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Summary: An American Odyssey
Review: This book is about as close as anyone has come to writing the great American novel. By combining painstaking research on local and Civil War history with stories passed to him within his own family, Frazier paints the parallel journeys of Inman and Ada in a beautiful style that rings true. The supporting characters--Ruby and Stodbrod and Veazie--have real depth, and the landscape of the Southern Appalachians is rendered lyrically. Frazier teaches the reader the real tragedy of the Civil War and how it affected the people of the South. More importantly, he teaches us how to stay put: how to live fully in one place, within a modern society that devalues local knowledge and encourages people to move on in search of better opportunity. One might question Frazier's belief in the random workings of the world--a decidedly atheist approach to his writing--but this book is undoubtedly one of America's finest.
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Summary: Southern Lit.
Review: The novel Cold Mountain is a must read. I could not put the book down. I really liked the details of the scenes and I could picture was going own. I feel though that the ending was a little rushed. I chose to read the novel for a southern literature class. I am very satisfied that I did. I also enjoyed the novel because of South Carolina towns and North Carolina towns in the book.
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Summary: realism
Review: My brother ordered this book for my mother who didnt get around to reading it.I picked it up on a vist to her house and was immediatly engrossed by the writing style which promised much visual and internal stimulation. I was not disappointed. It quickly became apparant that the novel is moralistic and realistic in message. The morality is presented not so much in judgement but in fact as evidenced by peoples way of life in these times.Realistic in that the emotional and psycological changes affected on the characters are understandable to us all in context. The few references to ancient parables only serve to focus attention on the changes of the characters caused by those events. I enjoyed it as a good story and recognized it's message of hope where there is life.
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Summary: This IS a masterpiece!
Review: There are a lot of reviews about this book, but I had to write one too because this book is a masterpiece! The people who say they didn't like the ending probably feel that way only because the author gets to choose who lives and who dies. The reader loves the characters so much that they are mad & grieve when a favorite is killed off. But this was the Civil War! No soldier or American went without wounds. This is a book you will LOVE! I am glad I read it, bought it and I hope my review leads you to do the same! You'll be missing much if you never read Cold Mountain. Read it cover to cover!
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Summary: Stay Away!
Review: I had to read this book for book club and didn't think I would make it though. Please spare yourself, this book is long and depressing. I don't know how it won an award!
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Summary: Excellent!
Review: I loved this book! Charles Frazier is an amazing writer that did his homework. If you understand that he took five years to research and write this book, then you will really enjoy reading about the people and their way of life. I cannot say enough about this book...amazing story! Can't wait for the movie!
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Summary: This book was great!
Review: Even though I'm only 11, I read this book and I loved it. It was a great story of historical fiction, and I loved the way Charles Frazier talked about the characters' inner struggles, as well as their outer conflicts!
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Summary: Wonderful
Review: Not only is this book written well, but the topic is moving to me. As an avid Civil War "buff", I enjoyed this book because it presents a view of America at that time that differs from the traditional war novel and also touches the reader (some readers) with it's mixture of brutality and tenderness.
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Summary: Undying hope amidst death
Review: Not being a huge fan of Civil War era novels, I expected to yawn my way through Cold Mountain. Instead, I found a book that outstretched its hand to me, slowly closing its grip on my heart as each chapter unfolded. The stories of Inman and Ada, told separately but coming closer and closer together (both in text and in tale), drew me in until I felt like I too was living in the scarred landscape of Cold Mountain. The author does a fine job of telling the story without judgment, pretext, or personal agenda, leaving (and often forcing) the reader to draw his own conclusions. Despite the savagery and brutality depicted in many of the characters, the themes that persevere in this book are the undying hope of Inman and Ada, their faith in humanity, their acceptance of their destinies and their will to keep moving forward. Inman's attitude often brought to mind a quote by another sojourner with a mission, the apostle Paul, who wrote: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..." (Phil. 3:13) To echo what others have said, this book is beautifully haunting and remains with you long after you've put it down. When I finished it, I was overcome with gratitude for my life, my husband, and the love that human beings are capable of.
Rating:
Summary: Cold Mountain
Review: I don't think I'm a hard person to please when it comes to reading material. However, this book is a total drag. I cannot understand why it's a best seller. I'm doing you folks a favor here, heed my words, DULLSVILLE! I wish somebody had told me before I read it.
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