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Summary: Frazier captures the vernacular of an era and a region.
Review: Having lived in the Tennessee area and traveled extensively in the Southeast and Carolinas, I reveled in not so much the plot but in the telling. Frazier's style recreates the mood and attitude of a distinctive part of the U.S. The synergy between his style and his material worked magic for me. I recommend this book highly to anyone familiar with Carolinas or Smokies and who wants to immerse himself or herself in a genuine novelistic experience.
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Summary: Restful thoughtful well written prose and story.
Review: A book one needs to read in long spells. The language is easy but simple and deep. A book one could read again and again because of the excellent language usage. A story based on Amercan history without gimmicks or catches. Most enjoyable.
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Summary: Loved this book!
Review: I heard this book read over the radio. It's a great story of history and romance and "what might have happened" in the era it was written. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I thought it was brilliant-well researched, moving, and very atmospheric. No words went to waste. This is writing at its best, even if you don't normally like historical fiction. The characters all start out fragmented, and end up whole. It is a great testament to the power of the human soul to sshow courage, find meaning, and heal through love.
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Summary: Disappointed
Review: Grew up on the East Coast, studied the Civil War and found this book extremely boring. Do not understand how it could be #1 for so long. It was well written but particcularly boring.
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Summary: Slow moving but gets better toward the end
Review: Quite boring at the start but pace picks up toward the end.
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Summary: Cold Mountain's simplicity is its story, a line from a to b.
Review: A must read. Cold Mountain has the ability to change one's opinion on the value of modern narrative literature. From the beginning of the novel, nearly to the end , the concentration of the narrator, unlike the storyline, remains focused. With such a style Frazier is able to maintain a great deal of honesty with his narrative, while obviously traversing southern, civil war culture in a tourlike fashion. Although the novel is not intended to budge the great barge of literary tradition or traverse the landscape of schematic excellence, it was, it seems, constructed truly from precision. In turn it tells one of the most intriguing "civil war era" stories in which one, for a brief time, can hope to participate.Cory Updyke
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Summary: A wordsmith of the 1st order has created true lyrical prose.
Review: Some suggested study guides: Why is it ok for us to accept Inman as a deserter? Is the "Hemingway" wound really necessary? What ingredients, if taken away, would make this an ordinary book? Is this a satisfying love story? Was the heartbreaking climax necessary? Why did Frazier create the last chapter as a puzzle, forcing us to count places at the table? Why is his detail so appealing? Where will this book fit into the spectrum of American fiction?
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Summary: the most beautifully written book I've ever read
Review: I picked this book up on a Saturday afternoon and did not sleep until I finished it at 12 noon the next day. Charles Frazier describes the Appalachian region in much the same way as I have always viewed it. My ancestors also came from this area and served on both sides of the Civil War, and his story could have been theirs. I longed for such a story to be told, and Mr. Frazier satisfied that longing. I am disturbed to find that the movie rights have been purchased as I do not know of anyone who could say on film what this book says to me.
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Summary: I kept waiting to get to the good part!
Review: I was looking forward to reading this book and I was very patient in waiting for the "great story" to begin. Unfortunately, by the time I was done waiting - the book was finished. The characters were dull and the long walk was just that, a long boring walk. The ending was also very anti-climatic. Of couse, at that point, I did not care what happened to any of the characters, I just wanted the book to be over so I could say I finished it. If this is great writing, I should start writing a book soon!
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