. Her hopes are to recreate with him the home where she felt loved and safe. When tragedy strikes on Cascom Mountain, Mary finds solace with some young people living and working at a resort on the mountain.
Ann Joslin Williams was born in 1958 in Iowa City, where her father, National Book Award winner, Thomas Williams, was teaching at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. To pay homage to his legacy in literature, Ms. Williams set the book in her father’s fictional town of Leah, New Hampshire. Her short story collection, The Woman in the Woods, won the 2005 Spokane Prize for Short Fiction. Down From Cascom Mountain marks her debut in the novel genre.
The book is a study of the self-blame, regret and longing that stem from grief. We give ourselves instructions on how to live life. Then loss hits us and we are blinded. The jumble of emotions the characters experience is a stark contrast to the unshakable mountain where they spend their summer. Rather than despising the mountain where she has suffered multiple losses, Mary instead finds solace there. A notable, well-drawn character is young Tobin, the enigmatic protector of Mary, who struggles to control the strange voices in his head.
Although the characters are complex, the writing is clean and simple, allowing them to tell their stories. A main character is the mountain itself. Is it the healer or the cause of the grief? The reader may wonder why the title is Down From Cascom Mountain since the important elements of the story are up on the mountain. That is a mystery you will solve when you read the book.
Bloomsbury Press graciously provided the review copy for my unbiased opinion.
Down From Cascom Mountain, to be released June 14th by Bloomsbury Publishing, is a haunting character study set in a sparsely populated mountain with a mysterious pull. Mary Walker brings her new husband, Michael to her deceased parents’ vacation home. Her hopes are to recreate with him the home where she felt loved and safe. When tragedy strikes on Cascom Mountain, Mary finds solace with some young people living and working at a resort on the mountain.
Ann Joslin Williams was born in 1958 in Iowa City, where her father, National Book Award winner, Thomas Williams, was teaching at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. To pay homage to his legacy in literature, Ms. Williams set the book in her father’s fictional town of Leah, New Hampshire. Her short story collection, The Woman in the Woods, won the 2005 Spokane Prize for Short Fiction. Down From Cascom Mountain marks her debut in the novel genre.
The book is a study of the self-blame, regret and longing that stem from grief. We give ourselves instructions on how to live life. Then loss hits us and we are blinded. The jumble of emotions the characters experience is a stark contrast to the unshakable mountain where they spend their summer. Rather than despising the mountain where she has suffered multiple losses, Mary instead finds solace there. A notable, well-drawn character is young Tobin, the enigmatic protector of Mary, who struggles to control the strange voices in his head.
Although the characters are complex, the writing is clean and simple, allowing them to tell their stories. A main character is the mountain itself. Is it the healer or the cause of the grief? The reader may wonder why the title is Down From Cascom Mountain since the important elements of the story are up on the mountain. That is a mystery you will solve when you read the book.
Bloomsbury Press graciously provided the review copy for my unbiased opinion.
June 29, 2011
First thoughts after closing this book: I just want to stay here in this moment and think about these characters because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye...I'm still a bit worried for a few of them, but I know they'll be fine.
This book really impacted me and I have to say that I was surprised by how much I cared for the characters in this story. Without even realizing it, Ann Joslin Williams, drew me into their lives and weaved this web from which I could find no way out out. The mountain and the surrounding area that makes up a central part of this book came alive for me. I love the wildness of untouched forests and being one with nature. If you enjoy that type of book this one will sing loudly for you to read it. At first glance you really don't think any of the characters have a single thing in common, but after sitting back and letting myself absorb what I read, I realized that no matter what age, sex, or life experience, grief can be a constant companion for any lost and hurting soul.
Recommendations before reading this book: Take a few minutes and look at some photos of the mountains and terrain in New Hampshire. Make sure that the sun is shining and that you can carve out a big chunk of time to read this book in one sitting. Trust me, once you get into it, you forget where you are and become totally immersed in the rugged beauty of New Hampshire and absolutely involved with the characters lives.
