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jdintr's review against another edition
3.0
My grandfather was a family doctor in a small, southern town. I remember working in his office during summers off from high school, much as Bill and Eugene had done. I want to emphasize that these facts are the only ones I share with the events in this book!
Rash reveals a mystery at the beginning of the book--a young woman's bones emerge from a creek bank. Her body bears marks of murder (and worse). To Rash's credit, he keeps the reader guessing right up until the final chapter.
The town of Sylva, as constructed by Rash, is very believable. Eugene and Bill, raised in the shadow of an overbearing grandfather, are broken by his dominance and turn away--Eugene into drink, and Bill into a marriage that his grandfather had proscribed. The emergence of the remains of a young woman that both boys had romanced (?) in the fabled summer of 1969 help to bring their relationship into new light.
I loved Rash's sense of place and the voice through which he told the story. I felt, though, that Ligeia--the antagonist--was a crudely drawn vixen: too open with her sexuality, too closed with her motives other than the acquisition and sale of drugs. This cost my rating one star.
As Ron Rash books go, this is for people who are big fans, like me, or for those interesting in exploring 60s-era rural North Carolina through the mind of one of the region's finest writers.
Rash reveals a mystery at the beginning of the book--a young woman's bones emerge from a creek bank. Her body bears marks of murder (and worse). To Rash's credit, he keeps the reader guessing right up until the final chapter.
The town of Sylva, as constructed by Rash, is very believable. Eugene and Bill, raised in the shadow of an overbearing grandfather, are broken by his dominance and turn away--Eugene into drink, and Bill into a marriage that his grandfather had proscribed. The emergence of the remains of a young woman that both boys had romanced (?) in the fabled summer of 1969 help to bring their relationship into new light.
I loved Rash's sense of place and the voice through which he told the story. I felt, though, that Ligeia--the antagonist--was a crudely drawn vixen: too open with her sexuality, too closed with her motives other than the acquisition and sale of drugs. This cost my rating one star.
As Ron Rash books go, this is for people who are big fans, like me, or for those interesting in exploring 60s-era rural North Carolina through the mind of one of the region's finest writers.
_stephp's review against another edition
4.0
Eugene, et son grand-frère Bill, rencontrent un jour une fille qui dénote sur le bord de leur rivière, au piémont des Appalaches. Elle les interpelle, les provoque, les séduit. Eugene tombe rapidement amoureux d'elle, et se met à lui fournir des drogues. Et puis un jour, elle lui annonce qu'elle doit partir, et elle disparait de sa vie.
Quarante ans plus tard, un corps est retrouvé enroulé dans une bache, sur le bord de la rivière.
Eugene est persuadé qu'il s'agit de Ligeia, et il se précipite chez son frère, Bill, mari parfait, brillant chirurgien, et médecin au grand coeur. Mais la vie d'Eugene n'est plus aussi simple que quand il avait 16 ans.
Qu'est-il arrivé sur ce bord de cette rivière ?
Un suspense bien mené, une histoire un peu classique mais on se retrouve vraiment transporté dans cette amérique profonde de la fin des années 60, et on souffre avec Eugene de sa vie actuelle.
Quarante ans plus tard, un corps est retrouvé enroulé dans une bache, sur le bord de la rivière.
Eugene est persuadé qu'il s'agit de Ligeia, et il se précipite chez son frère, Bill, mari parfait, brillant chirurgien, et médecin au grand coeur. Mais la vie d'Eugene n'est plus aussi simple que quand il avait 16 ans.
Qu'est-il arrivé sur ce bord de cette rivière ?
Un suspense bien mené, une histoire un peu classique mais on se retrouve vraiment transporté dans cette amérique profonde de la fin des années 60, et on souffre avec Eugene de sa vie actuelle.
0325film's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
robynryle's review against another edition
2.0
It was really hard to get past the whole idea of two brothers sexually sharing the same girl. I mean, yuck. That's gross and not sure how I'm supposed to feel sympathetic toward either of them after that.
olive515's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy Ron Rash, but this was the first one that had an ending I didn't find satisfying.
islishmd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ksprokes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mickeymole's review against another edition
4.0
Rash does it again with his smooth prose. His writing is so easy to read, I'd finish even if I didn't care for the story, which wasn't the case here. I'm just a tad bit younger than the characters in this novel, and I grew up in the South, so I related to the times and setting. Another page turner from a great writer.
shanonkluttz's review against another edition
4.0
Always a fan of the local author and really liked the time period.