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jgintrovertedreader's review
3.0
This is a story told from many points of view. First is Zebulon Vance, the real life Civil War governor of North Carolina. We follow him from his days as a hotel porter fresh off the farm until his rise to governor. Next is Malinda Blalock, a tough mountain woman who follows her husband to war and beyond. Then there's Rattler, a modern day man with a touch of the second sight who realizes that the Civil War re-enactors of the mountains are calling up uneasy spirits who are best left alone.
I enjoyed reading about my region's role in the Civil War. I'd heard somewhere that we were exceptionally torn apart during that conflict because we weren't wealthy landowners and so had no clear-cut reason to join either side. This book showed that.
The voices of the different narrators were done very well. They were each very distinct. The only negative I have to say about it is that Malinda's voice didn't ring entirely true. The author gave it a good try, but she didn't quite get the accent and the language right. [author:Lee Smith] does a much better job with our Appalachian dialect.
There was one other narrator in the book, but he had a very minor role. In fact, I'm not entirely sure why his parts were even included. He only had a few chapters, but I felt like they could have been cut out completely without really hurting the story.
I'll be a little devilish here and say that I also enjoyed the way McCrumb wrote about our transplants from Florida. They were sort of caricatures, and we don't really think they're all like that, but we do feel like some newcomers think us locals are barbarians who should just leave and let them enjoy their cliffside homes. A little brutally honest, perhaps, but there you go.
But overall, this was an interesting book. I wasn't riveted to the page, but I did enjoy it. Not enough to think about reading it again, but it was time well-spent.
I enjoyed reading about my region's role in the Civil War. I'd heard somewhere that we were exceptionally torn apart during that conflict because we weren't wealthy landowners and so had no clear-cut reason to join either side. This book showed that.
The voices of the different narrators were done very well. They were each very distinct. The only negative I have to say about it is that Malinda's voice didn't ring entirely true. The author gave it a good try, but she didn't quite get the accent and the language right. [author:Lee Smith] does a much better job with our Appalachian dialect.
There was one other narrator in the book, but he had a very minor role. In fact, I'm not entirely sure why his parts were even included. He only had a few chapters, but I felt like they could have been cut out completely without really hurting the story.
I'll be a little devilish here and say that I also enjoyed the way McCrumb wrote about our transplants from Florida. They were sort of caricatures, and we don't really think they're all like that, but we do feel like some newcomers think us locals are barbarians who should just leave and let them enjoy their cliffside homes. A little brutally honest, perhaps, but there you go.
But overall, this was an interesting book. I wasn't riveted to the page, but I did enjoy it. Not enough to think about reading it again, but it was time well-spent.
retiredlibrarylady's review
4.0
I loved most of the book, which tells of the Civil War in North Carolina and Tennessee, mainly in the the mountains. The main characters are historical, and the author details much about her research and sources at the end. I love the Ballad novels, but this time the imposition of the ghost riders and their interaction with the reenactors detracted from the story. Otherwise, it would be 5 stars!
tabithar's review
4.0
This primarily nonfiction work ties the stories of 3 semi-prominent Civil War persons to a modern day story. By the end, there are some loose ends (like the backstory with Sheriff Arrowwood that never quite made it full circle but perhaps purposefully). From one hand this is a solid 4 star story with the elements of history fleshed out to be imaginable people rather than history text. I like the interview style method and the flip flopping points of view. The modern day story with the actual ghost riders made little sense other than to serve as a warning/confusing entity. From the perspective of judging the book with the modern day story, it would be a 3 or possibly less. It seemed to serve the purpose well of connecting to other books within the Ballad series (Frankie Silver and Tom Dooley). I've read both the others and reviewed them previously.
I'd recommend this book to those who'd like a different perspective on the Civil War. The reaction of Southern Appalachian neighbors feeling torn over protecting friends and family vs. being FORCIBLY Conscripted to fight a war they didn't agree with occurring. The author has a note at the end discussing her research for this book and efforts to have the volume vetted by multiple historians to assure accuracy. The work done for the historical parts was evident and well done.
Had the connection to the modern day story been as connected as the historical parts, this could've been a 5 star book, I think. The modern day tie-in/warning about digging up/reliving/glorying in the past being dangerous was well intended and I can agree somewhat. Especially the idea of glorying in something while admitting you really don't understand it. I think its important to remember and be reminded of the past so that you can prevent its repetition. However, too often, its true that people misplace glory where there should be sober awareness and sadness and vice versa.
I'd additionally recommend this as a decent book club type read, especially if people are interested in Appalachian history.
I'd recommend this book to those who'd like a different perspective on the Civil War. The reaction of Southern Appalachian neighbors feeling torn over protecting friends and family vs. being FORCIBLY Conscripted to fight a war they didn't agree with occurring. The author has a note at the end discussing her research for this book and efforts to have the volume vetted by multiple historians to assure accuracy. The work done for the historical parts was evident and well done.
