East of the Mountains

By: David Guterson

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the award-winning, bestselling author of Snow Falling on Cedars comes ”a strikingly joyful book and a monumental achievement” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) about a dying man’s final journey through the American West.

When he discovers that he has terminal cancer, retired heart surgeon Ben Givens refuses to simply sit back and wait. Instead he takes his two beloved dogs and goes on a last hunt, determined to end his life on his own terms. But as the people he meets and the memories over which he lingers remind him of the mystery of life’s endurance, his trek into the American West becomes much more than a final journey.

©1999 David Guterson (P)1999 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The shape is elegant, the tone is perfectly controlled, almost cool, and Guterson’s prose shines with [a] taut polish. . . .[He] is a craftsman with a sense of literary history, one of the most serious and accomplished young American writers.” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Profound and ambitious. . . . Guterson depicts . . . moral and spiritual struggle with a clear-eyed intensity and intelligence that gives East of the Mountains its essential authority.” —Chicago Tribune

“In describing the world of a dying man, Guterson invokes the ultimate book of suffering–then, to his great credit, offers it here as a consolation rather than despair.” –The Boston Sunday Globe

Pleasant story

Life doesn't always go the way you plan. This entertained us on a road trip. Our father was in the 10th Mountain Division and learned to ski at Camp Hale outside of Leadville, Colorado. Skiing was a life-long passion. I didn't realize that that would be part of the story of this doctor but it added something for me. It goes back and forth from present day to WWII for the backstory. It's nothing special but friends who read it in their book group liked it so I decided to give it a listen.

Wonderful book - very moving story.

I don't read (or listen to) many works of fiction. Non-fiction is usually my first choice. But I love this narrator and this book was just wonderful. The references to WWII and the way the story moved back and forth with ease between present day and the main character's memories as a young man made it such an interesting and heart warming story. Clearly well-researched, the book kept me up late at night because I didn't want to stop listening. As a daughter, I was often left thinking about how my own dad might react to a diagnosis of cancer. This story has some sad moments but I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Well written and beautifully read.

Although I was a bit put off by the premise of a dying man going off to commit suicide in the mountains (sounds depressing, doesn't it?) I continued listening because the writing and reading were so good. I am very glad that I stuck with it. The story spirals marvelously from despair to redemption, and Herrmann's voice enhances the richness of the writing.