King's Oak

Rating:
Summary: An affecting, convincing book
Review: Although I do like the author, I didn't want to read this book because hunting disgusts me. I started it anyways and was absolutely entranced. It's a fascinating, surprising book that I underestimated. It's one of her best.

Rating:
Summary: Startlingly wonderful
Review: I bought the book because I so loved Hill Towns and Outer Banks and Downtown, but I didn't read it for a while because it sounded sort of dopey and I don't care for hunting. I finally started it and was swept into another world. It's full of compelling, fascinating people and the plot is surprising and touching. Just like Andy, I started out despising hunters and thought that nothing could change my mind. I loved it, it's one of her best and I don't know why I put off enjoying the book.

Rating:
Summary: I'll be honest...
Review: I can't stand books that have more adjectives then verbs. I got to page four and threw it across the room. I have no idea of the plot. I have no idea of the characters. I couldn't get past all the adjectives. I like my stories to include descriptions, but when I run into writing this full of itself, I just want to vomit. It may be a great story. I don't know. But, in my opinion, if you like stories that move rather than stories that 'chase banality like a hound a rabbit,' buy a different book.

Rating:
Summary: I'll be honest...
Review: I can't stand books that have more adjectives then verbs. I got to page four and threw it across the room. I have no idea of the plot. I have no idea of the characters. I couldn't get past all the adjectives. I like my stories to include descriptions, but when I run into writing this full of itself, I just want to vomit. It may be a great story. I don't know. But, in my opinion, if you like stories that move rather than stories that 'chase banality like a hound a rabbit,' buy a different book.

Rating:
Summary: Awful ending ruins book
Review: I enjoyed the book until the ending (particularly the epilogue). The end so bad I doubt I will ever read another book by Siddons again. For Andy to return to the woods - to live non-the-less - is utterly unbelievable especially considering the extent of the contamination described by the author. By the end, the melodramatic drivel was making me ill (and that's coming from someone who loved "Low Country"). It's certainly not worth the time it takes to read.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Book-A Forestry Background
Review: I found this book interesting enough once I started getting into it. Diana, the main character, along with her daughter Hilary, took refuge in Pemberton after their hard-knock life with Diana's husband,and Hilary's father. Diana never was too sure about hunting at first until she meets Tom Dabney, a forest ranger in the woods, whom she falls in love with. The relationship between Tom and Andy is complex, as Andy has trouble understanding Tom's desire for hunting. The story moves on from there as there is trouble behind animals dying in the woods and someone is poisoning the water. A good read, but i wouldn't say it is Siddons very best.

Rating:
Summary: King's Oak
Review: I have never been so mezmorized as I have with Ann Rivers Siddon's book. I read 14 books in about three weeks. King's Oak was by far one of the best. I was thrilled with the way the characters in the book depict real life people. I loved Tom and the way he steped outside of the norm of everyday life. There always seems to be such a deep understanding of the many facets of a human being that go on below the surface of life that the author seems to capture in all of her books. The interplay between the rugged carefree Tom, versus the deep caring emotional man, at one with nature was extremly appealing to me. I would recomend this book to men and women alike if for no other reason than to understand the differences that society faces regarding the hunting of animals and the sacredness that has been lost over time. Thank you Ann!

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating characters, interesting plot!
Review: It was so refreshing to read a book that focuses on an alternative life in a positive way. Many people are now into seeking lifestyles and a spiritual path that will help them grow and learn. Often these choices are tied to the environment and helping our planet survive. This is the underlying theme of King's Oak. Even tho the book was written almost 10 year ago, the concerns and issues raised are more important now than ever before. Siddons could have probably chopped almost 100 pages off, it does get tedious after while, but I found myself involved and caring about the characters and the land. I would highly recommend King's Oak, especially to those who have never read Siddons before or to book clubs who would love to have something meaty and relevant to discuss.

Rating:
Summary: Animal lovers beware
Review: Siddons tries hard to make us care about the spiritual, one-with-nature character of her wild mountain man Tom Dabney, but the truth is he's a sadistic and evil beast who ritually sacrifices healthy animals to appease some unknown force in the woods. I normally enjoy Siddons' books, but this one was a huge disappointment. Disgusting descriptions of hunting and cruelty to animals.

Rating:
Summary: A waste of time.
Review: The author's lengthy descriptions of EVERYTHING!! Every tree, every blade of grass, every change in the weather, every emotion felt by Andy, the feel of every fabric, on and on and on. So tedious!! After reading so many books by this author I was very disappointed in "King's Oak". No more Anne Rivers Siddons for me.