One of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain is a masterpiece that is at once an enthralling adventure, a stirring love story, and a luminous evocation of a vanished American in all its savagery, solitude, and splendor.
Sorely wounded and fatally disillusioned in the fighting at Petersburg, Inman, a Confederate soldier, decides to walk back to his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains and to Ada, the woman he loved there years before. His trek across the disintegrating South brings him into intimate and sometimes lethal converse with slaves and marauders, bounty hunters and witches, both helpful and malign. At the same time, Ada is trying to revive her father's derelict farm and learn to survive in a world where the old certainties have been swept away. As it interweaves their stories, Cold Mountain asserts itself as an authentic American Odyssey--hugely powerful, majestically lovely, and keenly moving.
Josephanie A. (puppyfred) from MANHATTAN BCH, CA wrote on 6/5/2007...
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
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.
Kellie S. (acountkel) from CHARLOTTE, NC wrote on 11/10/2006...
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
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
Leah D. (LeahinTexas) from HOUSTON, TX wrote on 9/28/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
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.
Cathy H. from DELTA, OH wrote on 3/13/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is about a confederate soldier who decides to walk back to his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He goes back to see the woman he loves...
Genevieve L. from PALMYRA, NJ wrote on 3/1/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
An extremely fascinating look at the culture and environs of the Smokey Mountains which I loved reading about since I visited there. A romantic story full of yearning, war, separation, passion. I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a good read.
Carolyn N. (WhenPigsFly) from S CHARLESTON, WV wrote on 2/22/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This National Book Award Winner, made into a movie, has become a classic. It is a bit of a hard read, but the ends do justify the means. The book is spell-binding, and a must for Civil War buffs.
Lindsey H. (lindsrn05) from LAFAYETTE, LA wrote on 1/28/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Sorely wounded and fatally disillusioned in the fighting at Petersburg, Inman, a Confederate soldier, decides to walk back to his home in the Blue Ridge Mtns, and to Ada, the women he loved there years before.....
Alice K. (dragonlayd) from BRIGHAM CITY, UT wrote on 1/9/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Historical, Civil War era tale of a Confederate soldier's attempt to walk back home to his love, Ada, through a disintigrating South torn apart by war. At the same time Ada is trying to survive on her father's derelict farm. If you saw the movie - read the book.
ANNA S. (SanJoseCa) from SAN JOSE, CA wrote on 11/29/2006...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A beautiful story of three characters (Ada, Ruby and Inman) and their journeys (both external and internal) while surviving a very difficult period (the Civil War.) A vey rich and colorful American Odyssey!
Doris M. (virtualteach) from FORT PIERCE, FL wrote on 11/14/2006...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Civil War novel chronicles a Confederate army deserter's search for home and love in the last days of the Civil War. Excellent prose.
Rate These Member Reviews
Laney W. (LaneyShirl) from SEATTLE, WA wrote on 2/28/2007...
Absolutely lovely writing and characterization. A great historical novel.
Andrew C. from NEWPORT, TN wrote on 2/24/2007...
This is not the type of book that i usually read,but this was an excellent book.I really enjoyed it.
Rick J. from ALLENTOWN, PA wrote on 2/1/2007...
This is a www.BookCrossing.com book with some underlining but is in good reading shape.
Kaci H. from ORANGEVALE, CA wrote on 1/25/2007...
Powerful book. A little slow to start, but worth it in the end!
Marie M. (Reej) from SKANEATELES, NY wrote on 12/17/2006...
The book is so much better than the movie...still tragic but much better relationship development.
Lucy C. (cuakereader) from RENSSELAER, NY wrote on 11/26/2006...
Gripping tale of the Civil War sensitively told...
Tracy P. from MOUNT VERNON, OH wrote on 11/23/2006...
I had a hard time getting into this book, but once I got through the first chapter, it was a good read.
Jeanne M. (silybum) from REDWOOD CITY, CA wrote on 10/26/2006...
Excellent!
Lynda C. (Readnmachine) from UMATILLA, OR wrote on 10/22/2006...
Frazier sets his American "Odyssey" in the waning days of the Civil War, and does a credible job with his wandering hero as he attempts to make his way home to his sweetheart. The story is fleshed out and made whole by alternating the journey with the story of the sweetheart, who is facing struggles of her own in a life turned upside-down.
Elaine G. (lipslady) from AUSTIN, TX wrote on 9/24/2006...
One of the best books I've ever read and I read 1-2 books a week!