Stillwater - Tapa blanda

"Lyrical and humorous . . . Helget deftly weaves political and social history into . . . a rich and intricate novel full of compassion for these pioneers and the place they live." -- Saint Paul Pioneer Press

"Told in a vigorous and warmly resonant prose that captures both the ridiculous and the sublime." -- Historical Novel Society
"In moments of barbarity and humility, violence and tenderness, greed and sacrifice, Helget leaves no saint without sin and no sinner without grace . . . What unfolds is a novel of portraiture -- of characters, of industry, of an era and the cold realities that shaped it -- that does not give up its moments of humanity lightly."--Mankato Free Press

"In Stillwater, Helget's latest novel, the twins grow up in a landscape filled with colorful characters: trappers, loggers, outlaws, nuns, Native Americans and runaway slaves. And the land itself is vibrant. You can see its significance from the very first words of the novel." -- NPR, Weekend Edition Saturday

"This one's going to be a big deal. Helget's new book, Stillwater, is so entertaining, inventive, outrageous and well-told that I'm imagining a thousand book clubs gathering over her words, filmmakers vying to make the movie, and a leap from mere critical acclaim to something more like celebrity for the Mankato writer." -- Minnpost

"Rousing fun." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Helget's tale of frontier life in the territory of Minnesota gives stark meaning to the term 'woebegone' . . . This novel effectively dramatizes the seismic sociological shifts that shaped the American Midwest." -- Kirkus Reviews

"[Stillwater] often has a gothic feel, with madwomen, poisonings, and dead babies. But there is also an undercurrent of black humor, particularly in the portrayal of Beaver Jean, who is reprehensible but also a delightful comic creation." -- Library Journal

"A stunning achievement. Helget brings her keen sense for Southern Gothic to, of all places, the Northwoods of Minnesota. A fascinating story of a frontier logging town, this novel boasts a remarkable assortment of characters -- Indians, slaves, trappers, missionaries, mothers and lost children -- all caught up in the crosscurrents of American history. A highly touching and believable tale." -- Jonathan Odell, author of The Healing

"Make room Louise Erdrich, Minnesota has a new resident scribe. Rascally and robust, saucy and sincere and serious as a logjam, Stillwater is a celebration of this country's coming of age from a writer staking her claim to greatness." -- Peter Geye, author of The Lighthouse Road

"A wonder of a novel, rich in history, humor and heart, with prose that flows and sparkles like a sunlit river." -- Benjamin Percy, author of Red Moon and The Wilding