“The inside of the tree felt private. He felt they would never be discovered here. The walls surrounding them were glossy and golden. It was surprising how much green-tinted light entered from the cedar forest. The rain echoed in the canopy of leaves above and beat against the sword ferns, which twitched under each drop.”
It is passages such as this one that brought awards and bestseller status to David Guterson for his 1995 novel Snow Falling on Cedars. This sheltering tree is important to describe since it provides a private place for two young lovers. I see the soft green light inside and the ferns bending under the raindrops. The book is rich in atmosphere, which extends it beyond a love and mystery story. Did he continue this beautiful writing style in subsequent novels?
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