L'ours

The setting feels so vivid and integral to the story; I'm curious whether the landscape was based on personal experience or research.

The way the story explores family and survival made me root for them, but also left me on the edge of my seat. How did the author balance these intense emotions?

I'm wondering if the author intentionally kept a slow build to emphasize the characters' internal struggles or if it was a pacing choice to mirror the natural environment.