Bear Witness

by Mandy Haggith

The brutal shooting of a bear cub galvanises ecologist Callis MacArthur into becoming an activist. Dreaming of bears roaming free - even in Scotland, a thousand years after their disappearance - she finds herself exploring Europe's remotest forests and meeting colourful characters who are as passionate about nature as she is. But as she begins to embrace her wild side, she faces escalating challenges: she must risk her career and endure agonising personal losses to avoid being swept up in events and emotions beyond her control. Combining lyrical prose, mythical themes, romance and a cracking plot, Bear Witness is a page-turner with a heart and mind.

Genres: Fiction, Nature

264 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2013

Reviews

[Linda Gillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I was sent a review copy of this book by the publisher.)

In BEAR WITESS, her rich and complex second novel, Mandy Haggith has written an ecological page-turner set in Norway and Scotland in the not too distant future. Callis MacArthur, a troubled scientist who counts pollen grains, is driven by her passionate desire to change the big picture by returning bears to the wilds of Scotland. Haggith's moving novel explores different kinds of loss as Callis' vision is challenged by disaster in her personal and professional life.

Haggith's evocation of landscape and wildlife is lyrical and vivid, written with a poet's eye for detail. Her characters convince and entertain. (One of her male characters surely deserves a novel of his own and left me hoping for a sequel.)

This ambitious, visionary novel belongs to no single genre but encompasses romance, drama, comedy and literary fiction. BEAR WITNESS is a big-hearted book and deserves to find a wide readership. It will make a significant contribution to the debate about the future of Scotland's wilderness.

[Christi Poulsom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm.... it was okay, but a good editor would surely have cut it down by at least a third. There was a great deal of 'suspend disbelief' - and I'm not talking about the way its set in a future Scotland; I could cope with that, but would a highly educated woman really be so concerned what her friends from uni days thought of her? And would said friends really be that bothered how she chose to live her life? And the plot changer was so underplayed, it just didn't seem credible. Lets not even go to the revelation about one of the central characters Yuri. Also can't believe that the character at the end would have reacted the way he did in the 'phone call. I enjoy a good fairy story and am passionate about ecology but this book didn't do much for me.

[Han Whiteoak · Rating 3 out of 5]

A better wildlife reintroduction novel than the last book I read, Wolf Border by Sarah Hall, although it suffered from some of the same problems.

I'm glad Callis didn't end up with rapist Malcolm, although it would have been more empowering if she had ended the relationship and aborted his baby instead of having the convenient miscarriage so common in fiction. It was also surprising no one suggested she seek medical attention after miscarrying a fetus late term enough to have an identifiable sex.

Petr's behaviour I would also class as sexual harassment and I can't understand why Callis was keen rather than frightened to be trapped in the woods with a colleague she's only just met making advances her.

The bits about the bears were excellent. The book has a laggy bit in the middle, around the chapter about the festival, where everything seems to be going swimmingly and there is no conflict driving the plot. It picks up toward the end.

The writing style is beautiful without being pretentious.

[Pauine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about Callis MacArthur, an ecologist, who loves bears and wants to see them reintroduced in Scotland. At times I found the book a bit boring but overall it was a good story.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spectacular adventure, packed with love, grief, joy, and bears.

[LaDawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A witty and thought provoking, beautifully written story about a dedicated ecologist, Callis, dreaming of bringing bears back to Scotland, thousand of years after they disappeared. She travels the forests of Europe and ultimately risks her entire career to bring these majestic creatures back to their habitat in the Scottish Highlands.

There's a little bit of everything for everyone. There's quite a bit of romance which I enjoyed. Callis was considered beautiful inside and out by every man she met. She was admired for her wits, her brain, her sense of fun and adventure. A real role model.

I love the way Mandy writes. She has a mesmerizing and mystical approach to her stories and I can't recommend this highly enough!

[Ola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear Witness was such a great journey into the forest! I was excited through the whole book, and had a feeling like I was taking part in all adventures. It is a book about fulfilling one's potential and dreams. Nature, animals, compex relationships, science,and my favourite Scandinavia in the background - delicious. I am looking forward to read The Last Bear.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this in 2014, thought I’d try it again. Sadly, it’s clear this book is not for me. The review from then is still valid for today.
“Recommended by someone whose opinion on books is sound. Its well written, and certainly a good tale, but I couldn't connect with it (and I did try), so couldn't finish it.”
Do try it for yourself

[Mandy Haggith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Callis MacArthur, who wants bears to be returned to their native habitat in Scotland. It's a thought experiment about whether and if so, how, reintroduction of this beautiful animal could be possible in the future.

[David Kenvyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ecological fairy story about the reintroduction of bears to Scotland. I will not tell you what happens because that will spoil the book. But it is heartwarming.