Reviews

Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

joannag101's review against another edition

3.0

It took me quite a while to get into this book. I wasn't until about halfway through that I really started to enjoy it.

tammys_take's review against another edition

5.0

As with his first novel Cold Mountain, this book was a stunning portrayal and homage to the land and people in the 1800s. Frazier has a way of describing this bygone world with reverence, awe, and respect. I feel that I am transported to this time and place when I read his novels.

This story follows Will Cooper, abandoned by his blood relatives and sold to man a solitary outpost on the fringe between the known Americas and the Cherokee Nation, he is later adopted by the local Cherokee Chief, Bear. Here begins his unending loyalty to a people who called him their own, and here he falls in love with Claire, a mixed race girl with means. A coming of age story, a tribute to the Cherokee Nation, a saga about life, death and in between this novel is beautiful and melancholy.

I found myself digging into historical events and people, relearning historical events in different contexts and loved every moment.

fractaltexan's review

4.0

An interesting book that was a pleasure to read. That said, I feel that around Part IV, the story started to be rushed through, at least in small ways.

Regardless, Frazier's work was well written and a wonderful read.

twildsmith's review against another edition

3.0

Frazier is an expert at painting pictures with his words. This expertise also makes him wordy and overly descriptive. I think if Frazier could find a way to tell us how the pine trees smelled in one paragraph instead of 10, I would've enjoyed the book a lot more. The story was good. The characters were good. It was just a little wordy and long for the plot line.

shc's review

4.0

Exquisitely well written, though it droned on in places. I won't have to read another novel of loss and regret for a long time, this one sticks with you.

msnyderk's review against another edition

4.0

I am just beginning to digest this book. I think it will be with me for a while. It is such a unique book. For me, the time period is so interesting and draws me to it. Will, Featherstone, Bear, Clare....so many good characters. So many compelling stories within the story. There were a few times it dragged a little for me, hence the four stars. Still, a really well written book.

swoody788's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lherrou's review against another edition

2.0

Incredible prose. If prose for the sake of prose brings you joy, then read this book. Otherwise, the characters are flat, the emotions generated are artificial... Frazier's amazing talents are wasted here.

lbb00ks's review against another edition

Cold Mountain is one of my favorite books of all time. I found the prose breathtaking and the backdrop story and love story engrossing. I was not quite as taken with Thirteen Moons, even though the backdrop story of the Trail of Tears is told from a dispassionately interesting perspective. I never warmed up to the narrator completely, nor could I always understand the emotionality of his motivations and actions.

bridgett's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5