To begin with, this book reminded me of Annie Proulx - perhaps because of the beautiful description of the Northern regions of Canada, perhaps because of the very precise choice of words, maybe also the plot with the city person moving to an almost-wilderness that is mundane for locals. Except then it takes a completely surprising, even shocking direction, and becomes the story of a woman that finds self-fulfillment in a summer fling. [SPOILER!!!] With a bear. He turns out to be better than basically any men she has been with. There is always the chance that he may attack her, but at least this time it won't come as a surprise.

I don’t know to which extent the bear is a metaphor for wilderness - I think the graphic sex scenes make it more literal than that. I skimmed a few reviews on goodreads, and people (Americans) are shocked. Which was perhaps a bit the purpose, but the care with which the book is written goes beyond that.