Rating: 
Summary: Story line seemed contrived, characters were not engaging
Review: I have a hard time believing I read the same book as the other reviewers. Although it was a mildly entertaining 2-hour read, I found the story line contrived, the characters hopelessly cliche, and the ending an anticlimactic let down. The resolution of the story's loose ends was just a bit too neat, and the end result left me with a hollow, wasted feeling. Save your money and wait for the Lifetime movie on cable-- Cold Mountain is a much better bet.
Rating: 
Summary: I am now an avid reader of Sharyn McCrumb's books
Review: I have recently discovered Sharyn McCrumb and don't know how I managed to overlook her novels all these years. In the past 3 weeks I have read 3 of her Appalachian novels. Most recently I read She Walks These Hills in 2 days. I could not put it down. Spencer Arrowood comes alive as the sheriff and I enjoy finding out more about the people of that area of the country. I am also intrigued by the remnants of English and Celtic customs in the people of the Appalachians. Ms. McCrumb writes very well, develops her characters in a way that you wish you could actually meet them and have them as your neighbors. Needless to say, I will be reading more and more of these wonderful novels. They are as colorful as country quilts.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book by a Talented Author
Review: I really enjoyed Sharyn McCrumbs book "She Walks These Hills." Being the first book that I have read by Sharyn McCrumb, it put her on the top of my reading list. If you have not yet read a book by Sharyn McCrumb, read one. Im sure that you will enjoy it. I am currently reading "The Hangmans Beautiful Daughter." I am about halfway through it and it is proving to be as good a book as "She Walks These Hills" was.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining
Review: I thought when I first picked this book up that it was going to be one of those gothic potboilers with spooky ghosts, swooning women and brave (male) ghostbusters. Oh, and a scary, escaped killer out to wreck havoc on innocent people. It's got a tiny little bit of the goth in it, but it's much more than that. It's a modern story about modern people and takes on some big topics - prejudice, bigotry, justice, right and wrong, good and evil, stupidity in pursuit of noble causes. There's not a badly drawn character in the book; they all feel like real people with real complexities and complicated motives, often only precariously in control of the situations they get themselves into. The dialogues flow smoothly and sound real - you can hear these conversations. You'll recognize these people and you'll recognize yourself in them. Even the ghost story underpinning the book is fascinating and historically informative. If your looking for a readible story that will hold your interest, this is it.
Rating:
Summary: she walks these hills review
Review: I totally agree with a writer form St. Louis when he said that She Walks These Hills was haunting, tragic and beautifully written. The way Sharyn McCrumb twisted different plots into her novel kept me wanting to know more and more with each sentence I read. She was able to accurately go from Katie Wyler's time in 1790, to Hiram Sorley's time in 1960, and even to the present day. McCrumb's use of descriptive language and long, flowing sentences made the book much more captivating. From the time that she introduced us to Hiram Sorley in the beginning of the novel, to the time he died in the trailer fire, I grew attached to the escaped convict. McCrumb made me feel sorry for the old man because of the way she questioned his guilt through Hank-the-Yank, the local radio DJ. And the way that Sharyn McCrumb made Martha Ayers look as brave as a soldier, made me have so much respect for her character. I felt as if I have known the characters in the novel all my life because of the specific details given by McCrumb. What made this book so easy to read was McCrumb's use of descriptive vocabulary. I felt as if I was actually there in Tennessee with Martha and Sabrina, and that I was going through the same things that Jeremy Cobb was going through in the woods. Overall, I loved the way that McCrumb went from Katie Wyler and Jeremy Cobb's journey through the woods, to Martha Ayers trying to prove herself by catching Harm Sorley, the escaped convict, who was also trying to find his daughter and ex-wife. It was just so interesting to read about the happenings from the different time periods, but in the end how they all came together as one.
Rating:
Summary: Past and present blend seamlessly; wonderfully drawn people
Review: I was sorry to reach the end of this mythic but thoroughly human tale. McCrumb weaves the historic past, middle-distance past, and suspenseful present into an evocative tale peopled with a diverse cast of characters whom you find yourself genuinely caring about.
Rating:
Summary: A Page Turning Suspense!
Review: If you're looking for a great mystery combined with many story plots, and some historical backround, you should definietly read this book. McCrumb has done an excellent job of taking the lives of a variety of different characters and weaving them all together throughout this book. Although contradictory to what others may say, this book is centered around the escape of an mentally ill old man from jail and how a number of other people's lives tie in with his journey home. You will get to know three police officers, two of whom think the escaped convict is no threat, but one who does. A radio announcer who hypes up the old man's journey is another big focus of this plot, along with a college professor who is on a journey of his own to follow the trail of the legend, Katie Wyler. Even thought it may be hard at times to follow the many characters who are introduced, they all come together in the end and make an exciting and page turning book. This book is set in the Appalachian mountains around Virginia and Tennessee and McCrumb has done a wonderful job on describing the scenery of the land. McCrumb's language makes you feel like are there in the mountains. Along with the scenery, McCrumb has also done her share of research on the area and provides information (as one of the characters) about the geological factors of the Appalachians. With all the surprised that end each chapter, you are always wondering what will happen next, or who will finally meet who. For a great anytime reading get Sharyn McCrumb's She Walks These Hills.
Rating:
Summary: A Page Turning Suspense!
Review: If you're looking for a great mystery combined with many story plots, and some historical backround, you should definietly read this book. McCrumb has done an excellent job of taking the lives of a variety of different characters and weaving them all together throughout this book. Although contradictory to what others may say, this book is centered around the escape of an mentally ill old man from jail and how a number of other people's lives tie in with his journey home. You will get to know three police officers, two of whom think the escaped convict is no threat, but one who does. A radio announcer who hypes up the old man's journey is another big focus of this plot, along with a college professor who is on a journey of his own to follow the trail of the legend, Katie Wyler. Even thought it may be hard at times to follow the many characters who are introduced, they all come together in the end and make an exciting and page turning book. This book is set in the Appalachian mountains around Virginia and Tennessee and McCrumb has done a wonderful job on describing the scenery of the land. McCrumb's language makes you feel like are there in the mountains. Along with the scenery, McCrumb has also done her share of research on the area and provides information (as one of the characters) about the geological factors of the Appalachians. With all the surprised that end each chapter, you are always wondering what will happen next, or who will finally meet who. For a great anytime reading get Sharyn McCrumb's She Walks These Hills.
Rating:
Summary: Mystery that comes alive...
Review: In my opinion the book She Walks These Hills was very slow in the beginning. For about the first couple of chapters I stayed lost. After that the book went into great detail and I begun to really enjoy it. I would recommend this book to anyone whom loves a mystery novel with lots of suspense. I am sure that everyone has heard the expression of how history repeats itself, well this book is a great example of just that. The book also had it's own way of making people see reality in another light, many of the conflicts that occured in this book occur in everyday life around the world. That is the true reason I feel so strongly about this book.
Rating:
Summary: I'm hooked
Review: In the past few years I'd given up on reading mystery novels. Then someone handed my this book. With fully-realized characters, an interesting plot and a fascinating historical background, I just couln't put this book down. Then I bought "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" and thoroughly enjoyed that - and I just ordered "The Rosewood Casket" - I'm definitely hooked on her "Ballad" series.
|
