The plot follows a man named Dan, who awaits his brother's escape from a mysterious, torturous mountain. He lives in a village that is slowly dwindling along with a few other people who have yet to "move east." When two girls appear, one from the mountain and one from the East, the residents begin to recover memories, all of sad moments with connections to Dan's brother. Dan must decide whether to let his own guilt go and move onward or to venture back into the mountain he came from to attempt to rescue his brother.
It's a beautifully told tale that feels like one large allegory filled with lots of deep meaning to unpack, but, ultimately, I felt like there were too many questions left open. Who the mysterious girls really are and why they came is never fully explained. Smucker takes his time getting around to why this world feels both modern (in memories) and apocalyptic (in the book's reality). When the mystery of why these people are forgetting and remembering things and where they actually are is revealed, it feels like a quick revelation lacking impact.
In the end, while I really enjoyed Smucker's storytelling, I left feeling like I was missing something, asking "What was the point?" I could tell there was supposed to be some important takeaway, but I just couldn't make out what it was.
*Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
