Rating: Summary: A supremely long drag with little character development. Review: The only mildly interesting character in the whole book was maybe Ada, and the highlight of her metamorphosis was when she finally killed two turkeys. Boring, inconsistent, the book reads like a bad rip-off of A Pilgrim's Progress and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The killing of just about every animal in North America, save the wolf and the panther, is richly detailed every two pages. Had I known that this was the ultimate epiphany of the book or the author, I would never have read it. I want my money back!
Rating: Summary: A tale told with rich discriptive prose. A must read! Review: Never have I had so much empathy with a character in a book.When Inman was hungry,I was hungry. I could feel the changing of the wheather and smell the air. Once, it occured to me that this could have been my great grandfather. Easily the best walk that I have taken and I never left the couch.
Rating: Summary: A book everyone should read! Review: The description that Frazier writes of makes the reader feel as though we are following Inman on his journey back home. I could not put this book down. This is a must read for everyone.
Rating: Summary: BORING....WHAT IS ALL THE HYPE? Review: THIS could have been a good book, but just could not hold my interest. It was boring for all but maybe 100 pages. If this book was edited down, maybe. A good story line and this would probably make a great movie. There was too much babble, i found it hard to concentrate and enjoy. This book has been winning awards???? I know several people who put it down after 100 pages. It is just not gripping, although it could have been.
Rating: Summary: Generic Review: Nicely written and detailed, but generic. The ending is banal.
Rating: Summary: I can't finish it!!!! Review: I swear, I tried! But I simply cannot force myself to read another page. From the start, several things were clear: Frazier has some talent, he spent a lot of time writing this book, he did his research, and he REALLY wants this to be a well-written, enduring novel. The problem: It is damn boring and doesn't have any driving force behind it.I literally swilled coffee at night to attempt finishing Cold Mountain. I would read a page or two, trying desperately to appreciate the "good writing", but there wasn't much in terms of that, and my eyes had the habit of getting progressively heavier with each passing paragraph. The fact that the publisher allows a reviewer to invoke Hemingway's "Farewell to Arms" on the jacket cover of "Cold Mountain" is a matter of dishonor. If anyone is considering the purchase of this novel, don't just buy it because it is new and has garnered good reviews. Such reviews only reflect the sorry state of current fiction writing. Take my suggestion and read Crane's "Red Badge of Courage" instead. It is superior in all respects to Frazier's book. I hereby declare, I will not read another boring, tedious, ho-hum page of Cold Mountain. I just got up and put it in a box where it will stay.
Rating: Summary: An arresting story in rather turgid prose Review: I found it very difficult to get into this novel because of the author's rather turgid brand of prose. The storyline was quite interesting,although I felt like I walked the entire journey with Inman, in real time! The most arresting parts of the book were firstly the relationship between Ada and Ruby,and the strange character of Stobrod and the descriptions of the music he invented.Despite my criticisms I did have to read on to find out how it ended!
Rating: Summary: Wonderful Review: In short, this inventive and romantic novel was truly epic in scope and beautifully written. I have rarely read such a good first novel.
Rating: Summary: Great! Review: This book is compelling not only in regards to the story but, more particularly, by the language and the voice achieved by the author. I believe it to be a masterpiece.
Rating: Summary: Dazed and confused Review: After two monthes, I still can't get this book out of my head. What's worse is that I haven't been able to talk to anyone who has read it.I thought this was one of the best historic novels I have ever read. BUT what an ending!! I reread the ending at least 3 times and still don't know what to think. I am so glad to see I'm not the only one wondering what happened.
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