Recommend? Resounding yes! I loved this story...I was drawn into this one and didn't want to put it down until the last page had been turned. I really believe that Williams has a brilliant future in literary fiction!!
Rating: 9/10
July 7, 2011
"Down from Cascom Mountain" is a novel with a promising storyline, but it unfortunately falls a bit short of the mark. The cast of characters span generations and backgrounds. However, few are developed to a point where the reader can truly connect with them. The theme of love and loss is woven deftly throughout the book, to the point where it is difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The pace is slow through the middle third of the book and the ending seems like an attempt to tie up loose ends, rather than finishing the story.
On a positive note, the writing is good. The descriptions of the scenery in rural New Hampshire are beautiful. It is a quick, easy read by a promising new author.
On a positive note, the writing is good. The descriptions of the scenery in rural New Hampshire are beautiful. It is a quick, easy read by a promising new author.
September 11, 2013
Thank you Goodreads First-Reads for this free book I won through your giveaway. Overall I liked the story and the characters. I felt bad for Mary and the tragedy that struck her at such a young age. I felt bad for Callie too with what she had to go through, even though I think she could have made a better choice in the end. At times the story was slow and too descriptive. I did enjoy the New Hampshire mountain setting.
November 4, 2019
I chose this book because I love to hike on small mountains, and don't get to do it as much as I want to, so I thought I would enjoy reading about it. And, I was right.
I sure wish I hadn't read the book flap, which gives away a huge plot point. It's something that happens in the first, IDK, 50 pages, so maybe some wouldn't consider that a spoiler, but it was far enough in that it would have been a big shock if I hadn't already been waiting for it. So, thumbs down to the publisher for taking that away.
I liked how the story was crafted. There was some suspense and some relationship tension, all pretty believable. The characters were believable, too, and pretty complex. They were a good mix of people one likes, and people one dislikes. I think the author did a good job of showing people's inner monologue, and how different people deal with problems in different, but mostly understandable, ways.
I sure wish I hadn't read the book flap, which gives away a huge plot point. It's something that happens in the first, IDK, 50 pages, so maybe some wouldn't consider that a spoiler, but it was far enough in that it would have been a big shock if I hadn't already been waiting for it. So, thumbs down to the publisher for taking that away.
I liked how the story was crafted. There was some suspense and some relationship tension, all pretty believable. The characters were believable, too, and pretty complex. They were a good mix of people one likes, and people one dislikes. I think the author did a good job of showing people's inner monologue, and how different people deal with problems in different, but mostly understandable, ways.
November 9, 2025
Williams' prose is outstanding, lyrical and emotive. The storyline was good and most of the characters were really well done. my only real objection is the overly descriptive and gratuitous sex scenes and people getting naked in public places - they degraded what would have been a wonderful literary work.
February 8, 2023
Great writing style.
June 25, 2011
I'm still trying to decide how I feel about this book. Part of my hesitation is because this isn't the type of book I read regularly, but once in awhile I like to break up my usual with something different. Soooo.... I entered a Goodreads giveaway for this book, and I won it. In the interest of full disclosure, I never would've purchased this book, in paperback or in hardback or even e-book. A free read was the only way I was going to read something that's this far off my usual beaten path.
However, I was intrigued by the Goodreads description of the book and the author, whose father is a best-selling author. The book is actual set in a fictional location in New Hampshire that was originally created by the author's father.
Reading the description of the book on Goodreads, you can tell this is a slow-moving book, one of those stories that just kind of takes a slice of time out of the lives of the characters and exposes it to the reader. No surprise that that's exactly what it is. And it is a beautifully written and carefully woven story. The reader may be drawn slowly into the story, but it's a pleasant experience. It's something like going on the It's a Small World ride at Disneyland. You enjoy it, you have a good time - but it's no Space Mountain and there's no expectation that it be one.
