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The Other

Description:

From the author of the best-selling Snow Falling on Cedars, a dazzling new novel about youth and idealism, adulthood and its compromises, and two powerfully different visions of what it means to live a good life.

John William Barry has inherited the pedigree—and wealth—of two of Seattle’s elite families; Neil Countryman is blue-collar Irish. Nevertheless, when the two boys meet in 1972 at age sixteen, they’re brought together by what they have in common: a fierce intensity and a love of the outdoors that takes them, together and often, into Washington’s remote backcountry, where they must rely on their wits—and each other—to survive.

Soon after graduating from college, Neil sets out on a path that will lead him toward a life as a devoted schoolteacher and family man. But John William makes a radically different choice, dropping out of college and moving deep into the woods, convinced that it is the only way to live without hypocrisy. When John William enlists Neil to help him disappear completely, Neil finds himself drawn into a web of secrets and often agonizing responsibility, deceit, and tragedy—one that will finally break open with a wholly unexpected, life-altering revelation.
Riveting, deeply humane,
The Other is David Guterson’s most brilliant and provocative novel to date.


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best of the Month, June 2008: When John William Barry and Neil Countryman meet at a high school track meet in the early 1970s, they are two sides of the same coin: John is a trust fund baby and student of a prestigious private school while Neil is solidly working class, but they share an affinity for the outdoors and apprehension over impending changes in their lives. After an unintentionally challenging week lost in the wilds of the North Cascades, John is compelled to an ascetic path: life in a remote river valley in the Olympic Peninsula rainforest, where he chips a shelter from a granite wall and immerses himself in the esoterica of Gnostic dualism --a philosophy that holds that the material world is illusional and destructive. Neil meanwhile chooses a traditional path as a father and school teacher, despite his troubled friend's exhortations to eschew "hamburger world" and find truth in a simpler, stripped-down existence. Nothing is that simple, of course, and The Other compellingly explores the compromises we make to balance meaning and security in our lives through the choices (and their subsequent consequences) of these two men. --Jon Foro

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School—Blue-collar Neil Countryman meets Seattle blue-blood John William Barry while running track. The novel opens with a lot of references to 1970s pop culture: television shows such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart, and athletes and celebrities like Steve Prefontaine, Carl Lewis, the Doobie Brothers, and Gerald Ford. Guterson describes Neil and John William's generation as "slightly late for the zeal of the sixties and slightly early for disco." He depicts a 34-year friendship that survives their many differences. It starts out with a shared love of nature, running, and hiking the Olympic Mountains. But as they mature, the men drift in different directions. As the first Countryman to attend college, Neil takes his education seriously and chooses a traditional life. In contrast, John William drops out of school, decries hypocrisy, studies philosophic thought (most notably Gnosticism), and retreats into a life in the Olympic forest, in a bit of a Thoreau-like existence. His mental state is most certainly fragile, likely inherited from his mother. But in spite of their differences, Neil honors their "blood pact," hiking in food, supplies, and companionship, and, most importantly, he honors John William's desire to keep his location a secret. The 1970s setting will hook teens in the opening, and the lyrical description of the Olympic Mountains forest will keep them reading. The biggest draw, however, will be the themes of friendship and loyalty, and how they survive through the years.—Paula Dacker, Charter Oak High School, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing clarity on the value of fathers and a life of purpose

