Our Lady of the Forest by David Guterson (2003, Hardcover)

Because I am a devout Roman Catholic, I was given this book as a birthday gift. It was well written with a very intriguing story, however, I found the sexual undertones and the drug use in this book to be quite offensive. The cover photo and name of the book may lead the purchaser to think that it is more of a spiritual read when it is actually something quite different. The book casts more doubt than anything, but still leaves a hint of mystery at the end. After I read it, I gave it away, but not to my usual Catholic Charities thrift shop. I was afraid that some poor misguided soul would buy it, take it home and read it, and have a heart attack.

Ann Holmes, the protagonist, is an itinerant mushroom picker who sees visions of The Virgin Mary. Portrayed as an everyday sinner, she is instructed to build a church in the middle of the forest, and as a result of her visions, a cult following develops that helps bring money into the nearby town that was dying as a result of the recent logging recession.

As in "Snow Falling On Cedars," Guterson's perception of the real person is both interesting and insightful. Not only is Ann's character intriguing, but several others within the story are as well. Guterson's revelations about human tribulations alone make this book worth reading. However, Guterson may have crossed the line by choosing to illustrate his perception into the human emotion using the religious background that he chose. His depiction of the Mary-following cult suggests to the reader that "most" Catholics are eager to follow the newest development without thought of the true faith meaning. A counterbalance to this idea is completely missing in this book. With the exception of the drug-taking antagonist, none of Guterson's characters have a deeply-rooted faith in anything greater than the natural. Even the priest struggles within himself.

Holding Guterson to the high standard that he set for himself with "Snow Falling On Cedars" and his collection of short stories, "The Country Ahead of Us, the Country Behind," "Our Lady of the Forest" does not hold up. At the risk of being overly sensitive, Guterson appears to be jabbing at people of faith in a most subtle manner. Although this is a personal opinion, the book was a valuable read, and each person must form his own opinion about Guterson's analysis of the faith of everyday people.