That said, Williams shows us some pretty interesting characters. One of the things I really liked about this story is how Williams slowly gives us more detailed glimpses into the characters as the story progresses. As the story unfolds, so do the characters, bit by bit. We first see Mary as a teenager, seeing a dead boy on the trail and looking for a lost girl on Cascom Mountain, then little Tobin Gough viewed by Mary in the back seat of his mother's car. We get a hint that something's not right with Tobin's mother, but that hint doesn't come into full bloom until much later in the story. The author draws parallels between Mary's experiences as a teenager and the experiences of the teenagers working at the guest lodge on Cascom Mountain. Mary's path once again crosses that of Tobin Gough, who is now a teenager and struggling with the damage caused by his mother and dysfunctional father. I enjoyed the development of Tobin Gough - I actually found him to be the most interesting character in the book and would probably read a followup that is the story of Tobin's life.
I especially liked how Williams handled the death of Mary's husband. It felt very real to me. There was no drama, no big buildup - it happened as I imagine many accidents happen. You know how when you experience an accident, it seems to happen in slow motion? That's how this felt to me. I could just feel the out-of-control, slow-motion spin, but not slow enough for recovery sensation as it happens. Everything that happens after that is discovery and recovery: for Mary, Tobin and the teenagers who work at the guest lodge.
Reading this book for me was like a glimpse of summer in another place and a time long gone, even though it's contemporary. The people on Cascom Mountain seem isolated, even if they're only there temporarily. Everything revolves around the mountain and its wildness. Eventually, everyone gets to move forward a step; they're better, more whole, but not completely. I found that more real than the happily-ever-after type of story, where everyone goes home healed and happy. The characters in this story aren't completely healed, nor are they completely happy. But that's life, right?
When you come down from Cascom Mountain, you may be changed, but the mountain isn't. In the end, you can always go back and find the things that have always been there, and maybe find a few things you didn't know were there, on the mountain and in yourself.
If you like a slow but beautifully woven tale, you'll like this book.
However, I was intrigued by the Goodreads description of the book and the author, whose father is a best-selling author. The book is actual set in a fictional location in New Hampshire that was originally created by the author's father.
Reading the description of the book on Goodreads, you can tell this is a slow-moving book, one of those stories that just kind of takes a slice of time out of the lives of the characters and exposes it to the reader. No surprise that that's exactly what it is. And it is a beautifully written and carefully woven story. The reader may be drawn slowly into the story, but it's a pleasant experience. It's something like going on the It's a Small World ride at Disneyland. You enjoy it, you have a good time - but it's no Space Mountain and there's no expectation that it be one.
That said, Williams shows us some pretty interesting characters. One of the things I really liked about this story is how Williams slowly gives us more detailed glimpses into the characters as the story progresses. As the story unfolds, so do the characters, bit by bit. We first see Mary as a teenager, seeing a dead boy on the trail and looking for a lost girl on Cascom Mountain, then little Tobin Gough viewed by Mary in the back seat of his mother's car. We get a hint that something's not right with Tobin's mother, but that hint doesn't come into full bloom until much later in the story. The author draws parallels between Mary's experiences as a teenager and the experiences of the teenagers working at the guest lodge on Cascom Mountain. Mary's path once again crosses that of Tobin Gough, who is now a teenager and struggling with the damage caused by his mother and dysfunctional father. I enjoyed the development of Tobin Gough - I actually found him to be the most interesting character in the book and would probably read a followup that is the story of Tobin's life.
I especially liked how Williams handled the death of Mary's husband. It felt very real to me. There was no drama, no big buildup - it happened as I imagine many accidents happen. You know how when you experience an accident, it seems to happen in slow motion? That's how this felt to me. I could just feel the out-of-control, slow-motion spin, but not slow enough for recovery sensation as it happens. Everything that happens after that is discovery and recovery: for Mary, Tobin and the teenagers who work at the guest lodge.
Reading this book for me was like a glimpse of summer in another place and a time long gone, even though it's contemporary. The people on Cascom Mountain seem isolated, even if they're only there temporarily. Everything revolves around the mountain and its wildness. Eventually, everyone gets to move forward a step; they're better, more whole, but not completely. I found that more real than the happily-ever-after type of story, where everyone goes home healed and happy. The characters in this story aren't completely healed, nor are they completely happy. But that's life, right?
