Sublimity Canyon - by Jules Ohman (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A luminous, beautifully observed novel about the damage we do to the people and places we love, and what it means to begin again in a world forever changed by our actions

"A searing, surprising coming-of-age novel unlike any I've read . . . This is a moving, unforgettable story about hometowns, queer friendship, destruction, and renewal--and what it takes to rebuild a self, a friendship, a family, and ultimately, a world."--Eliana Ramage, author of To the Moon and Back

The great miracle of my life was that no one died.

The Montana canyon where Howell spent their childhood was once a place of refuge, beauty, and possibility. Then, in a single reckless moment, Howell set off a wildfire that consumed millions of acres, changing the landscape forever--and the course of their own life. In the years that followed, Howell became a symbol of environmental destruction, bound by a decade of probation and fifty million dollars in restitution for a mistake that never stopped making headlines.

Now, as that sentence nears its end, Howell stands at the threshold of an adulthood they have spent years yearning for. But time is not the same as absolution. As the past begins to surface in unexpected ways, Howell, like the canyon itself, must reckon with what has been lost, what cannot be restored, and what might yet take root.

Luminous and beautifully observed, Sublimity Canyon examines how we overcome the damage we do to the people and places we love, and what it means to start anew in the aftermath of our worst mistakes.

Review Quotes

"This beautifully written story claimed my heart from the start. Ohman writes about regret and longing with finesse and shows us the power of love that won't let go."--Marie Rutkoski, author of Ordinary Love

"Sublimity Canyon is a searing, surprising coming-of-age novel unlike any I've read. Ohman writes with a wholehearted fearlessness, illuminating both the weight of a terrible mistake and the enduring power of art and nature. This is a moving, unforgettable story about hometowns, queer friendship, destruction, and renewal--and what it takes to rebuild a self, a friendship, a family, and ultimately, a world."--Eliana Ramage, author of To the Moon and Back

"Sublimity Canyon solidifies Ohman as one of the most exciting queer voices writing today, particularly about guilt, shame, and the intoxicating power of forgiveness--for both the self and others. With lyrical precision and overwhelming compassion, Ohman tells the story of a life stalled, a climber stuck in the middle of a route, and what it takes to finally reach for that next hold. This book does the impossible: it is somehow a love letter to nature, a testament to human connection, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of a witch hunt. Consider me wowed."--Mac Crane, author of A Sharp Endless Need

"Sublimity Canyon is a walk through the wilderness of longing, regret, and the flash decisions of youth that haunt us for a lifetime. Set in an American West teeming with beauty and ecological precarity, Ohman deftly explores how the human and natural worlds are intimately, heartbreakingly symbiotic. Come for the landscapes, stay for the chosen family, and leave emboldened by the way love--sexy, queer love--can persist in the face of tremendous uncertainty."--Cecily Wong, author of Diamond Head

About the Author

Jules Ohman is the author of the novels Body Grammar and Sublimity Canyon. Their writing has appeared in Electric Literature, Lit Hub, Buckman Journal, Willow Springs, Camas Magazine, and others. She is currently a visiting professor at the University of Montana and lives with her wife in Missoula.