Rating: 
Summary: nature channel
Review: In the first half of the book, Frazier goes into lengthy descriptions of trees, flowers, grass, bugs and stir of the wind...
Can we have some more actions and less sensitivity in here? It was a really boring book.
Rating: 
Summary: No words to describe
Review: Charles Frazier has written a classic in Cold Mountain. His use of local color, from the names of the plants Inman sees and uses to the language of North Carolina, is fantastic. The only slight that I have on this book is that he goes into a lot of detail with the local color and that sometimes distracted me from the plot. Also the general tone of the book and how it deals with war and human savagery is relevant to this day. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Take the Journey
Review: I was led to "Cold Mountain" by a reviewer's statement on the back of Steven Pressfield's "Gates of Fire." The reviewer claimed that Pressfield had done for the Greco-Persian wars what Charles Frazier had done for the Civil War in "Cold Mountain." As a huge fan of Pressfield, and particularly of "Gates of Fire," I was obligated to read "Cold Mountain." While I do not agree with that reviewer's comment [I found few similarities between the books], I am glad that I had been led to Cold Mountain.
Not a literary critic, I find it easiest to recommend a book if I could visualize it as a film during the reading. I could unquestionably do that with Cold Mountain. From start to finish, I could see Daniel Day Lewis as Inman and Madeline Stowe as Ada. The story is captivating as chapters alternate between Inman's journey from a hospital ward in Virginia to his home in Cold Mountain, and his unofficially betrothed Ada's efforts to learn the ways of the wild in managing the farm at Cold Mountain following her father's death. The two do not meet until the final chapters. This would be terrific on the big screen.
Frazier's character introductions and subsequent developments are excellent. I looked forward to each new personality and learned to love (or hate) all of them.
A close friend and avid reader told me her couldn't get through the first 50 pages of Cold Mountain and put it down. Honestly, I struggled as well through the opening chapter or two. Fortunately, I carried the book with me in my briefcase. On a recent trip to London I picked it up during the flight and could never put it down. Don't be dismayed by the opening chapters if you do find them slow. They are integral parts of a story that will unfold effortlessly before you as you continue to turn the pages. If, like my friend, you may have doubts, read one chapter entitled "Freewill Savages" that starts on page 284 of the softback (about 2/3 of the way through the book). What magnificent writing and character development. Try this on: "To Ada, though, it seemed akin to miracle that Stobrod, of all people, should offer himself up as proof positive that no matter what a waste one has made of one's life, it is ever possible to find some path to redemption, however partial."
Again, while I found the book much different than Pressfield's "Gates of Fire," I thank the reviewer for making his statement and encouraging me to read a book that I'll not soon forget.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book.
Review: From the opening description of the flies' feet at his eyelids, this book had me. Incredible description of scenery, events, people. The strong plot (with some thanks to the Odyssey) makes for a engaging read. I don't know anyone who hasn't thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Rating:
Summary: The most meaningful book that I have read in years
Review: This was a novel about alienation, most importantly becoming alienated from who you truly are and the long and difficult journey to find yourself again. It is the only book in years that I have marked passages in and continue to return to them eight months later.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful saga of a man's redemption
Review: Charles Frazier has a artful style of description. His words transport you to the mountains that the main character longs to return to. The transformation of characters in the book are interesting to witness. If you like "mountain" or Appalachian historical books, this one is for you. I coudn't put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Never Again
Review: This book came to my knowledge through a book club that I have recently joined. My past time is reading and collecting information on the Civil War so I was very excited to begin reading this piece. While the writing was a times beautiful and poetic I found it made for very difficult reading. I enjoy reading because I can escape from reality and reatreat into a new and different world. Cold Mountain did enable me to escape but it was into a deep, dark, depressing world that held no interest for me. Ada's dependent personality grated on my nerves and Innman's nonchalant attitude became tiresome. After struggling to maintain momentum and read the book I was very upset at the ending. I felt I should have been rewarded for completing the long novel and instead I was punished. The bottom line is I would not recommend this book to others.
Rating:
Summary: A book of great beauty
Review: This is not a book for the intellectually lazy. If you are willing to make the effort, however, it is a book of unusual beauty and humanism that will stay with you for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: Classic. Recommend to All Friends.
Review: This is the kind of book that wanna be authors dream of writing..it had early and insane word-of-mouth recommendations and just grew and grew in popularity..but, still remains unknown to enough people that you can be the 'cool one' and discover it for yourself and your friends/family. Gritty and real, it tells the tale of an AWOL Civil War soldier and his struggles to return - to his home, his left-behind love..and, really, his life. Never gets smarmy although it really is a love story. A great depiction of that era and the tough-as-nails people that our jelly-soft selves came from. It hurt it was so good.
Rating:
Summary: A Modern Classic
Review: This impressive first novel grabbed my attention immediately. I was enthralled with its portrait of life in the Civil War era. The characters seemed real, and I cared deeply about their fate. I couldn't put the book down and didn't want it to end. It made me long to see the mountains of North Carolina and want to learn more history. I'm looking forward to Frazier's next novel.
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