The Bear by Andrew Krivak
Reviewed By: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
Genre: Science Fiction/Post-Apocalyptic
Suggested Age: Adults, Teens
What is This Book About? Father and daughter live in the wilderness alone. They are unnamed. They hunt, fish, and forage to survive in a world where humans seem to be almost extinct. We never quite learn what caused this apocalypse, whether it was a pandemic, war, or climate disaster. But, it has been a few generations since more humans were around. There are some artifacts that the father and daughter find, such as a mirror, books, and a comb–remnants of a past they have little or no connection with. Survival is key, so the father tries to pass on all his knowledge to his daughter before they run out of time together.
My Review: The Bear is a beautifully written novella that illustrates the transience of humanity’s time on Earth versus the eternity of nature. Earth is better off without the influence of humans seeking to forever dominate and triumph over the natural world. Survivors learn to communicate with animals and all living things in a way that has been forgotten over the ages. Rather than bleak and depressing like other post-apocalyptic fiction, this novella is melancholy but hopeful at the end. Krivak’s writing style is reminiscent of Hemingway’s minimalism, with lovely descriptions of the natural world, love, and loss. The ending reminded me of one of Sara Teasdale’s lines of poetry which reads, “Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, If mankind perished utterly; And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn, Would scarcely know that we were gone.” Written during the first world war, this poem echoes the same sentiment that Krivak explores in The Bear.
Three Words that Describe this Book: Melancholy, Journey, Survival
Give This A Try if You Like… The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Z for Zacariah by Robert C. O’Brien, Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
Rating: 4/5
