The Divide

by Nicholas Evans

Book Overview

A woman wanted for murder and acts of terrorism is found embedded in ice in the backcountry. What trail of events led the once joyous, golden child of a loving family so tragically astray? And how did... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451219295
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Signet
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 1.3" x 4.5"

Customer Reviews

Great story - bittersweet ending

This was my first book by Nicholas Evans. I know he is an acclaimed author and have seen the "Horse Whisperer" movie. It was the blurb on the book jacket that intrigued me. After I read a few chapters I wasn't sure I wanted to read the rest. I have a daughter that has been missing for 20 years under similar circumstances, and this book really was touching me to the core. But I read on. Contrary to other reviewers opinions, I think the characters are very believeable. These tragedies do happen to families, good families. Good marriages fall apart for complex reasons. Abbie reacted to her parent's breakup in a very real way. When her world changed she became very insecure and vulnerable to causes and people that gave her a purpose, even if they were wrong. And yes, even kids from good homes and good parents are capable of making grave mistakes that change their lives forever. I liked Evan's style of writing the ending first, and then backtracking to develop the plot. We know right from the start that Abbie is dead, but we need to know how it all came to be. The story is both compelling and so very tragic. Evan's is a good writer and I plan to read more of his books. Give "The Divide" a chance. You won't be sorry.

A powerful, interesting and emotional look at marriage and the differences between men and women

Nicholas Evans's new book, THE DIVIDE, may turn out to be one of my favorite books of the year. The story is that of the Cooper family --- Ben, Sarah, Abbie and Josh --- who start out as a typically happy middle class family, until a series of events tears them apart. The title has a dual meaning. In addition to being the name of the ranch where the Coopers visited for two weeks each summer, the book's title also represents the divide between men and women, which is portrayed in the unraveling of the Cooper family's marriage. The lives of their loved ones are torn apart by this separation, which in turn leads to the more devastating destruction of their daughter, Abbie. At the start of the novel, two skiers find the body of a young woman embedded in the ice of a remote mountain creek. The police work throughout the night to dig her out. She is later identified as Abbie Cooper, who was wanted by the FBI for murder and acts of eco-terrorism. The book then proceeds to tell the story of Abbie's family, beginning with Ben and Sarah, their courtship and eventual union. Ben, who has been unhappy for a long time, knows his love for Sarah is not enough to keep the marriage going and therefore announces his decision to leave the family. The "catalyst," as Ben tells Sarah, is Eve, a lovely woman whom they had met at the Divide the last year they vacationed there. While at first Eve was sought out as a friend, she is now the enemy. Ben's wife and children react a lot more unfavorably than he had anticipated, and each handles his or her grief in slightly different ways. Sarah grows angry and resentful, while son Josh becomes distant. Abbie, who was Ben's favorite, turns her anger toward her father into something destructive and exhibits behavior that is out of control. The year of her parents' separation, Abbie begins her freshman year at a college in Montana (against their wishes) and finds her interests focused on groups that lead radical protests at major political events. But when she meets a man introduced to her as Rolf, Abbie's life takes an even more dangerous turn as she becomes involved in his treacherous attempts to bring attention to his causes, burning down buildings for the sake of his beliefs. THE DIVIDE tells two stories --- the breakdown of a marriage, and the destruction of a young girl full of promise. Abbie's story is heartbreaking and tragic, which will prompt readers to ask themselves, "Whose fault is this?" While the bulk of the novel is told in flashbacks, Evans does allow his characters to resolve their issues, giving closure to the mystery of Abbie's death, as well as resolution to Ben and Sarah's relationship. Like the authors' previous work --- THE HORSE WHISPERER, THE SMOKE JUMPER and THE LOOP --- much of the story is set in Montana, which Evans describes beautifully. In the opening pages readers can see, and feel, the setting. This continues throughout the pages and there are times where the landscape almost becomes a char

Hope We Don't Have to Wait 4 More Years for More!

You know how so many authors write a fantastic first novel but seem to loose something along the way? How subsequent books never quite live up to that first one? I'm happy to say, this is not the case with Evans. I'll be honest.... I've never read the HORSE WHISPERER. I own it and have seen the movie several times, but after making many promises (to myself) to read it, for one reason or another, I just haven't gotten around to it (I did start it a long time ago & have read bits & pieces to compare it to the movie - I do know that the book has an entirely different ending!). Even tho I've never read HORSE WHISPERER cover to cover, I do know that Nicholas Evans is a fantastic author & THE HORSE WHISPERER is considered by most to be his best piece of work. I did read his last novel, SMOKE JUMPER (HC release 2001). I loved that book, thought it was extremely well written and looked forward to reading future novels from this author. Once I heard a release date was set for THE DIVIDE, I added it to my Wishlist & counted down the days to its release. SMOKE JUMPER is ranked among my favorite novels and after reading it, Evans became one of my favorite authors. I'm happy to say, THE DIVIDE did not disappoint me & has solidified Evans' place among my favorite authors. When I first read the summary of this book, I wasn't entirely sure it was going to be my "cup of tea." Even after I started reading the first chapter or so - it seemed like it was very slow going, and I had a feeling I would be putting it away in order to read another book. Thankfully, I stuck it out, and once the story got going, I found it very hard to put it down. Evans devotes a lot of time & attention to each of the main character's backgrounds, and by the time I finished reading it, I felt as if I personally knew each one of them. The book was an extremely emotional read, which builds with each chapter and ends on a very powerful note. I don't think any other (fictional) book I've ever read left me with the same types of feeling and emotion I had once I finished this book. Having raised my own teenage daughter & a younger son, I could easily identify with Benjamin & Sarah in so many ways. Mistakes are made, regrets are had, and the extremes they go to protect their children will leave many parents asking themselves what they might do if found in a similar situation. The many emotions and roller coaster rides that parents experience are explored in great detail, but what is evident in every chapter, on every page is the love they share for their children, and even at the worst of times, each other. This is definitely not considered a "lightweight" read, and will possibly exhaust some readers emotionally. This could have been the headline story taken from the front page of any current US newspaper. I think it's entirely worth the journey however, and I'm so grateful that Evans decided to tell a story like this. If I have any complaints about

Addictive, tender, moving - a bitingly contemporary tale.

What is it that divides a man from a woman, a parent from a child, an environmentalist from an eco-terrorist? What makes us whole and what has to give when that wholeness is shattered? Nicholas Evans plots with a poet's pen. His book is addictive; both a thriller and a tender exploration of love and family. It delves into the impossible places, where remaining true to yourself can be at odds with all other obligations. This is a bitingly contemporary tale, full of laughter and beauty, lightness and sorrow. It's definitely Evans' best yet. The characters of the Divide slowly creep up on you. They endear you, engage you, surprise you, make you giggle. Put down this book and you feel enhanced by them -they've become your friends. And it's in this context that Evans performs his magic. For the horror that emerges, emerges largely from his character's love and good will, not their hate or innate evil. In this book, reacting to injustice can poison you, and reacting to your heart can poison others, yet both instincts define us as civilized, caring beings. It isn't easy, bridging the divide: Evans has made a work of art out of it.