What Wild Women Do, By Karma Brown | Book Review
As someone who is currently writing a book of self discovery set mostly in the woods, I was very excited to read What Wild Women Do, by Karma Brown.
This book was gifted to me by Penguin Random House, however all opinions are my own.
plot
Meet Rowan, caught in the whirlwind of life with dreams of being a screenwriter. Money's tight, LA feels like a distant memory, and the future is hazy for her and her writer fiancé, Seth. In search of inspiration, they head to a cozy cabin in the Adirondacks, hoping for a plot twist in their own story.
This rustic retreat becomes more than just a backdrop for Seth's novel when Rowan stumbles upon the mysterious tale of Eddie Calloway, a '70s feminist who vanished without a trace. Through a forgotten handbook and the remains of a once-vibrant camp, Rowan discovers Eddie's passion for empowering women and the challenges she faced. Eddie's story is tucked away in a handbook at the remains of a once-grand camp, revealing glimpses into a world of wild dreams and uncharted territories.
As Rowan digs into Eddie's enigma, we're introduced to a fierce and spirited woman, Eddie herself. Her dream? To host women at her camp and let their "wildness" thrive. Yet, not everyone was on board with Eddie's wild ways, and tensions among camp owners threaten to derail her mission.
The deeper Rowan goes into Eddie's disappearance, the more she realizes it might just hold the key to unlocking her own ambitions. Does she really want to play a supporting role in Seth’s YouTube dreams, while her own dreams get pushed aside? It's a journey that takes us from the '70s to the hustle of today, weaving together two women's stories in a tapestry of loss, autonomy, and the pursuit of a better future. Rowan discovers that sometimes, the answers to our own stories are hidden in the tales of others.
Thoughts and discussion (spoilers ahead!)
This was a “can’t put down” book for me. I love books that hop from one timeline to another, so that was an instant plus for me. The descriptions of Camp Callaway and the property were magical, and I could feel myself right there with Eddie’s group of misfits. Getting to hear Rowan’s description of the property, and then Eddie’s as it once was left me feeling nostalgic and sad for Eddie’s dreams for the future of Camp Callaway.
I loved the evolution of Seth and Rowan’s relationship- from things being okay to Rowan realizing that their ideas of the future were vastly different. It was parallel to Eddie’s realization that the life of luxury and privledge was not what she needed anymore. As a parent, reading about Eddie’s memories of her son were simultaneously heartbreaking and wonderful. Having them be reunited one last time in their secret spot was the perfect ending for Eddie’s tragic tale.
As we found out more and more about Eddie’s story, I found myself wishing that Rowan could know everything we were learning too. I wish Eddie had left a diary of some sort behind, so Rowan could have felt even more connected to her story. At the end, I initially wished that Rowan had kept the treasure, as a “from beyond the grave” gift from Eddie, however what she ended up doing with it was even more fitting for the story.
This book is one that will live on my bookshelf for many years to come.