Sorrowland is a big fat hit. Why? Sorrowland contains beautiful and fantastical imagery of nature, especially fungi, which as a tangent is my favourite topic typically when discussing nature so this book gets bonus points for incorporating a subject I already love, but the novel does not contain only beautiful imagery, it also contains Vern's metamorphosis and what it means for the future. I found this to be a powerful novel with ample symbolism and so much, so so much subtext which creates a deeper novel if you decide to look.

Many people did not enjoy Sorrowland. I read other people's views on it and a majority alluded to the fact the descriptions of fungi and incorporation of nature were dull but to me, that is what drew me in and is why I loved reading this. So, this leads to the point I make with all novels I review, how you respond is your own prerogative but I think this is a good novel to take a chance on and read.

I cannot review the plot without giving it away. The plot revolves around fighting, surviving, and nature. The nature aspect is phenomenal and as a personal adorer of fungi, such a joy to experience as a core component of plot and character growth.

The story is about Vern, an escapee from the commune, Cainland, who is raising her two children in the woods. Vern is young, fifteen years to be exact, and filled with determination and tenacity. I mean, she lives in the woods with her kids and is herself a child?

As she transforms within the confines of the trees, she becomes something more than your imagination can conjure to become a wonderful character that is flawed but powerful. A character to devour along with all the supporting ones.

The ending encapsulates the whole vibe of the novel and is freeing. I found this to be a fantastic read that will only grow on you as you continue with an ending worth your time.

Sorrowland is a wonderful novel. As someone who can see themselves becoming a mycologist in the future and has extensively studied fungi, the incorporation of it as a life element brought me joy inside. How the concept of the earth being more than we are, I feel that whenever I am outside. When we die, when we ruin the earth and then live live's like in Wallee, the earth will return to its natural state. It is an entity of its own and one of my favourite entity's is fungi and the accuracy of it within the novel whilst incorporating a fantastical nature regarding it, I died inside with joy.

This novel contains fantastical imagery enhanced personally due to my love of nature and fungi. The cover is gorgeous and as I am writing this, I CANNOT BELIEVE I DID NOT NOTICE THE WOOD WAS A HAND!!!! I thought it was a tree stump... the cover is now 100% cooler.

Despite my love for fungi, I do feel this novel could have benefited from more clarity. This is a visual novel but at certain points, I feel the story could have benefited from more telling than showing to assist the reader along. Apart from craving a bit more clarity, this novel could have not given me anything more. It is a novel that if you peel back the layers, one layer if that, just a scratch really, depicts the struggles and past of the United States and how at the end of the day, the only winner will be nature. Sorrowland is a great novel and one I recommend.

To leave you with my favourite quote from it: "I like the woods," she said. "In them, the possibilities seem endless. They are where wild things are, and I like to think the wild things always win."