Had the connection to the modern day story been as connected as the historical parts, this could've been a 5 star book, I think. The modern day tie-in/warning about digging up/reliving/glorying in the past being dangerous was well intended and I can agree somewhat. Especially the idea of glorying in something while admitting you really don't understand it. I think its important to remember and be reminded of the past so that you can prevent its repetition. However, too often, its true that people misplace glory where there should be sober awareness and sadness and vice versa.
I'd additionally recommend this as a decent book club type read, especially if people are interested in Appalachian history.
lindacbugg's review
4.0
This isn't one of my favorites and I'm leaning more towards 3.5 but I do love her books. She did manage to tie it all together in the end which I was beginning to wonder about at various points so the .5 to round up to a 4 rating. And I am somewhat of a completest with certain authors so...
lididi's review
3.0
This was pretty good up until the abrupt end. Maybe the advanced copy didn't have a proper ending? What of the ghosts? What of the Arrowood Union soldier mystery?
I enjoyed the perspective of Union sympathizers in the South, however.
I enjoyed the perspective of Union sympathizers in the South, however.
ponderinstuff's review
1.0
Did not finish this book as I wasn't very interested in the subject matter (Civil War).
laneamagya's review
3.0
I'm a big fan of McCrumb's. Some people read romance novels when they need something light. . . I read regional fiction, particularly from Appalachia, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. I studied a lot of Appalachian lit when I was an undergrad and was pretty well immersed in both the Appalachian Studies community and the actual local Appalachian community there in Blacksburg and its surrounds. I had the pleasure of meeting McCrumb several times, and I think I can say without reservation that the lady is astounding. Every time I spoke to her she either made me laugh like mad or dropped some little bit of truth or inspiration in my waiting palm. Her books are light, but her head sure isn't.
This may be my least favorite of her Ballad novels, and I think that's because Nora Bonesteel isn't making many appearances, and the music itself is figuring less in the mystery. And, truthfully, this novel isn't really a mystery like most of the others in the loosely-connected series. It's still a good read--don't get me wrong. But it didn't ring as loudly in my head as its predecessors.
As is always the case, the book is well researched, and McCrumb does a great job sketching out historical and fictional characters, male and female. She does seem to have a tiny bone to pick this time, chastising Civil War reenactors several times through the plot itself and through the voice of Rattler, this novel's lead seer. I can't call her out for that though--Civil War reenactments give me the willies sometimes, probably because so many reeneactors in Virginia seem to be rehashing a political and ethical conflict more than 100 years gone.
The shining stars in this novel are the characters Malinda Blalock, a woman who ends up serving in both the Confederate and Union armies, and North Carolina's Confederate Governor Zebulon Baird Vance, a historical character McCrumb places front and center in the novel. Vance is great fodder: he was a pro-Union politician who ended up serving the Confederacy in both military and political roles because he felt bound to his locality. I'm certainly no expert on Vance, but McCrumb's characterization of him is fascinating and rings true throughout.
This may be my least favorite of her Ballad novels, and I think that's because Nora Bonesteel isn't making many appearances, and the music itself is figuring less in the mystery. And, truthfully, this novel isn't really a mystery like most of the others in the loosely-connected series. It's still a good read--don't get me wrong. But it didn't ring as loudly in my head as its predecessors.
As is always the case, the book is well researched, and McCrumb does a great job sketching out historical and fictional characters, male and female. She does seem to have a tiny bone to pick this time, chastising Civil War reenactors several times through the plot itself and through the voice of Rattler, this novel's lead seer. I can't call her out for that though--Civil War reenactments give me the willies sometimes, probably because so many reeneactors in Virginia seem to be rehashing a political and ethical conflict more than 100 years gone.
The shining stars in this novel are the characters Malinda Blalock, a woman who ends up serving in both the Confederate and Union armies, and North Carolina's Confederate Governor Zebulon Baird Vance, a historical character McCrumb places front and center in the novel. Vance is great fodder: he was a pro-Union politician who ended up serving the Confederacy in both military and political roles because he felt bound to his locality. I'm certainly no expert on Vance, but McCrumb's characterization of him is fascinating and rings true throughout.
pollyno9's review
4.0
This is an excellent, atmospheric, historical fiction with interludes to present day. It is indicated that this is seventh in a series, but I would say this is a fine stand alone novel.
mimima's review
2.0
I've been on an inadvertent Civil War kick - this entry into the Ballad Mystery series goes back and forth between a fairly modern story and the war.
It isn't her most solid entry, and the personalities were stronger than the story, but it was still a pleasant read. I will definitely continue the series.
It isn't her most solid entry, and the personalities were stronger than the story, but it was still a pleasant read. I will definitely continue the series.