The Hinterlands: A Mountain Tale in Three Parts

Rating:
Summary: 3 generations-people and panthers
Review: I laughed so much during the second part of this book. A young man runs 20 some miles through the forest holding onto a pig's tail with one hand and a hatchet in the other hand to chop a trail for the first road in the area. His adventures during that memorable day make great reading and a good laugh. Anyone who loves the south and mountain folks will appreciate this book from Robert Morgan.

Rating:
Summary: Three interconnected Stories of Early Life in Western NC
Review: Imagine as a small child you sat down in the cozy little living room of your grandmother's home with your brothers and sisters and perhaps a few cousins and your grandma starting sharing stories about her early life. It's in the first person and she's telling about how she came to meet your grandpa and how they made a life together and what it was like opening the West. Now I don't meet the Far West but simply extending life beyond the coastal area of North Carolina inland toward the Mountains and into Tennessee in the 1700s. That's the delightful manner in which Robert Morgan shares information in three parts of the life and times of early settlers, and specific families, around the mountain communities of Asheville, NC (that's 'ASH vul' for those not familiar with the area). There's several surprises so don't think you'll know what's coming. And the language is true to form using such words as painter when talking about a panther. An animal that has mostly been hunted into oblivion in most parts of the US. Each part is told by someone different, several generations apart but through little hooks within each story the reader is provided an opportunity to share in the joys and sorrows of each family. The book is easy reading and keeps your attention throughout and what I especially liked was the sharing of tidbits of information of what was like in those times. This is a book you won't put down once you start it.

Rating:
Summary: 3 generations-people and panthers
Review: The first part is riveting, about a woman misled, then abandoned. The second is mediocre- interesting but monotonuos and long, the third part is throwaway and even though it is short, it is monotonous as well. There is not enough humor: a story about a man who chases a pig for 150 pages should be hilarious but it didn't even bring a smile to this reader's lips. Don't waste your time.

Rating:
Summary: making lives and dreams unfold..............
Review: This is a marvelously warm and engaging story that is told in three parts about a family deep in the Southern mountains and how they made their lives and dreams unfold. The stories are said to be based on Robert Morgan's own family tales and they carry on the feel of the elders of the family telling the youngsters about life and living and it's true meaning. The dialogue is deceptively simple, creating a warm undercurrent to the intensity of the memories being shared. I adore Robert Morgan and his ability to create such wondrous everyday characters that reach beyond themselves to find love, faith and strength.

Rating:
Summary: making lives and dreams unfold..............
Review: This is a marvelously warm and engaging story that is told in three parts about a family deep in the Southern mountains and how they made their lives and dreams unfold. The stories are said to be based on Robert Morgan's own family tales and they carry on the feel of the elders of the family telling the youngsters about life and living and it's true meaning. The dialogue is deceptively simple, creating a warm undercurrent to the intensity of the memories being shared. I adore Robert Morgan and his ability to create such wondrous everyday characters that reach beyond themselves to find love, faith and strength.

Rating:
Summary: Carolina Boy Makes Good......
Review: This was an extremely well written book, and I should know, having grown up in the area these stories originated from. Mr. Morgan writes in the language of the Carolina Mountain people. A language that soothes the soul, and calls us home. As we would say here in NC to this author,"You done your Mama proud."