When you come down from Cascom Mountain, you may be changed, but the mountain isn't. In the end, you can always go back and find the things that have always been there, and maybe find a few things you didn't know were there, on the mountain and in yourself.
If you like a slow but beautifully woven tale, you'll like this book.
May 2, 2013
'It happened in an instant.The pack slipping, his body, twisting and grasping, and then the long fall to the rocks below.In that instant, Mary Walker lost her new husband.He had helped her imagine this dream: a return to the rural New Hampshire of her youth, to stay for the summer, maybe longer, and fix up her late parents' house on Cascom Mountain - to start a family, and re-create the home she loved on this land that shaped her.'
I love any fiction that ties a love story, or a story of relationships, to the land, and it was the cover that inspired me to pick this book up and borrow it from the library. The landscape did not disappoint - and neither did the characters, as they struggled to reconcile the death of one so young, and with so much promise. But I have known young women, passionately in love, who have lost their husbands to sudden death - and I don't know how they managed to create a life for themselves, but they have done - with courage and sometimes laughter, but also the ever present shadow of the partner who has died.
This is a spare, beautifully wrought landscape - dangerous to those who don't know or appreciate the territory. Williams has developed her characters to reflect and at times disguise the interior landscape, of death, and loss, but also, hope.
I love any fiction that ties a love story, or a story of relationships, to the land, and it was the cover that inspired me to pick this book up and borrow it from the library. The landscape did not disappoint - and neither did the characters, as they struggled to reconcile the death of one so young, and with so much promise. But I have known young women, passionately in love, who have lost their husbands to sudden death - and I don't know how they managed to create a life for themselves, but they have done - with courage and sometimes laughter, but also the ever present shadow of the partner who has died.
This is a spare, beautifully wrought landscape - dangerous to those who don't know or appreciate the territory. Williams has developed her characters to reflect and at times disguise the interior landscape, of death, and loss, but also, hope.
May 7, 2016
Very well written book, set in the familiar New Hampshire setting that Ann's father had used for much of his writing. I was so impressed with Thomas William's "The Hair of Harold Roux", that I thought I'd read one of his daughter's books. Not surprisingly, similar styles, although she is a wonderful writer in her own right.
Several sets of characters: the protagonist Mary, the Cough's who live nearby, Mary's in laws, the kids working at the mountain lodge down the road, Ben the forest ranger and others. Each well developed, focusing on various struggles and losses that each have experienced. A secondary "coming of age" theme mirrored Mary's childhood in the region, and the care freeness contrasted with the baggage of the adult characters. However, Ms. Williams does her novel disservice by declining at times into a cheap romance novel, complete with tidbits like: "his erection poked her near her crotch" and "she felt herself grow wet all at once". Way below her level of penmanship. Perhaps her editors felt it necessary for a first book? Otherwise, a very moving novel. I look forward to more novels by Ann as her writing matures.
Several sets of characters: the protagonist Mary, the Cough's who live nearby, Mary's in laws, the kids working at the mountain lodge down the road, Ben the forest ranger and others. Each well developed, focusing on various struggles and losses that each have experienced. A secondary "coming of age" theme mirrored Mary's childhood in the region, and the care freeness contrasted with the baggage of the adult characters. However, Ms. Williams does her novel disservice by declining at times into a cheap romance novel, complete with tidbits like: "his erection poked her near her crotch" and "she felt herself grow wet all at once". Way below her level of penmanship. Perhaps her editors felt it necessary for a first book? Otherwise, a very moving novel. I look forward to more novels by Ann as her writing matures.