D.B. · July 7, 2013

While this book lacks the plot and historical analysis of the outstanding Snow Falling on Cedars, it has something much more powerful: a clear case for the value of ordinary, loving parents--fathers in particular--and a sense of purpose in living one's life. I may be responding to this work through the prism of my own struggles: like Neil Countryman I am the child of a blue-collar father and a resident of the Pacific Northwest. I identify with his work ethic because in the same era I waited tables and sold clothes for tuition money while kids with financial aid packages bought stereos and lots of the aforementioned clothes. And much like Neil Countryman, I learned that those advantages meant little when compared to the advantages of strong parents and determination.Neil's obsession with great literature and poetry fills for him the role of a spiritual center while John William's fascination with the Gnostics does little to address the gaping holes in his soul. Their mutual love for the wilderness gives them a way to connect, but their obvious love for one another provides them both with anchors that don't quite keep them moored to satisfaction. It's easy to wonder what could have soothed the frantic colic of the adult John William, what could have answered the perpetual questions of Neil Countryman after John William's death.My one quibble with the book was the gross "Whole-Foods-ization" of Neil in the form of precious foodstuffs. I'd have appreciated seeing Neil saunter down to Ivar's, order a 4-piece, and toss the fries to the seagulls. Had Neil remained a bit truer to his roots when living in the city, I'd have probably liked this even more than Snow Falling on Cedars.

4.0 out of 5 stars Rich and sumptuous

B.W. · November 14, 2011

I just finished David Guterson's novel "The Other". The book is set in the Northwest; on the Olympic Peninsula, in Oregon and Seattle. I thought it was a wonderful book. In the Sunday NY Times Book Review, Bruce Barcott wrote, "...his recollections of life in Seattle have a wonderful richness and texture." I'd say the same about Guterson's descriptions of the Hoh River Valley. Some sentences are long and some paragraphs go on for a page or more, but like the beauty of the Hoh Rainforest itself, Guterson's writing is quiet and timeless. This novel is a sumptuous character study of two boys on the edge of manhood and the differences of their youthful dreams. And it's also reminder of how beautiful is our corner of the world.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best of Guterson's otherwise excellent books

W. · January 4, 2019

I first came across David Guterson's works, like so many, by reading "Snow Failling on Cedars". I've lived in the Seattle area since 1992, and particularly enjoy novels set in places that I know that envelope the scenery, culture and history into the story. My other favorite books are "East of the Mountains", "Ed King" and "Our Lady of the Forest". I've read all of his other published works as well, but I don't particularly find this book engaging. Well-written, yes.The theme is the question between living a life of purity and one of compromise, but the life of purity has a shadow of selfishness and worthlessness, while the life of compromise offers a richer and more meaningful existence on a human level, let alone a material one. And so the book poses this question, and never quite works it out, but shows many sides to the choice. It is an interesting philosophical question that many people grapple with in their late teens and early 20's, and the interesting way in which Guterson explores the question through the novel is, well, novel. Well written, interesting question, written in a place that I love that is evocatively brought to life; why, then, did it leave me unsatisfied? I don't really know. I've asked myself, and my best explanation is that I have already faced and answered the question long ago, and so it doesn't personally connect with me as the theme in "East of the Mountains" does now that I am growing much older. If you have not thought much about this question, you may find this novel to be one of your favorites, but for me, in the end, it did not grab my heart or my mind.

5.0 out of 5 stars So Authentic

B. · March 1, 2025

I kept checking to see if this was an autobiography. Incredible detailed writing. David pulls you in and you don't even know until your world falls away and you beside the characters in his book.

Five Stars

j.M. · July 8, 2016

Always enjoy this author. Great stuff

Wer "Into the Wild" von J. Krakauer mochte, wird auch diesen Roman mögen

N. · July 18, 2013

Die Geschichte einer Freundschaft zwischen zwei sehr ungleichen Männern, von denen der eine sich zunehmend aus dem alltäglichen Leben und der Realität verabschiedet.Sehr gut beobachtet und - wie alles von David Guterson - wunderbar geschrieben.

Four Stars

M. · October 16, 2016

Classic Guterson! After a fairly slow start,I very soon became engrossed. One not to be missed!

Complicated

C.L. · November 9, 2013

I loved Snow falling over cedar springs so decided to try more of David guterson's books but this one seemed just so complicated. I will persevere with this author as his research is so good

Ein Buch das man nicht vergisst

B.W. · May 2, 2019

Eine sehr besondere Geschichte, toll geschrieben und berührend

The Other

Product ID: U0307263150
Condition: New

3.8

AED7549

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Hardcover
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

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Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

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The Other

Product ID: U0307263150
Condition: New

3.8

The Other-0
Type: Hardcover

AED7549

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

Returns & Warranty policies

Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.

