The Cure for Death by Lightning
The Cure for Death by Lightning
Book Brief
294
Novel • Fiction
British Columbia • 1940s
1996
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Cure for Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz follows Beth Weeks, a young woman living on a struggling farm in 1940s British Columbia. After her father, John, is attacked by a bear, his personality drastically changes, leading to conflict and ostracization within their community. Beth discovers that many locals, including her father, are being influenced by the spirit of Coyote, a trickster from Indigenous mythology.
Mysterious
Dark
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
6,871 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Gail Anderson-Dargatz's novel, The Cure for Death by Lightning, presents an evocative blend of magical realism and coming-of-age themes. Critics praise its vivid settings and strong character development, though some find the plot meandering. While the narrative's mystical elements enchant many, others feel these same aspects detract from the story’s coherence.
Who Should Read The Cure for Death by Lightning?
Readers who relish coming-of-age stories set in lush, rural landscapes, embellished with elements of magical realism and historical context, will delight in Gail Anderson-Dargatz's The Cure for Death by Lightning. Fans of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic or Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street will find it equally captivating.
6,871 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Cure for Death by Lightning won the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize in 1997, which is awarded annually to the best work of fiction by a resident of British Columbia.
The author, Gail Anderson-Dargatz, has often been praised for her ability to vividly depict rural life, and her style is sometimes compared to that of writers like Alice Munro and W. P. Kinsella.
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The book’s title, The Cure for Death by Lightning, was inspired by a scrapbook kept by the author's mother, which contained newspaper clippings, household tips, and other curiosities.
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294
Novel • Fiction
British Columbia • 1940s
1996
Adult
18+ years
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