Rating: 
Summary: An Enchanting Journey
Review: I must admit that I was surprised by the degree of negativity in some of these online reviews. Perhaps in a society plagued with instant everything, there are those who are unable to appreciate a novel such as "Cold Mountain." This book is a journey, not a destination. The ending is not happy, nor is it earth-shattering; it is a vivid reminder of life's cruelties and disappointments, and I believe Charles Frazier crafted the ending to be disappointing. Read "Cold Mountain" if you can appreciate a beautifully sculpted scene that is gradually created before your eyes. The only instant gratification you will receive from this novel is the lovely and haunting imagery.
Rating: 
Summary: Artistic prose? I think not.
Review: It seemed like the author was trying too hard to make the book sound "beautifully written" and overdid it a bit. I found myself lost in a mire of pointless descriptions and irrelevent tangients. True, this book isn't meant to be action-packed fodder for the masses like you find in big-budget movies. But, I don't think that's the problem. Even slow-paced books have got to be interesting and follow the basic elements of good writing like having a detectable plot, for example. You don't have to flower and fluff the words to be well written. I didn't fall for it. If you want a good historical fiction novel, I suggest James Michener or Steven Crane.
Rating:
Summary: SO WONDERFUL THAT I'M TEACHING IT IN MY AMERICAN LIT CLASSES
Review: It was interesting to note, as I surveyed the customer comments, that the reviews which were posted closer to the book's publication were much more glowing than those posted most recently. I attribute this phenomenon to the fact that COLD MOUNTAIN is unlike any other current bestseller (or any in recent memory) in that it is both literary and entertaining. Perhaps many of the more current reviews are from readers who happened upon it after a half-day trist with John Grisham. I am currently teaching the novel in my junior American Literature classes. There has been mixed reaction among the students as well. Many of the better readers in the class are enjoying it immensely, whereas others are floundering somewhat. Everyone was intrigued, though, with the chapter at the slanted house. Halfway through our reading of it, I would say that I would not hesitate to read it again. We know more about the Civil War when that peach pit pushes itself out of Inman's neck than we did during all of KILLER ANGELS. The book is a true feast for anyone who loves beautiful writing.
Rating:
Summary: A book to be read and re-read
Review: The tale of Inman's journey home was captivating. I was particularly intrigued with the characters he met along the way; reminded me of the colorful characters portrayed in Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove". Frazier's first novel sure is a winner.
Rating:
Summary: This book actually took me to the battlefield.
Review: This book was absolutely one of the best I have ever read.You could smell the blood, dirt, and horid things that happened.You could view the lush landscape- it was all woven into a very moving story.This guy can really tell a story, I hope I'll be reading another real soon! I hated for Cold Mountain to end.
Rating: 
Summary: overrated, slow moving litany of civil war times
Review: I was quite disappointed after all the rave reviews, including a few of my colleagues who liked the book----I skimmed the last 100 pages just to convince myself that I wasn't missing the good part---there never was a good part for me; A good friend of mine just started reading it this week, and had the same impression; she is not going to finish it
Rating: 
Summary: Socialist Realism
Review: It is hard for me to believe that someone in North Carolina could write a book that is a perfect example of Socialist Realism. It is a story of a proliteriat peasant woman who reforms bourgeois woman into a better life on the land. The hero has deserted an army fighting a war he does not understand. He meets only problems in the cities. The war could have been World War I instead of the Civil War. The army could have been the Czar's army instead of the Confederate. Are the mountains the Carpathian or the Urals? To me the plot is so unreal that it fits Socialist Realism. Lenin and Stalin would have loved it. I did not.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging, well researched historical novel
Review: If you seek instant gratification do not involve yourself with novel. Actually, the story does not start slowly, rather it starts patiently. Mr. Frazier takes his time developing his characters so that when he begins to engage them into the story, the reader has a good feel for the character. I chose to read this book in the evening at the pace it was written, and I would rate it among the top three Civil War novels I have read
Rating:
Summary: Yuck
Review: I read this book on the recommendation of friend I trust. She loved it. I hated it. It has Oprah Book Club written all over it, and by that I mean books which try to sell you mundane and commonplace happenings as Great Thoughts. It's The Bridges of Madison County all over again. I just don't get it. And don't think it's because I'm not smart enough. I'm a historian by trade and I can tell you--this book is bad.I could go on and on about how poorly written and how contrived it is, but the thing I find most disturbing about it is his treatment of women. Ada goes from an intellectual to a farm wife, learning what the Really Important things in life are: cooking, cleaning, and working in the fields. Such a lovely view of women. I feel sorry for Mr. Frasier's female counterparts in his academic department.
Rating:
Summary: Why All the Fuss?
Review: The first thing I noticed was that the typeface was too small. Then, it went downhill from there. I have no idea why this book is so uniformly loved, I truly don't. I tried reading it but stopped around page 75 or so. When I start a book I always finish it. This is one of the few times where I said "no". I just didn't care about the characters or the plot. When I find myself flipping thru pages to the back of the book I know the book's in trouble. That's what I did with "Cold Mountain". Read, flip, read, flip, flip, stop, look out the train window, flip, read, stop. This was my routine for a few days then I gave up. I brought the book back and picked up "Underworld" and "Into Thin Air". Now if you want good books, read these!
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