Review of The Pale Flesh of Wood
Posted: 23 Jul 2025, 11:24
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Pale Flesh of Wood" by Elizabeth A. Tucker.]
Lyla’s life was upended by the most innocent of actions: helping his dad hang a swing in the old oak tree at her grandma’s house. The same swing her dad, years later, would use to commit suicide.
The Pale Flesh of Wood by Elizabeth A. Tucker starts in 1953 and follows Lyla and her family as they navigate the before and after of this life-shattering event. What caused Lyla’s dad to take the ultimate exit? How does a widow cope with new love, new companionship? Will Lyla find peace amongst what seems like infinite aftermath?
The Pale Flesh of Wood is not only a family saga and a story about loss, but also a perfect portrayal of trauma, complex family dynamics, and the destructive power of mental illness.
The author detailed the most overlooked aspects of grief. It’s not all crying and tombstones. Grief affects one’s perception of oneself and of relationships. It often leads to parentification and to the unshakable fear of the story repeating itself, especially with something as complicated as suicide. It also explores how families deal with mental complexity, trauma, and mental illness: we often look the other way.
I can’t put into words how much I identified with Lyla. I lost my own dad at a young age. Not to suicide, to cancer. But the aftermath? The ripple effect that seems endless? That I have lived. And with her talented pen (it’s probably a keyboard), Elizabeth A. Tucker put all that into words. Needless to say, the character development is stellar. Caroline, Lyla’s stern grandmother, has the most fascinating character arc of all, one that sees her evolve while also remaining true to herself.
Furthermore, the author somehow translated this grim reality into beautiful, almost lyrical prose: “There was something otherworldly about it. About her. Not angelic, exactly. Olympian.” (pp. 233-234). I want to applaud the author’s ability to build tension while everything seems so mundane on the surface: that’s the kind of word wizardry that separates great books from unforgettable ones. I enjoyed that some chapters are dedicated to Lyla’s dad's perspective, giving the reader a more rounded perspective. The book is also full of symbolism, which adds depth to the narrative.
As grim as this sounds, grief is not linear, and Tucker carved moments for funny and endearing passages amidst the darkness, which only adds to the realism of the story.
I didn’t find any faults in this book, objective or otherwise. The characters leap off the page. The pacing is slow enough to savor the delicate vocabulary without being too slow to make it boring. The psychological details are perfect, and the historical ambiance is flawless. Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
I would like to recommend this book to everyone. But, I acknowledge that readers who prefer action-filled stories or who struggle with vivid descriptions or symbolism might want to skip it. However, anyone who has ever experienced grief, who enjoys reading about complex family relationships, family secrets, or the intricacies of the human psyche should read The Pale Flesh of Wood. For lovers of the English language who want to enjoy delectably raw but stunning words, this book is a must-read.
******
The Pale Flesh of Wood
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Lyla’s life was upended by the most innocent of actions: helping his dad hang a swing in the old oak tree at her grandma’s house. The same swing her dad, years later, would use to commit suicide.
The Pale Flesh of Wood by Elizabeth A. Tucker starts in 1953 and follows Lyla and her family as they navigate the before and after of this life-shattering event. What caused Lyla’s dad to take the ultimate exit? How does a widow cope with new love, new companionship? Will Lyla find peace amongst what seems like infinite aftermath?
The Pale Flesh of Wood is not only a family saga and a story about loss, but also a perfect portrayal of trauma, complex family dynamics, and the destructive power of mental illness.
The author detailed the most overlooked aspects of grief. It’s not all crying and tombstones. Grief affects one’s perception of oneself and of relationships. It often leads to parentification and to the unshakable fear of the story repeating itself, especially with something as complicated as suicide. It also explores how families deal with mental complexity, trauma, and mental illness: we often look the other way.
I can’t put into words how much I identified with Lyla. I lost my own dad at a young age. Not to suicide, to cancer. But the aftermath? The ripple effect that seems endless? That I have lived. And with her talented pen (it’s probably a keyboard), Elizabeth A. Tucker put all that into words. Needless to say, the character development is stellar. Caroline, Lyla’s stern grandmother, has the most fascinating character arc of all, one that sees her evolve while also remaining true to herself.
Furthermore, the author somehow translated this grim reality into beautiful, almost lyrical prose: “There was something otherworldly about it. About her. Not angelic, exactly. Olympian.” (pp. 233-234). I want to applaud the author’s ability to build tension while everything seems so mundane on the surface: that’s the kind of word wizardry that separates great books from unforgettable ones. I enjoyed that some chapters are dedicated to Lyla’s dad's perspective, giving the reader a more rounded perspective. The book is also full of symbolism, which adds depth to the narrative.
As grim as this sounds, grief is not linear, and Tucker carved moments for funny and endearing passages amidst the darkness, which only adds to the realism of the story.
I didn’t find any faults in this book, objective or otherwise. The characters leap off the page. The pacing is slow enough to savor the delicate vocabulary without being too slow to make it boring. The psychological details are perfect, and the historical ambiance is flawless. Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
I would like to recommend this book to everyone. But, I acknowledge that readers who prefer action-filled stories or who struggle with vivid descriptions or symbolism might want to skip it. However, anyone who has ever experienced grief, who enjoys reading about complex family relationships, family secrets, or the intricacies of the human psyche should read The Pale Flesh of Wood. For lovers of the English language who want to enjoy delectably raw but stunning words, this book is a must-read.
******
The Pale Flesh of Wood
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
