Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Cold Mountain
Book Review: Cold Mountain: there's no through trail
Summary: 4 Stars
Men ask the way to Cold Mountain.
Cold Mountain: there's no through trail. - Han-shan
Cold Mountain is a beautiful story of a soldier who is trying to return home to his pre-Civil war fiance, Ada.
The novel itself is based upon local folklore and stories that author Charles Frazier's ancestors passed down through generations. The soldier's name is Inman and what makes his journey so difficult is that he is wounded and he is traveling though an environment which most likely looked like the videos we see on msnbc of ravaged war struck locations.
Inman's journey home reminded me of those Homer epics that we read in school only this story did not have its genesis in ancient Greece but in America during the Civil War. There is a Cold Mountain and it is located in North Carolina within the Pigsah National Forest. There also was a real Inman who was named William Pinkney and he served in the Confederate army and though Frazier wrote a book of fiction; much is related to Frazier's ancestor (William Pinkney) and what transpired in his own life.
So with the third part of Bartram's Travels in hand, a wounded Inman starts out his journey to return home not knowing what he will find when he gets there. A lot has happened and the war has changed everything. The book and the story of the wanderer named Flower Gatherer by the Cherokee gave Inman happiness with its beautiful images and these same images became indelibly bright when he continued his journey much like Flower Gatherer.
The writing is beautiful and the ending not what is expected or hoped for; but haunting nonetheless.
"When Ada reached the story's conclusion, and the old lovers after long years together in peace and harmony had turned to oak and linden, it was full dark. The night was growing cool, and Ada put the book away."
War changes everything and how we relate to each other and these changes in the landscape, ourselves and others are key themes.
A worthwhile book.
Book Review: Dark, slow and depressing....
Summary: 3 Stars
I wanted to like this book. I read good things about it, and since it's set in the Cherokee Nation area of North Carolina I thought it would include lots of natural beauty. But in reality it was a real downer of a book, slow to plod along and with an unpleasant ending. I never did see how it's a great love story, but maybe it was too subtle for me. I know it's set at the ending of the Civil War, which was a time of much suffering and violence, but I had a hard time making myself read 450 pages of it.
Anyway, if you're looking for a Gone With The Wind kind of romance, or anything other than hunger, cold, suffering and depression, this isn't your book.
Book Review: Eh
Summary: 3 Stars
The novel isn't exactly gripping and it definitely is not a light, easy read. At times I had to force myself to read this. The plot is written from the perspectives of a couple: Inman and Ada. Inman gets fed up with all of the death he is exposed to while fighting in the Civil War and embarks on an odyssey to go home while being wounded in the neck. Ada struggles to care for a large estate of land that she inherits from her father while at the same time becoming increasingly tired of the life she leads. Some of the situations described in the book are powerful and memorable, but truth be told, I finished this book three days ago and already forgot most of it.Book Review: Eh-
Summary: 3 Stars
I just read a review from another reader that said that they threw this book in the trash when they were about 100 pages from the end. I am at that point, and while I won't throw it away, I am struggling to get through it. It's not that I feel it's written poorly or the characters lack depth, it's just boring. A whole page devoted to the task of yard work. I don't enjoy yard work so why would I want to read page after page about doing it? I know there there are other things going on but the detailed descriptions of corn cribs and bedspreads do not entice me to turn the page. It's not the worst book I've ever read, but I wouldn't recommend spending full price on it. Do go near it if you have ADD.Book Review: Fabulous epic
Summary: 4 Stars
What a beautiful book! It's really a modern epic that depicts a man's quest to go home after deflecting from fighting in the Civil War. The story is told from several perspectives, from both the man who left home and seeks to return and the women left behind. Everyone is seeking to rebuild their lives amidst the chaos of the war and is drawing strength from strong memories of the past and hope for a better future. The emotions evoked for me were those of longing, regret, hope, and love. This book gave me such a gratefulness to be "home." If you are missing the good old days of high school English class and are craving "literature" rather than plain "fiction," this would be an excellent choice. It is a transporting novel.