Above the Fire - by Michael O'Donnell (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An enthralling debut, Above the Fire crystallizes the relationship between a father and son as they survive a winter of isolation. Perfect for fans of The Dog Stars by Peter Heller and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Laboring under a shared loss, Doug and his young son, Tim, set out on a late-season backpacking trip through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They find beauty and solidarity in the outdoors, making friends along the trail and falling into the rhythms of an expedition. But when reports of warfare and social collapse reach the ranger station, Doug--seeking to protect the only family he has left--withdraws even further into the backcountry.

The alpine winter presents its own dangers, as father and son must endure the elements, the solitude, and the ever-present threat of outsiders. As their isolation intensifies, and the nature of the country's disorder becomes more unsettling, their bond with each other grows more fierce. But as spring approaches, they must decide whether--and how--to confront the perils of a changed world.

Review Quotes

"Above the Fire is a quiet, thrilling, profound book. Set against the backdrop of catastrophe, it is a meditation on fatherhood, love, resilience, and loss. I cannot recommend it highly enough."

-- "Jon Fasman, author of The Geographer's Library and The Unpossessed City"

"Above the Fire is a timely and tense novel about a loving father forced to prepare his son for a cold and uncertain world. With his terrific debut, O'Donnell invents the counterpart to the 'summer beach read'--call it the 'winter cabin fever read'--and his careful prose thrusts the reader into a worst-case scenario where every choice could mean life or death."

-- "Kevin Guilfoile, screenwriter and author of Cast of Shadows and The Thousand"

"A bleak yet beautiful portrait of a world in crisis...The stakes feel incredibly real."

-- "Apple Books"

"A captivating read, and one that's hard not to race through. Do yourself a favor, though. Take your time and savor every moment. This is a wonderful book."

-- "Washington Independent Review of Books"

"A prescient, timely novel of sacrifice and consequence, O'Donnell's debut soars as a modern survival tale full of timeless, biting prose. Fireside reading with a pulse, Above the Fire commands attention and satiates the appetite for a unique plot that honors a classic dilemma. A triumph."

-- "Ross Ritchell, author of The Knife"

"A tenderly wrought father-son novel...ripe for book-club discussion, a solid read for anyone who appreciates the stark beauty of New England woods."

-- "Boston Globe"

"A terse, well-paced story that effectively blends the elements of a classic nature adventure tale with a touching portrait of the loving relationship between a parent and child."

-- "Shelf Awareness (starred review)"

"An extraordinary national disaster becomes a journey of bonding and healing for a father and son wounded by loss, in a work that is surprisingly tender given the terrifying adversity its main characters face."

-- "Library Journal"

"An utterly gripping debut novel about humans surmounting threats both external and emotional."

-- "Booklist (starred review)"

"At once fierce and touching, Above the Fire is a powerful story of parenthood and grief, nature and civilization, and the raw essentials of life."

-- "A. D. Miller, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of Snowdrops"

"Robert Fass captures the natural interplay between a father and son during an emotional struggle for survival...A subtly mesmerizing listen with a stellar performance grounded in the rhythms of human discourse."

-- "AudioFile"