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auntieg0412's review against another edition
3.0
UPDATE: Okay, so I forced my eyes to stay open to finish this book last night, and wrote the review while VERY tired. So I was a little harsh. It was good, just not as good as I expected based on his other books. I've edited my review a little in the light of day.
Mr. Rash, I'm still going to read more of your books!
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This book was not nearly as good as The Cove or Serena. The first thing I didn't care for was that the chapters narrated by Becky were so rambling and nonsensical that they were hard to read.
Still don't feel it is Rash's best work.
Mr. Rash, I'm still going to read more of your books!
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This book was not nearly as good as The Cove or Serena. The first thing I didn't care for was that the chapters narrated by Becky were so rambling and nonsensical that they were hard to read.
Spoiler
But maybe Becky's rambling was to show her mixed-up state of mind, even after so many years. Second thing: what was the book's theme, anyway -- that it's okay to be a little corrupt if your heart is in the right place? That each man who wears the sheriff's badge gets to decide where the line sits? I couldn't decide whether to like Les or not. But -- in the light of day -- I guess every good guy's hat is a little bit grayed and worn.Still don't feel it is Rash's best work.
sarahbethveler's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
knitter22's review
4.0
Not many authors could pull off poetically beautiful writing about meth, Appalachia, a pragmatic sheriff, and a deeply traumatized park ranger, but Ron Rash did it wonderfully in Above the Waterfall. The story is told in chapters alternating between Les, a straightforward and soon-retiring sheriff, and Becky, a park ranger who has found solace in nature after a harrowing childhood experience. Les' observations are stark, simple, and truthful, while Becky's are much more idyllic and lyrical, but together they provide a clear, descriptive picture of life, both beautiful and brutal, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The plot includes an eco-terrorist, but for me, this book was much more about the speckled brook trout than who poisoned the trout stream.
This 4.5 star book is the first I've read by Ron Rash, but I anticipate reading many more.
Book Bingo 2016 – Borrowed from the library
This 4.5 star book is the first I've read by Ron Rash, but I anticipate reading many more.
Book Bingo 2016 – Borrowed from the library
atgerstner's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
ellehamp's review against another edition
4.0
Great story but annoying that you couldn't always tell the point of view.
maigahannatu's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first Ron Rash book and I'll probably read more.
It's hard to say what this book is about. It seems more about the development of characters and about real life than about a deeply complex plot. The sheriff, Les, who is about to retire, has seen things difficult to deal with, most of them the effects of meth addictions. Becky, the park ranger, was traumatized by a school shooting in her elementary days. Les and Becky alternate telling their stories, Les in prose and Becky mostly in poetry. Tying the store together is an old man that Becky has befriended. He is accused of a crime which he did not commit.
One of the questions you are left to ponder in this story is should a police officer not bring a crime to justice when to do so would bring about a worse outcome than to punish the crime.
It's hard to say what this book is about. It seems more about the development of characters and about real life than about a deeply complex plot. The sheriff, Les, who is about to retire, has seen things difficult to deal with, most of them the effects of meth addictions. Becky, the park ranger, was traumatized by a school shooting in her elementary days. Les and Becky alternate telling their stories, Les in prose and Becky mostly in poetry. Tying the store together is an old man that Becky has befriended. He is accused of a crime which he did not commit.
One of the questions you are left to ponder in this story is should a police officer not bring a crime to justice when to do so would bring about a worse outcome than to punish the crime.
maureenmccombs's review against another edition
4.0
"Though sunlight tinges the mountains, black leatherwinged bodies swing low. First fireflies blink languidly. Beyond this meadow, cicadas rev and slow like sewing machines. All else ready for night except night itself. I watch last light lift off level land. Ground shadows seep and thicken. Circling trees form banks. The meadow itself becomes a pond filling, on its surface dozens of black-eyed susans." And so goes the first paragraph of Ron Rash's upcoming book, Above the Waterfall. Reading this passage for me was like taking a nice, deep breath of fresh air. Quiet words all strung together to create something simply beautiful.
