Wildwood [Paperback]

Drusilla Campbell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2003

In WILDWOOD, Drusilla Campbell delves deeply into the heart of friendship in a highly accomplished novel. It is the story of Hannah, Jeanne and Liz, lifelong friends who are forced to confront the memory of a terrible incident that occurred long ago. It has been thirty years since any of the three woman spoke the words "Bluegang Creek". Something unspeakable happened near that shady steam that shaped their lives - and lurks in the shadows of their darkest hours. Now, Liz can no longer bear the silence. What she is about to bring into the light will test the very limits of friendship - and transport all three women back to that fateful summer day when their innocence was shattered forever.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Long-buried memories of a tragedy in their past silently connect three friends and bring an added dimension to the time-tested theme of the power of female friendship in this vibrant debut novel. After 12-year-old Hannah struggles against the sexual advances of a neighbor and pushes him over a cliff to his death, she and her best friends, Liz and Jeanne, pledge never to reveal what happened. But the secret reverberates throughout each of their lives, causing seemingly unrelated difficulties in their relationships with loved ones. Hannah essentially abandons her own teenagers while volunteering with babies born to crack-addicted mothers. Jeanne subjugates herself to a philandering husband, and Liz persistently puts off commitment until, at 50 and on the verge of an abortion, she comes home to confront her friends and try to exorcise their painful memories. Over one short yet cathartic week, the three gain strength from one another and finally begin to take control of their lives as Campbell perceptively explores the complexities of relationships between different genders and ages in this thoroughly enjoyable read. Deborah Donovan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 294 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; First edition. edition (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758202938
• ISBN-13: 978-0758202932
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #950,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Drusilla Campbell lives in San Diego with her husband, the lawyer-poet-professor, Art Campbell, two rescued dogs and four horses. She was born in Melbourne, Australia and came to California when she was six years old. Before that she criss-crossed the United States by train and car with her brave and resourceful mother and mostly adorable baby brother. She had sailed the Pacific Ocean three times before starting first grade and knew how to run down a pitching outside deck and come to a sliding, slamming stop against a bulkhead, laughing the whole time. She grew up in the Santa Clara Valley in the halcyon days before the dot com magnates discovered it, attended San Jose State University, and then started traveling again. She taught in Melbourne, London and at a remote jungle outpost in Panama before settling down and marrying. While living in Washington, DC she got a Masters Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the American University and went to work for NPR's major DC affiliate, WAMU-fm. She has two sons, Rocky and Matt, and three grandchildren who are smarter, more intelligent and entertaining than anyone elses. The dogs, the horses, the family and friends and writing books keep her happily in one place.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engrossing literary read-- you won't put it down!!!, April 24, 2003

By 

"ksartori" (Mission Viejo, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wildwood (Paperback)

I met Drusilla Campbell recently in California and purchased a signed copy of Wildwood. I was surprised after I read her book, that, by her own admission, she experienced difficulty getting published in the literary genre, since her characterization of three very different women is amazing! Apparently publishers didn't want her to jump from the romance market to the literary genre. I, for one, am glad she persevered and found the right agent to market her book. As a struggling novelist myself, I will study her book further, to improve my own mastery of the literary devices she's used, such as metaphor and simile, as well as her original, lyrical descriptive settings of northern California. She's accomplished many tasks masterfully in Wildwood. She moves the plot at a wonderful clip and manages to write from three different characters' points of view, each woman unique in experiencing her own growth and ephiphany.
I read this novel in two days and was sooooo reluctant to leave the three friends, Hannah, Liz, and Jeanne, when the book ended. It's my hope that Drusilla has other quality literary novels like this in the works!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get ten copies for your book club!, April 17, 2003

By 

Corby (Montesano, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wildwood (Paperback)

My friend brought me this book, said she'd read it all the way through on her flight to see me. I didn't believe her. Then I started reading and found myself unable to stop. I was captivated by all of the characters, saw some of myself in each of the women. I loved that it wasn't predictable, as so many books are now. This is a great book club read - really brings out discussion.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Agreeing with Arthur Waldron!, March 30, 2003

By 

J. G. Butler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wildwood (Paperback)

While it took me fifty pages to get into the book, once I was there, I was hooked. I found myself to be reading through the night, absolutely intent to find out how the now-adult relationship would play out for Liz,Hanna, and Jeanne. It is a new twist on the coming-of-age novel. A twist that all of us who have maintain grade school friendships have or will have to journey through as we enter adulthood. Campbell writes with precision without taking away from the reader's own introspection. Perhaps one of the best Campbell has written and I have read them all!