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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I finished this book a week ago; however, I wanted to take my time to write a review. First off, my love for all things Michael McDowell led me to this series. The originality of his novel, The Elementals and the slow burn of the protagonist in The Amulet cemented his literary presence in my bookcase. After seeing this offered as a 2 for 1 from Audible, I felt it was the perfect time to begin this 30 hour magnum opus. I didn't want to rush this series or take any extended breaks; however, classes became demanding and life delivers time in morsels for new parents. Notwithstanding my choppy schedule, I was able to immerse myself into this family saga for over a year. I never skipped around or threw in the towel. After entering the world of McDowell, thoughts like that are impossible to conjure up. Another note, it would be a disservice to the Goodreads community if I didn't mention the oratorical prowess of Matt Godfrey. Blackwater is an artistic juggernaut on its own, but as an audio book, it transcends the original world of its creator. The people behind Valancourt Books have impeccable taste and instincts to create such a perfect union. All in all, this is a package for the ages.
Blackwater is about the small town of Perdido Alabama after one of the most devastating floods in its history. While a majority of the area is underwater, Oscar Caskey ventures out in a rowboat to survey the damage to the town, and the prized Caskey mill. When he rescues a woman atop the Osceola Hotel, his life, and that of his family is altered forever.
This book will make you judge and then question your own judgement. Your ethical tolerance will be stretched and prodded into something new. The Caskeys are interesting clan, and their story is best taken with patience. It encompasses the meek southern mentality and all its familial principles. As the town changes, the world changes around it. For instance, homosexuality is big theme and it is explored in interesting, subtle ways. Also, the role of a woman plays a huge part within this story and juxtaposes with the ingrained masculinity of the time. The early part of this novel takes place in the 1920s and then steamrolls into World War II and beyond. Nonetheless, a wonderful meditation on world events, through the guise of small-town America.
Blackwater is about the small town of Perdido Alabama after one of the most devastating floods in its history. While a majority of the area is underwater, Oscar Caskey ventures out in a rowboat to survey the damage to the town, and the prized Caskey mill. When he rescues a woman atop the Osceola Hotel, his life, and that of his family is altered forever.
This book will make you judge and then question your own judgement. Your ethical tolerance will be stretched and prodded into something new. The Caskeys are interesting clan, and their story is best taken with patience. It encompasses the meek southern mentality and all its familial principles. As the town changes, the world changes around it. For instance, homosexuality is big theme and it is explored in interesting, subtle ways. Also, the role of a woman plays a huge part within this story and juxtaposes with the ingrained masculinity of the time. The early part of this novel takes place in the 1920s and then steamrolls into World War II and beyond. Nonetheless, a wonderful meditation on world events, through the guise of small-town America.
A family saga spanning over generations with unsettling folk lore-ish themes. Not outright horror, but very very enjoyable. On the surface level, we are gifted complex family dynamics with believable characters. Past that exists a mysterious and impending sense of the supernatural. This ambiguous quality is what made the book truly shine in contrast to its harsh light on reality (aging, uncompromising death, nature, societal expectations, etc. etc.) and picture-perfect immersion into the rural South.
this series didnt grab me, but the narrator kept me listening to the end
This series was very inconsistent. Book one was pretty slow and not what I was expecting (I was hoping for horror and instead got lazy southern small town life)
I started to get into the characters and setting during book two and three- the characters' quirks and family dynamic became compelling and comforting - but it wore thin during the final 3 books. It was especially frustrating when something spooky, or unnatural would happen and the characters would just shrug and ignore it - eliminating any sense of suspense and tension.
Unfortunately the length just makes this series not worth the slog.
I started to get into the characters and setting during book two and three- the characters' quirks and family dynamic became compelling and comforting - but it wore thin during the final 3 books. It was especially frustrating when something spooky, or unnatural would happen and the characters would just shrug and ignore it - eliminating any sense of suspense and tension.
Unfortunately the length just makes this series not worth the slog.
On the one hand, the writing is excellent. On the other hand, this series is pretty racist. In the prologue to the first book, we meet a black servant who we're told learned to be more responsible after being beaten over the head with a 2x4. Charming.
The white characters are complex, flawed, devious, and fundamentally interesting people. The black characters are cheerful, hard-working, loyal servants with no interests other than tending to the white people's needs. It gets better by the end of the series, but only barely.
Meanwhile, the story itself is less "horror" than it is "Southern Gothic in which not all the characters are human." If that's your thing, and you can look past the racism, you'll probably enjoy this series.
The white characters are complex, flawed, devious, and fundamentally interesting people. The black characters are cheerful, hard-working, loyal servants with no interests other than tending to the white people's needs. It gets better by the end of the series, but only barely.
Meanwhile, the story itself is less "horror" than it is "Southern Gothic in which not all the characters are human." If that's your thing, and you can look past the racism, you'll probably enjoy this series.
Oh, awesome, in the olden sense of the word. This really is a master work. I never wanted to leave the town of Perdido, Alabama. A river monster joins a family and over half a century plays out a capitalist’s wet dream—as the monstrous Caskey family grows you slowly fall in love with all of them, even the wretched ones. The climax has left a hole in my heart. It’s not even horror; it’s just plain old literature.
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An absolute treasure of a series, worth enjoying in one fell swoop and via audiobook. The rich narration does the story wonders and truly brings the characters to life. This is a slow burn of a novel(s); the pace seemed to effortlessly fit the heat of Southern Alabama and I absolutely luxuriated in it. I couldn’t be happier to have stumbled across this in an Audible sale. Truly exemplary.