The synopsis for this book on GR references the movie Serena based on the book of the same name by Rash. What a shame. That movie was an abomination and that book was breathtakingly tremendous. But I digress. Above the Waterfall is quiet throughout - for me it is the things that Rash does not say that are just as important as the things he does. He is a masterful writer in my opinion and this outing is excellent. I was not wowed like I was with Serena so I couldn't go with the 5th star, but this is still a book worthy of the author's copious talent and the reader's investment of time. Definitely recommend.
ARC from publisher
The synopsis for this book on GR references the movie Serena based on the book of the same name by Rash. What a shame. That movie was an abomination and that book was breathtakingly tremendous. But I digress. Above the Waterfall is quiet throughout - for me it is the things that Rash does not say that are just as important as the things he does. He is a masterful writer in my opinion and this outing is excellent. I was not wowed like I was with Serena so I couldn't go with the 5th star, but this is still a book worthy of the author's copious talent and the reader's investment of time. Definitely recommend.
ARC from publisher
gladiolus17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed the writing on a sentence level. Listening to the audiobook was a fantastic experience, since I could hear the poetry read aloud and hear all the wonderful alliteration. I felt like each sentence in this book was chosen with care.
As well, I appreciated the angle of the meth use. Meth destroys a person and makes them selfish.
Finally, I enjoyed the nature scenes, and I enjoyed that all Gerald wanted to do was look at the fish, which is why he went to the resort. It was so simple and pure.
On a macro level, although I liked Becky’s poetry, I felt like her story had little to do with the overall plot. The bits about the school shooting did not affect any of her actions nor any of Les’ actions, and she seemed to be reactive to the plot rather than driving the plot most of the time. I would’ve liked to see her play a bigger part in the story.
As well, I appreciated the angle of the meth use. Meth destroys a person and makes them selfish.
Finally, I enjoyed the nature scenes, and I enjoyed that all Gerald wanted to do was look at the fish, which is why he went to the resort. It was so simple and pure.
On a macro level, although I liked Becky’s poetry, I felt like her story had little to do with the overall plot. The bits about the school shooting did not affect any of her actions nor any of Les’ actions, and she seemed to be reactive to the plot rather than driving the plot most of the time. I would’ve liked to see her play a bigger part in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Mass/school shootings
ida_ree's review against another edition
4.0
Shave off a fraction of the fourth star for a couple of small editorial inconsistencies that bugged me. Getting past that, every Ron Rash story I've ever read employs poetic use of language, and the story and characters are good.
Les is an about-to-retire sheriff in an Appalachian community. Becky is a park ranger who is new to the area and finds peace from a traumatic past in the North Carolina mountains. Together, the two of them investigate the poisoning of a local trout stream. In the process, they must deal with generations-long grudges and alliances among the locals, as well as their own pasts and current flaws. The meth epidemic, something familiar to this Missouri girl, is almost a character itself.
The story is told in alternating points of view, with Les's voice being down-to-earth, straight narrative and practical. Meanwhile, Becky's passages are more stream-of-consciousness, laden with images from the woods and streams.
Les is an about-to-retire sheriff in an Appalachian community. Becky is a park ranger who is new to the area and finds peace from a traumatic past in the North Carolina mountains. Together, the two of them investigate the poisoning of a local trout stream. In the process, they must deal with generations-long grudges and alliances among the locals, as well as their own pasts and current flaws. The meth epidemic, something familiar to this Missouri girl, is almost a character itself.
The story is told in alternating points of view, with Les's voice being down-to-earth, straight narrative and practical. Meanwhile, Becky's passages are more stream-of-consciousness, laden with images from the woods and streams.
kristio114's review against another edition
3.0
This book is beautifully written, with lyrical prose that makes you feel as if you're deep in the Appalachian woods, watching the rainbow trout winnow through the water. However, the author also paints a very realistic portrait of meth use and its effects on the people of that region, particularly blue collar white folks in rural America. I loved the story and its nuanced portrayal of the gray areas that the main character faced, but the end was not as satisfying as I could have hoped.