While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

From the author of the best-selling Snow Falling on Cedars, a dazzling new novel about youth and idealism, adulthood and its compromises, and two powerfully different visions of what it means to live a good life.

John William Barry has inherited the pedigree—and wealth—of two of Seattle’s elite families; Neil Countryman is blue-collar Irish. Nevertheless, when the two boys meet in 1972 at age sixteen, they’re brought together by what they have in common: a fierce intensity and a love of the outdoors that takes them, together and often, into Washington’s remote backcountry, where they must rely on their wits—and each other—to survive.

Soon after graduating from college, Neil sets out on a path that will lead him toward a life as a devoted schoolteacher and family man. But John William makes a radically different choice, dropping out of college and moving deep into the woods, convinced that it is the only way to live without hypocrisy. When John William enlists Neil to help him disappear completely, Neil finds himself drawn into a web of secrets and often agonizing responsibility, deceit, and tragedy—one that will finally break open with a wholly unexpected, life-altering revelation.
Riveting, deeply humane,
The Other is David Guterson’s most brilliant and provocative novel to date.


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best of the Month, June 2008: When John William Barry and Neil Countryman meet at a high school track meet in the early 1970s, they are two sides of the same coin: John is a trust fund baby and student of a prestigious private school while Neil is solidly working class, but they share an affinity for the outdoors and apprehension over impending changes in their lives. After an unintentionally challenging week lost in the wilds of the North Cascades, John is compelled to an ascetic path: life in a remote river valley in the Olympic Peninsula rainforest, where he chips a shelter from a granite wall and immerses himself in the esoterica of Gnostic dualism --a philosophy that holds that the material world is illusional and destructive. Neil meanwhile chooses a traditional path as a father and school teacher, despite his troubled friend's exhortations to eschew "hamburger world" and find truth in a simpler, stripped-down existence. Nothing is that simple, of course, and The Other compellingly explores the compromises we make to balance meaning and security in our lives through the choices (and their subsequent consequences) of these two men. --Jon Foro

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School—Blue-collar Neil Countryman meets Seattle blue-blood John William Barry while running track. The novel opens with a lot of references to 1970s pop culture: television shows such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart, and athletes and celebrities like Steve Prefontaine, Carl Lewis, the Doobie Brothers, and Gerald Ford. Guterson describes Neil and John William's generation as "slightly late for the zeal of the sixties and slightly early for disco." He depicts a 34-year friendship that survives their many differences. It starts out with a shared love of nature, running, and hiking the Olympic Mountains. But as they mature, the men drift in different directions. As the first Countryman to attend college, Neil takes his education seriously and chooses a traditional life. In contrast, John William drops out of school, decries hypocrisy, studies philosophic thought (most notably Gnosticism), and retreats into a life in the Olympic forest, in a bit of a Thoreau-like existence. His mental state is most certainly fragile, likely inherited from his mother. But in spite of their differences, Neil honors their "blood pact," hiking in food, supplies, and companionship, and, most importantly, he honors John William's desire to keep his location a secret. The 1970s setting will hook teens in the opening, and the lyrical description of the Olympic Mountains forest will keep them reading. The biggest draw, however, will be the themes of friendship and loyalty, and how they survive through the years.—Paula Dacker, Charter Oak High School, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing clarity on the value of fathers and a life of purpose

