BookBrowse Reviews This Other Eden by Paul Harding

BookBrowse:

Based on real events, Paul Harding's This Other Eden narrates the destruction of a mixed-race community in early 20th-century Maine.

Our First Impressions readers were fascinated by Pulitzer-Prize winning author Paul Harding's historical novel This Other Eden, with 23 out of 28 reviewers rating it four or five stars.

What it's about:

Some of the most wrenching novels are based on fact, and so it is here: this novel is inspired by the forced resettlement of the mixed-race population of a small island community in Maine at the start of the 20th century.

For craven eugenicists and greedy politicians and developers, Apple Island is a cauldron of sin. The island consists of those considered perverse: incestuous siblings and their mentally impaired children, a righteous Civil War veteran named Zachary Hand to God Proverbs who lives in a hollowed tree, the formerly enslaved Benjamin Honey and his Irish-born wife with their children of various skin colors, and so on. Of course, things are bound to head south when a well-meaning Christian schoolteacher-turned-missionary decides to better the lot of the island's children — particularly if that missionary feels a visceral repulsion toward Black people.

This Other Eden echoes themes and events that humanity grapples with to this day. Must those who are different and misunderstood be considered "less than" and be deprived of dignity and community? Will intolerance always reign? (Jill S).

Some readers noted that This Other Eden was their first exposure to the real-life story of Malaga Island.

What happens to the people of Apple Island is based on events that took place on Malaga Island in Maine in 1912 (see Beyond the Book). I knew nothing of this shameful and ignored history. This book was a catalyst for me to research the setting (Catherine H). This is an outstanding work of historical fiction, so beautifully written, but also, sometimes painful to read. I had never heard of Malaga Island off the coast of Maine, and how it fit in with America's ongoing history of racism, intolerance and injustice before reading Paul Harding's latest novel (Kathrin C).

Readers were profoundly moved by Harding's depiction of the people of Apple Island.

This book blew me away. It is such an intimate tale about people who want to be left to themselves — a small group of social outcasts in every sense of the word, except among themselves. With each other, they are a community. Gorgeously written and terribly sad — I know that doesn't make you want to read the book, but do! This is worth it (Nicole S). The resilience, faith and perseverance of the families living on Apple Island are at once heartbreaking and inspiring. Harding's lyrical prose brings the characters and the island they inhabit to vivid life, transporting the reader right into the hearts and minds of the families (Nancy M).

While challenging in some ways, readers felt the book was profoundly worthwhile.

Gracefully written in magisterial and poetic language, Apple Island itself becomes a fully developed character. Despite its slimness (a bit over 200 pages), the book demands concentration and focus but the rewards are abundant (Jill S). It is not an easy story to read, and many parts are shocking, but the narrative voice treats the main characters with respect and gentleness. I was swept into its time and location, and found myself caring deeply about the residents of Apple Island. There's so much depth in theme, richness in detail and beautiful prose to savor that I have no qualms in calling it a masterpiece (Joan R). Author Paul Harding is a master of his craft. The writing is simply sublime, even though it is not my typical favorite style. Long paragraphs, little dialogue, much description, and yet, I could not put this short book down. I became invested in the lives of every person living on Apple Island (Laurie M).

It was also deemed a good potential book club selection.

This remarkable, understated, luminous novel is well worth reading. Given the issues Harding explores, it would make an outstanding book club selection (Eileen C). It touches on many contemporary topics like prejudice, cruelty, interdependence and family. It illuminates and educates, both lovingly and with the cold "science" of eugenics. It has much meat for discussion and examination for book clubs, for families, for those who are wondering how we got where we are and where we might go from here (Susan S). The book highlights tragedy bred by prejudice, and brilliance found in unexpected places. Book clubs will find weighty topics for discussion (Marian Y).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in April 2023, and has been updated for the December 2023 edition. Click here to go to this issue.