The Rosewood Casket

Rating:
Summary: Mystical, long-winded, interesting, unbelieveable
Review: This book involves too many factors and is hard to keep straight. It might have been better as a family coming together over the dying father--finding out about themselves and each other. Instead there are ghosts, seers, murder, a long play-acted Daniel Boone scene, long-dead Indians and real estate developers. I liked the book, but she couldn't seem to settle on what it was really about.

Rating:
Summary: A Complete Bore
Review: This book is possibly the most boring novel I have ever read, and I have read a lot of books. I am in agreement with another reviewer in that the word "mystery" being applied to this book is a stretch. I fancy myself a fan of mysteries, and this one fails in the most elementary of mystery criteria; to keep the reader interested in the story and to provide an element of surprise. The problem here is not that the author didn't endeavor to surprise the reader at the end but that by the end of the book the reader no longer cares about the story, therefore rendering any potential surprises completely lacking in impact. The dialogue between characters is canned, and the characters themselves are cookie-cutter personalities without real depth. The only positive thing I can say about this book is that it is fairly quick reading. This allowed me to fulfill my self-imposed obligation to the loved one who gave it to me by finishing it.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging, satisfying, thoroughly enjoyable, a 10!
Review: This book takes place in the Appalachians, and brings to life the culture of the people and the history, both natural and personal, of the area. I loved learning about the early settlers, land, birds and trees of the area and much more while following the characters as they try to solve a mystery from long ago and a murder. I loved her other books, but this one was the best!

Rating:
Summary: This is McCrumb at Her Best
Review: This book was required reading for a Southern Literature Class, I took last year, and I immediately fell in love with the book. The characters in the book are well developed and the plot artfully merges a the past to the present--one of the continuing motifs in Southern Literature...(I know, because I made an A in the class.)

Rating:
Summary: A Complete Bore
Review: This is a book that almost every one can love. It is a loving picture of a family, and community, caught between traditional Appalachia and the 20th century. There is suspense and whimsy, sorrow and joy, and just an over all good story. All McCrumb's Appalachian novels are wonderful, but I think this is my favoriate.

Rating:
Summary: Really wonderful book
Review: This is a book that almost every one can love. It is a loving picture of a family, and community, caught between traditional Appalachia and the 20th century. There is suspense and whimsy, sorrow and joy, and just an over all good story. All McCrumb's Appalachian novels are wonderful, but I think this is my favoriate.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK-WILL GET YOU HOOKED ON ALL MCCRUMB'S.
Review: THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL BOOKS I HAVE READ BY MS.MCCRUMB. IT HAS GOT ME HOOKED! THE CHARACTERS ARE REAL, HAVE REAL FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND PROBLEMS, AND USE REAL DIALOGUE. I COULD RELATE THIS STORY OF 3 BROTHERS AND THEIR FATHER TO MY OWN SIBLINGS.

Rating:
Summary: The Rosewood Casket
Review: This was flat out the best book I have ever read and I have read a lot of books. I have also read "Zombies of the Gene Pool" by Sharyn McCrumb and that too held me on the edge of my seet. The Rosewood Casket is amazingly good. It is well written, has a lot of plot, and is just good! This book did something to me that most books don't do to me when I am reading them. It was the best book I ever read!

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: This was my first novel by Sharyn McCrumb and I loved it.It's not all that suspenseful-so if that's what you're looking for,you might be disappointed.Although the hunt at the end was exciting.This is a truly wonderful book about a family coming together when they find out that their father is on his deathbed.I loved all of the characters and from reading this novel I can tell that the author has good insight into what makes people talk and react the way they do.Her characters were wonderfully developed and I couldn't help but fall in love with themI'm sure we have all met people who have reminded us of some of the Stargills.The description of the mountains and land where the story took place was also done very well.It made me feel like I was there and not too many writers can make me feel that when I'm reading.I felt like I could feel the atmosphere of where everyone lived.I also like the way she tied the present with the past and the undercurrent of mystery added to the novel.Sharyn has got a new fan and I hope all of her other books are as enjoyable as this one was.I noticed our local library has The Ballad Of Frankie Silver so I think I'll go down and pick it up.

Rating:
Summary: A deep emtional story that everyone should read.
Review: When you first pick up this book you may think that it's just another murder mystery. However are you in for a real treat when you get your first taste of the master McCrumb weaving her tales of the Appalachian people and land into a very intense and somewhat haunting tale of history and emotions. Being myself from western North Carolina I can relate to the setting. But even someone who has never set foot outside the streets of a city can relate to the characters like Dovey Stallard, a woman caught in an entanglement of consequences or Robert Lee in his ever ending quest to make his daddy proud. It also tells how in death everyone may have a secret that needs to be let go and how these secrets can burden our lives while we are living. My take on this book may be a little different than most but I can guarantee that Sharyn McCrumb has found a fan for life.