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theseventhl's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book as I was reading it, but the more I reflect on it, the more I love it, so screw it, five stars. Brilliant, layered writing as always from Ron Rash, with some powerhouse characters that are hard to forget - the number one being, of course, Serena. Hopefully I'll read some Ron Rash again sooner than later.
icalyn_13's review against another edition
3.0
Just finished this book. It is dark and twisty and hard to describe....and I'm having trouble deciding if this was a fantastic story or a horrible one.
It was exceptionally well written, the characters are very developed and you feel like you can see the mountains that are being described. There are so many pieces of the story that are happening at once, and it is like the story takes a turn to the dark side, and the characters barely realize the path they have just started down. Serena is one of the coldest, fiercest characters I've ever read. A part of me respects her for her strength, but she truly has no soul, which becomes painfully clear as the story moves forward.
Overall, I liked it, but I hated how much I ended up hating most of the characters. It's hard to enjoy a story when you are hoping for their demise.
It was exceptionally well written, the characters are very developed and you feel like you can see the mountains that are being described. There are so many pieces of the story that are happening at once, and it is like the story takes a turn to the dark side, and the characters barely realize the path they have just started down. Serena is one of the coldest, fiercest characters I've ever read. A part of me respects her for her strength, but she truly has no soul, which becomes painfully clear as the story moves forward.
Overall, I liked it, but I hated how much I ended up hating most of the characters. It's hard to enjoy a story when you are hoping for their demise.
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
beillumined's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the storyline of this book. I found it fascinating, I found the characters fascinating, I especially found Serena herself to be fascinating. But I wanted to know more, and that's what I never got out of it. I never got the "why"... we got to read bits and pieces about Serena's past... like, oooh, she burnt down her house and all the photographs, how mysterious. But what does that tell us about her? Well, heck if I know. Sure, she might be a little insane. Sure, she's pretty driven. But why? I wanted some background on her character. On all the characters. I felt like none of them had any dimension to them. I never connected to any of the characters. And I really did not understand the ending. Who was who at the end? It was an intriguing book over all, so I did enjoy it very much, but I can't give it 5 stars because of the lack of character development.
browardvanessa's review against another edition
3.0
It really picked up steam towards the end and that was the most interesting part. The beginning was OK, but the middle was slow going. There were parts I was happy with, others sad with and I suppose justice for one character. I did have a little trouble with understanding Serena, I just thought there would be more to her motives.
UPDATE AFTER WATCHING THE MOVIE
I now know why the movie went straight to DVD. What I don't know is why they changed so much of the book. I really couldn't connect with any of the characters. The movie was awful! At least the book focused on Serena's ambition. The movie twisted everything around and made a horrible story.
UPDATE AFTER WATCHING THE MOVIE
I now know why the movie went straight to DVD. What I don't know is why they changed so much of the book. I really couldn't connect with any of the characters. The movie was awful! At least the book focused on Serena's ambition. The movie twisted everything around and made a horrible story.
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
In Depression-era North Carolina, a lumber baron marries Serena and brings her to the lumber camps to live. Her ambition outmatches his and she drives him to succeed, prosper, and expand at any cost.
Wow. What a character Ron Rash has created in Serena. I detested her, but she is going to stick with me the way Lady MacBeth and Medea have. I had to admire her strength and ambition, but she was ruthless and proud of it. She almost seemed to see those weaker than her as prey, and she saw almost everyone as being weaker than her. There's a kind of mythology that springs up around her in the camp. She thinks of ingenious solutions to problems, such as rattlesnake bites among the loggers. She really doesn't care when loggers die though. It's the Depression after all, and for every one worker that dies or is disfigured, there are innumerable men waiting to take his place. I would have liked an explanation as to why she was the way she was. She grew up in the camps, and there's a dark past that's hinted at but never explained. Was she just born heartless or did something or someone shape her to be that way?
This book takes place practically in my backyard, and I had heard that these mountains were devastated back in the day. It's one thing to just kind of know that, and it's another to live it for two years inside a book. This one fictional camp ended in the clear-cutting of 34,000 acres. I can't even wrap my mind around that much land. I had to go Google some pictures. Look at these links. Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, today. Mount Mitchell in 1923. I don't understand how people look at a landscape and see not beauty, but dollar signs at any human and/or environmental cost. Ron Rash didn't hit me over the head with the environmental stuff, but there is sort of a Greek chorus of workers who occasionally look around and talk about how all the animals have left and how all the cool, clear mountain streams are now muddy and empty of fish because of run-off from the denuded slopes. There's a whole sub-plot about the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I was infuriated by the roadblocks these selfish, wealthy landowners threw up in the path to creating the park. I can understand a farmer not wanting to give up the land that has been in his family for generations. It makes me angry when people who are destroying the land stand in the way of those who are trying to preserve it. I'll get off my soapbox now.
This is not the book to pick up if you're looking for a light read. But for a fascinating look into a disturbing mind and a book where the landscape is practically a character, go ahead and read it. I do recommend it. Book clubs should find a lot to talk about in this one.
Wow. What a character Ron Rash has created in Serena. I detested her, but she is going to stick with me the way Lady MacBeth and Medea have. I had to admire her strength and ambition, but she was ruthless and proud of it. She almost seemed to see those weaker than her as prey, and she saw almost everyone as being weaker than her. There's a kind of mythology that springs up around her in the camp. She thinks of ingenious solutions to problems, such as rattlesnake bites among the loggers. She really doesn't care when loggers die though. It's the Depression after all, and for every one worker that dies or is disfigured, there are innumerable men waiting to take his place. I would have liked an explanation as to why she was the way she was. She grew up in the camps, and there's a dark past that's hinted at but never explained. Was she just born heartless or did something or someone shape her to be that way?
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This book takes place practically in my backyard, and I had heard that these mountains were devastated back in the day. It's one thing to just kind of know that, and it's another to live it for two years inside a book. This one fictional camp ended in the clear-cutting of 34,000 acres. I can't even wrap my mind around that much land. I had to go Google some pictures. Look at these links. Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, today. Mount Mitchell in 1923. I don't understand how people look at a landscape and see not beauty, but dollar signs at any human and/or environmental cost. Ron Rash didn't hit me over the head with the environmental stuff, but there is sort of a Greek chorus of workers who occasionally look around and talk about how all the animals have left and how all the cool, clear mountain streams are now muddy and empty of fish because of run-off from the denuded slopes. There's a whole sub-plot about the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I was infuriated by the roadblocks these selfish, wealthy landowners threw up in the path to creating the park. I can understand a farmer not wanting to give up the land that has been in his family for generations. It makes me angry when people who are destroying the land stand in the way of those who are trying to preserve it. I'll get off my soapbox now.
This is not the book to pick up if you're looking for a light read. But for a fascinating look into a disturbing mind and a book where the landscape is practically a character, go ahead and read it. I do recommend it. Book clubs should find a lot to talk about in this one.
maradd's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this story about a ruthless woman lumber baron. Great read!
stinkyfacegrace's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book overall. The book jacket gives away half the plot so initially I felt a little bored. But the characters are engaging and by the end I thought it was a satisfying read. This book isn't going to change your life but it succeeds in what it set out to do: entertain the reader.
brandonadaniels's review against another edition
5.0
“There’s men falling dead near about fast as the trees.”
Remarkable. Serena is one of the most mythical and memorable characters I have read. She reminded me of McCarthy’s The Judge.
Remarkable. Serena is one of the most mythical and memorable characters I have read. She reminded me of McCarthy’s The Judge.