Search - Cold Mountain

Some people may just adore this book. For some reason, I have never been able to get into it. I've attempted to read this book several times, and just lose interest. Perhaps this book will do better in the hands of another reader.

So many have given this book enthusiastic reviews and called it great literature. I did not like it, nor did I consider it great writing.

I know it is fiction, but I wonder how accurately it portrays the time of the Civil War. I think the author has taken a current worldview and applied it to that time. There is no authentic Christianity in it. All of the characters that Inman meets on his travels home are crude or criminals or primative. I know that is probably to set the mood of the times, but I think there was some (if not much) geniune Christianity, true religion that gave the hopeless hope during that desperate time. Look at how many in our country turned to religion (in some form or another) after the 9/11 attacks.

I read over three-fourths of the way through it, skimmed through the rest, then just decided to not finish reading it carefully. I thought the ending was unsatisfying.

I have read books that did not have happy, neatly wrapped up endings (such as Cancer Ward, The Chosen). I do not think this book in the same category as these.

This is about a man who is making is way home from the Civil War after being injured. (Through the North Carolina Mountains) His drive is behind a woman he barely knows. The story goes back and forth between his journey and what is happening in her life as he is making his way. I enjoyed the depiction of what life was like in the mountains during this time. How hard life was. How hard you had to work to survive. I enjoyed it so much, it made me wants to learn to grow and cook like they did. Just to get the feeling

The book was better than the movie. But, they usually are.

I absolutely loved this book. I was drawn into the characters and journeyed with them. You, literally, never know what will be around the next corner for each character. I can't wait to read another Charles Frazier book.

Fabulous tale of an epic journey. Some chapters describe very strange events, but some how it is easy to suspend disbelief. The characters are rich and colorful. If you are familiar with the geography, it is even more interesting.