Bear by Julia Phillips

Julia Phillips’ “Bear” Explores the Wildness Within Us All

Picture this: You’re standing at the edge of a dense forest on a remote Pacific Northwest island. The air is thick with the scent of pine and sea salt. In the distance, you hear a rustling. Is it just the wind in the trees? Or something… more?

This is the world Julia Phillips drops us into with her sophomore novel “Bear”—a world where the line between human and animal, reality and myth, becomes deliciously blurred.

A Sister Act Like No Other

At the heart of “Bear” are sisters Sam and Elena, bound by blood, shared history, and a dream of escaping their hardscrabble life on San Juan Island. Phillips, whose debut “Disappearing Earth” was a National Book Award finalist, proves once again she’s a master at crafting complex female relationships.

The push and pull between Sam and Elena feels achingly real:

• Sam: pragmatic, restless, desperate to leave
• Elena: dreamy, rooted, finding unexpected magic in their island home

Their dynamic reminded me of Louisa May Alcott’s March sisters—if Jo and Beth had grown up working-class in the 21st century Pacific Northwest, that is.

When Bear Meets Girl

The sisters’ delicate balance is upended when Elena encounters a massive bear in the woods. But this is no ordinary bear (is there such a thing?). As Elena becomes increasingly enchanted by the creature, Sam watches in horror as her sister slips further from their shared dream of escape.

Phillips’ portrayal of the bear walks a tightrope between realism and magical realism. Is it truly supernatural? Or simply a wild animal responding to human encroachment? The ambiguity is delicious, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions.

A Love Letter to the Pacific Northwest

While the bear may be the novel’s titular character, the real star is the lush, atmospheric setting. Phillips’ descriptions of San Juan Island are so vivid you can practically smell the salt air and feel the mist on your skin. As someone who’s spent time in the San Juans, I can attest to the accuracy of her portrayal.

Some standout elements:

• The ferry rides between islands, a lifeline for locals and tourists alike
• The stark economic divide between year-round residents and wealthy vacationers
• The omnipresent wilderness, beautiful and menacing in equal measure

Themes That Sink Their Claws In

“Bear” is the kind of novel that sticks with you long after the last page. Phillips weaves in complex themes with a deft touch:

1. Sisterhood: The unbreakable bond between Sam and Elena, even as their paths diverge
2. Class struggle: The sisters’ fight for survival in a place where they can barely afford to live
3. Human vs. Nature: Our uneasy relationship with the wild, both around and within us
4. The lure of escape vs. the pull of home: A classic conflict given fresh life

A Style All Her Own

Phillips’ prose is lean yet lyrical, with moments of startling beauty. She has a knack for capturing the small details that bring a scene to life:

“Sam’s muscles were sore from tension. Rich ladies who had this kind of ache, she knew, got hour-long massages, but Sam only climbed into her car after her shift ended and drove home.”

These vivid sensory details ground the story, even as it verges into more mythic territory.

Not Your Average Bear Story

If you’re expecting “Grizzly Man” or “The Revenant,” think again. While there are moments of tension and danger, “Bear” is more interested in exploring the psychological and emotional landscape of its characters than in cheap thrills.

That’s not to say it isn’t gripping. Phillips ratchets up the suspense as Sam becomes increasingly desperate to “save” her sister from the bear’s influence. The climax, when it comes, is both shocking and strangely inevitable.

A Few Rough Edges

No novel is perfect, and “Bear” has a few minor flaws:

• The pacing can be slow at times, especially in the early chapters
• Some readers might find the ambiguous ending frustrating
• A few secondary characters feel underdeveloped

However, these quibbles are far outweighed by the novel’s strengths.

In Good Company

“Bear” joins a proud tradition of Pacific Northwest literature that blends the natural and supernatural. It reminded me at times of:

• David Guterson’s “Snow Falling on Cedars” (for its evocative island setting)
• Karen Russell’s “St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” (in its exploration of wildness and humanity)
• Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy (for its unsettling portrayal of nature)

Who Should Read “Bear”?

This novel is perfect for:

• Fans of literary fiction with a touch of magical realism
• Nature lovers and armchair travelers
• Anyone who’s ever felt torn between the comfort of home and the lure of the unknown
• Readers who enjoy complex female characters and relationships

Final Thoughts: A Novel That Leaves Its Mark

“Bear” is the kind of book that haunts you. Days after finishing, I found myself thinking about Sam and Elena, wondering what became of them. Phillips has created a world so vivid and characters so real that they linger in the mind like a half-remembered dream.

Is it a perfect novel? No. But it’s a damn good one, showcasing a young author pushing the boundaries of her considerable talent. If “Disappearing Earth” put Julia Phillips on the literary map, “Bear” cements her place as one of the most exciting voices of her generation.

So, dear reader, are you ready to venture into the woods? To confront the wildness within and without? “Bear” awaits, with all its beauty, terror, and mystery. Just remember – you might come out changed on the other side.

About the Author

Julia Phillips burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel “Disappearing Earth” in 2019. Set in Russia’s remote Kamchatka peninsula, it was a finalist for the National Book Award and established Phillips as a writer to watch. With “Bear,” she proves her first success was no fluke, delivering another atmospheric, emotionally resonant novel that lingers long after the final page.