Quarter Finalist
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Woodall, an author and artist, crafts a gorgeously written love letter to Oregon myrtlewood that expertly blends memoir with nature writing and Pacific Northwest history.
Prose: Woodall's prose is lyrical, polished, and full of rich detail. Readers will relish the author's lovely, visceral descriptions and deep knowledge of the natural world surrounding him. Woodall also has a knack for writing dialogue and capturing characters with just a few quick brush strokes.
Originality: Myrtlewood Memoirs offers a unique approach to memoir. The author writes with arresting beauty about the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest and about his awakening as an artist through the use of myrtlewood.
Character/Execution: The most prominent character in Myrtlewood Memoirs is myrtlewood itself. Woodall writes about how myrtlewood grows, where it grows, and how its wood and leaves have been utilized throughout time--from early Native Americans to woodworkers of the present day. In the tradition of Annie Dillard, Woodall immerses readers in his observations of art, geological time, and nature.
Date Submitted: December 07, 2022
