Rating: 
Summary: Exceptional
Review: Cold Mountain is a story that seems to bring about strong emotions from readers. Overwhelmingly positive if you get it, scathingly negative if you don't. This book is not meant to be a quick, contemporary read. It is best read while not in a hurry and one can take his or her time and savor the words, descriptions, and everything in between. I can imagine type A personalities or John Grisham readers going absolutely insane reading this book and waiting for the 'action' scenes or the catchy dialog. In that regard it would be rather disappointing. In order to fully appreciate this book you must put aside the sensibilities of the modern world and allow your self to be placed into the world of Inman, Ada, Ruby, and the Civil War era. In that context it is not difficult to imagine the determination of Inman to return to Ada with the hopes of marrying her even though their love was never spoken of outright. In those times of American life people were much closer to the land and the natural world and the ties were of a stronger nature in many ways. Cold Mountain is a wonderful, appreciated break from todays MTV edited entertainment, fast food, quick marts, everyone wears a watch, world in which we live. Frazier presents us with the transformations of Inman, Ada, Ruby, and Stobrod in a subtle way. Readers will have to actually form their own points of character growth rather than have the author slap them in the face with it. The metaphors are also subtle and plentiful. Some pages or passages will have to be read a time or two to get the full impact of what you are reading. Yes, you will have to put forth some effort while reading this book as it is not spoon fed to you and you will have to appreciate good literature and the written word, but because of that this story will transcend mere entertainment or passage of time and will give you something to ponder and appreciate.One gripe I do have though: The first two paragraphs of the epilog do leave me a bit confused.
Rating: 
Summary: An American Classic
Review: 136 years after it ended it is hard to imagine the hell that was the American Civil War. Set against the backdrop of this horrible time in history is this beautifully written masterpiece about one man's great journey. A Confederate Soldier wounded in combat walks out of the hospital he is recuperating in and starts a long, long walk home. This is the the story of that perilous journey. Charles Frazier's writing is so beautiful, poetic and descriptive that you walk right along with the protagonist, Inman. You can see, hear and almost smell this world. It is true that at times it is very graphic and gruesome but so then was the real world in which this tale is based. The characters are so intricately created and brought to life that when it finally ends we feel as if we know them personally. Especially in the case of Inman we come to know a good and kind man who has been forever damaged by the atrocities he's seen and committed in the name of the fight. I found this novel to be a story about the hope and incredible resilience of the human spirit. It is destined to join the ranks of American masterpieces that came before it.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing and disturbing
Review: I cannot argue that Frazier has a wonderful command of language, and writes beautifully. However, the poetic language serves only to make his novel all the more jarring. The content is grotesque, bloody, disturbing, morbid, and simply depressing, and left me exhausted and unhappy when I finished it. I felt literally sick. One might say, then, that Frazier is a very effective writer, since his words engendered such an effect in me, but I felt no pathos for the characters, and so the novel failed in that respect. Inman would have been more aptly named Inhuman, and Ada was snobby and selfish. Both main characters lacked all worth and merit, other than the fact that their bodies were able to withstand hard work and physical punishment. The final blow didn't bother me in the least, because I never cared for the miserable characters to begin with. I only felt numb. Other parts of the story offended me outright; they seemed ludicrous. Ruby was the one character I liked, simply because she was stubborn and knew her way around. But then Frazier causes her to commit an act in the epilogue that is simply unforgivable. In addition, the ending was easily predicted: what could be more natural in Frazier's world of despair than for the strivings of these characters, and all Frazier's poetic words, to come to naught? I suffered through this novel to be betrayed in the end by an author who won't give the reader an atom of hope.
Rating:
Summary: A modern day Cervantes...
Review: I found this to be a wonderful book, beautifully crafted by a great storyteller. I am from the UK and the American Civil War is not a subject we learn a lot about at school so books like this are an education as well as a joy to read. Much of Cold Mountain reminded me of Don Quixote: the long journey, meeting a variety of characters on the way, the telling of their individual stories. Frazier is a modern day Cervantes! Recommended for those who enjoy a cracking yarn. A vivid story of love and war. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Each chapter, a poem...
Review: First, if you have an underdeveloped intellect and/or short attention span, please avoid Cold Mountain as this book is not for you. Second, if you were forced against your will to read this book (for class) please refrain from writing a review. If you read a book in a pissy mood from the start you probably won't enjoy it no matter how good it is. Third, this book is not ABOUT the Civil War. It is SET during the civil war years but is about the journeys (both spiritual and physical) of individual people during a time of great change. It is depressing that this masterpiece currently has a measily 3.5 star rating here. Cold Mountain is beautifully written, with each chapter (and often paragraph or sentence) being a poem unto itself. Extraordinary use of detail creates such vivid imagery that colors, sounds, smells, and tastes seem to leap from the pages. Charles Frazier superbly captures the quest of the two main characters as they search to find their true selves amidst the crazy world that tries to hide it from them. A modern classic.
Rating:
Summary: hard beauty
Review: I am not a fan of military history and did not approach this book expecting to read about battles, but I expect that there is plenty in Cold Mountain to interest the military buff, while it gives someone like me a look at history the way I like to see it--from a civilian perspective. I was fascinated by the descriptions of folk remedies, clothing, cooking, and farming, and I learned how the war scarred the South. Frazier tells the story through minutiae and with elegant language gives significance to common details, which often disclose life's cruelty. I was persuaded to think at a different pace, and I think that even if I had visited the North Carolina mountains during the Civil War, I would not feel so familiar with the place.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible depth, vivid detail
Review: Most of the books I read are "cozy" mysteries, so this was quite a different genre for me. The story is beautifully written. As a reader, I found myself walking along with Inman on his journey home, all the details running clearly through my head and investing myself emotionally to this character I grew to like as the journey went along. I don't cry at movies, I most certainly don't cry at the end of a book, but I cried at the end of this one. This is not an easy book to read - a depressing time with depressing characters, but this story is too well written to pass up. If you want to be swept up into another world and time for awhile, I would recommend picking this one up.
Rating:
Summary: It took my breath away
Review: As an artist, I have come across many paintings that literally took my breath away. I have read hundreds of books and this is the very first time, that I can say this about a book. It took my breath away.
Rating:
Summary: Cold Mountain, a vivid look at life during the Civil War
Review: I would have to say that Cold Mountain is one of the best books I have ever read. It gives a very detailed look at the life of a Confederate deserter. The beautiful landscapes and characters almost come alive with Charles Fraziers in depth descriptions. I enjoy reading war stories and even though Cold Mountain is not all about the Civil War the action parts in the book were more than enough to keep me reading. The book does a really good job of looking passed the mask of glory on war and shows the truth of the suffering it brings. I highly reccomend this book to everyone even if your not a fan of war stories you are able to ignore the battle parts of the story and pay more attention to the journey of Inman.
Rating:
Summary: "Cold Mountain" leaves me in the cold
Review: The book is a very good read. In fact, having grown up in that region of the South, Frazier's descriptions of things Southern brought back memories and gave my senses a fond tour through my childhood. BUT, I have one question for anyone who has also read this book... in the end (the epilogue) is Inman, alive or dead?
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