July 6, 2011
I received this book from a Goodreads First-Read giveaway. It was a very quick read while I waited to catch a flight last weekend. I found the beginning of the novel quite compelling in its portrayal of a newlywed bride's grief over losing her husband in an accident, but the rest of the story was less satisfying as it explored the camp's other, younger staff and their relationships. I felt that it did successfully handle mental illness in a sensitive, if not entirely explanatory manner (the nature of Tobin's injuries was not, in my opinion, very clear). There were numerous sex scenes that describe the foreplay, but then cut abruptly to "After that" to elide the act itself. I thought that those moments were distracting in their frequency and similarity, even among the different partners. Overall, a decent read.
August 12, 2011
Excellent writing/story. Very detailed multifaceted characters that were easy to relate to. I loved this book. It made me think, laugh and cry. Very moving. I felt connected to each and every character. I was empathetic to their struggles and cheered their triumphs. I literally could not put this book down. I was reading every spare minute available. It was very easy to step right back into the story after taking a break, without having to backtrack and reread anything. There were many sub-stories within the main story and all were easy to follow and keep the book flowing. I loved this book!
August 27, 2011
A nice light read; a summer on a mountain marked with tragedy, romance, teen confusion, an underlying mystery. I like that the location of the story is on a mountain and many of the characters are working at the resort for the summer -- sort of like camp without the kids -- since it is summer. It's nothing profound or intense, just gentle and pleasant.
I'm not a fan of the ending: too many strings neatly tied up in typical American fashion.
I'm not a fan of the ending: too many strings neatly tied up in typical American fashion.
September 24, 2014
An intriguing story that has a few elements of a ghost story. I loved the descriptions of the setting, and I appreciate reading about the range of emotions that the main character experiences in the midst of such grief. This novel does not promise to be one that will long be remembered, but it is very thought-provoking at times and much more thoughtful than so much of the fluff that is published.
May 7, 2013
I had a really difficult time getting through this book; I kept finding myself totally bored and couldn't quite figure out why. I think the characters, for the most part, just did not appeal to me. And descriptions of Mary's grief just went on and on, over and over again. Other story threads got very repetitive as well. Williams' writing is very good, though, and hopefully her next novel will captivate me a bit more.
June 22, 2011
Mary and her husband move back to her childhood home on Cascom Mountain. Shortly after her husband falls from a cliff and Mary finds herself a young widow. She tries to find her way and finds solace in the mountain community.
I have to say that I enjoyed the descriptions of nature more than the storyline.
I have to say that I enjoyed the descriptions of nature more than the storyline.
July 5, 2011
..."Williams gives her characters real, emotional, yet flawed personalities in this beautiful story of love, sudden loss, friendships and salvation."...my full review may be read on my book review blog Rundpinne
October 18, 2011
An intense little book about loss and belonging set in the mountains of New Hampshire. The story resonated for me because of similar summers I'd had working with a crew of young people in these same mountains, forging relationships, experiencing heartbreak, and living in one of the most beautiful, if harsh, environments in New England.
August 22, 2011
What a sad, sad book this was, full of what if's, and what might have been's. Much more of an I survived story then a happily every after. It is very well written, and descriptive, and interesting, but just not a happy, feel good story.
January 28, 2012
Happened upon this at the Frost Library, and so glad I did. Set just south of the White Mountains, Williams creates an exceptional sense of place. Such beautiful exploration of characters'internal lives - sometimes through very subtle cues.
June 15, 2016
I thought this book started a little slow but I liked the way it built and kept me reading. I think this book would be best received by 20 somethings as the majority of the character were teenagers and early 20 yr olds. Average 3 star rating.
Want to read
June 1, 2011I won this book from First Reads. Looks like a good book. Thank you.
June 27, 2011
This is a good book about loss.
April 17, 2014
Made it through chapter 13 but just wasn't into it anymore... Not a bad book, just not my style.
Read
July 9, 2011review coming.
December 28, 2011
Thought this would be better than it turned out to be. Guess it's too hard to read about a spouse dying when I'm enjoying a Christmas vacation!
April 21, 2012
good plot but really didn't care for any of the characters except tobin. didn't look forward to picking the book up
July 18, 2012
Interesting read...dealing with grief and becoming the parent yourself
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews