Clayton Book Club: North Woods, by Daniel Mason

North Woods by Daniel Mason

This August, we’ll be gathering at The Clayton to discuss North Woods by Daniel Mason—a sweeping and beautifully layered novel that follows a single house in the woods of New England and the extraordinary lives of those who inhabit it across generations.

Beginning with a young couple who leaves a Puritan colony behind to build a humble cabin in the woods, the story unfolds through centuries of love, loss, ambition, mystery, and transformation. From soldiers and artists to unlikely survivors, investigators, and the natural world itself, each chapter reveals another piece of the house’s history and the secrets held within its walls.

Blending historical fiction, nature writing, and elements of mystery, North Woods explores the powerful connections between people, place, and time. Through changing seasons and generations, the novel asks a timeless question: How do we live on, even after we’re gone?

We’re looking forward to a thoughtful evening of conversation, shared perspectives, and discovering all the ways this unforgettable story connects us to one another—and to the places we call home.