D.B. · July 7, 2013

While this book lacks the plot and historical analysis of the outstanding Snow Falling on Cedars, it has something much more powerful: a clear case for the value of ordinary, loving parents--fathers in particular--and a sense of purpose in living one's life. I may be responding to this work through the prism of my own struggles: like Neil Countryman I am the child of a blue-collar father and a resident of the Pacific Northwest. I identify with his work ethic because in the same era I waited tables and sold clothes for tuition money while kids with financial aid packages bought stereos and lots of the aforementioned clothes. And much like Neil Countryman, I learned that those advantages meant little when compared to the advantages of strong parents and determination.Neil's obsession with great literature and poetry fills for him the role of a spiritual center while John William's fascination with the Gnostics does little to address the gaping holes in his soul. Their mutual love for the wilderness gives them a way to connect, but their obvious love for one another provides them both with anchors that don't quite keep them moored to satisfaction. It's easy to wonder what could have soothed the frantic colic of the adult John William, what could have answered the perpetual questions of Neil Countryman after John William's death.My one quibble with the book was the gross "Whole-Foods-ization" of Neil in the form of precious foodstuffs. I'd have appreciated seeing Neil saunter down to Ivar's, order a 4-piece, and toss the fries to the seagulls. Had Neil remained a bit truer to his roots when living in the city, I'd have probably liked this even more than Snow Falling on Cedars.

4.0 out of 5 stars Rich and sumptuous

B.W. · November 14, 2011

I just finished David Guterson's novel "The Other". The book is set in the Northwest; on the Olympic Peninsula, in Oregon and Seattle. I thought it was a wonderful book. In the Sunday NY Times Book Review, Bruce Barcott wrote, "...his recollections of life in Seattle have a wonderful richness and texture." I'd say the same about Guterson's descriptions of the Hoh River Valley. Some sentences are long and some paragraphs go on for a page or more, but like the beauty of the Hoh Rainforest itself, Guterson's writing is quiet and timeless. This novel is a sumptuous character study of two boys on the edge of manhood and the differences of their youthful dreams. And it's also reminder of how beautiful is our corner of the world.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best of Guterson's otherwise excellent books

W. · January 4, 2019

I first came across David Guterson's works, like so many, by reading "Snow Failling on Cedars". I've lived in the Seattle area since 1992, and particularly enjoy novels set in places that I know that envelope the scenery, culture and history into the story. My other favorite books are "East of the Mountains", "Ed King" and "Our Lady of the Forest". I've read all of his other published works as well, but I don't particularly find this book engaging. Well-written, yes.The theme is the question between living a life of purity and one of compromise, but the life of purity has a shadow of selfishness and worthlessness, while the life of compromise offers a richer and more meaningful existence on a human level, let alone a material one. And so the book poses this question, and never quite works it out, but shows many sides to the choice. It is an interesting philosophical question that many people grapple with in their late teens and early 20's, and the interesting way in which Guterson explores the question through the novel is, well, novel. Well written, interesting question, written in a place that I love that is evocatively brought to life; why, then, did it leave me unsatisfied? I don't really know. I've asked myself, and my best explanation is that I have already faced and answered the question long ago, and so it doesn't personally connect with me as the theme in "East of the Mountains" does now that I am growing much older. If you have not thought much about this question, you may find this novel to be one of your favorites, but for me, in the end, it did not grab my heart or my mind.

5.0 out of 5 stars So Authentic

B. · March 1, 2025

I kept checking to see if this was an autobiography. Incredible detailed writing. David pulls you in and you don't even know until your world falls away and you beside the characters in his book.

Five Stars

j.M. · July 8, 2016

Always enjoy this author. Great stuff

Wer "Into the Wild" von J. Krakauer mochte, wird auch diesen Roman mögen

N. · July 18, 2013

Die Geschichte einer Freundschaft zwischen zwei sehr ungleichen Männern, von denen der eine sich zunehmend aus dem alltäglichen Leben und der Realität verabschiedet.Sehr gut beobachtet und - wie alles von David Guterson - wunderbar geschrieben.

Four Stars

M. · October 16, 2016

Classic Guterson! After a fairly slow start,I very soon became engrossed. One not to be missed!

Complicated

C.L. · November 9, 2013

I loved Snow falling over cedar springs so decided to try more of David guterson's books but this one seemed just so complicated. I will persevere with this author as his research is so good

Ein Buch das man nicht vergisst

B.W. · May 2, 2019

Eine sehr besondere Geschichte, toll geschrieben und berührend

More from this brand

Similar items from “Metaphysical & Visionary”