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Soul Catcher
Augustus Cain is a damaged man haunted by a terrible skill: the ability to track people who don't want to be found. Rosetta is a runaway slave who bears the scars, inside and out, of a life of servitude to a cruel and unforgiving master. Her flight is fueled by a passion and determination only a mother could feel, and she would rather die than let anyone drag her back to hell. In a dark, volatile time prior to the Civil War, fate has bound the hunted and hunter on a remarkable odyssey from Virginia to Boston and back again—an extraordinary test of character and will, mercy and compassion, that will change them both forever.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
186 people are currently reading
1102 people want to read
About the author
Michael C. White
22 books43 followersAuthor of Resting Places
One woman’s journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening
After receiving the devastating news of her son’s death, Elizabeth ekes out a lonely and strained relationship with her husband, Zach. While he takes comfort in support groups, Elizabeth becomes withdrawn and seeks solace from the only thing that helps her forget: alcohol. A chance meeting with a man on the side of the road spurs her to travel cross-country to the site of her son’s death in the hope of understanding what had happened.
During the trip, she undergoes a transformation, one which allows her to confront the demons of her past but also to acknowledge the possibilities of her future. Through the wisdom and kindness of a man she meets along the way, she finds a means not only of dealing with her pain and her guilt, but of opening herself to the redemptive power of love, and of faith in something. Resting Places is an inspiring, upbeat story, a tale of real faith in what we cannot see except with our hearts, a novel that follows a character from despair to hope, from despondency to renewal.
One woman’s journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening
After receiving the devastating news of her son’s death, Elizabeth ekes out a lonely and strained relationship with her husband, Zach. While he takes comfort in support groups, Elizabeth becomes withdrawn and seeks solace from the only thing that helps her forget: alcohol. A chance meeting with a man on the side of the road spurs her to travel cross-country to the site of her son’s death in the hope of understanding what had happened.
During the trip, she undergoes a transformation, one which allows her to confront the demons of her past but also to acknowledge the possibilities of her future. Through the wisdom and kindness of a man she meets along the way, she finds a means not only of dealing with her pain and her guilt, but of opening herself to the redemptive power of love, and of faith in something. Resting Places is an inspiring, upbeat story, a tale of real faith in what we cannot see except with our hearts, a novel that follows a character from despair to hope, from despondency to renewal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
December 13, 2008
After a dodgy opening few chapters that read like a tedious Western, this book opens out a sweeping storyline that makes a riveting read as well as giving an insight into the conlicted and conflicting views of the two sides as they slip inexorably towards the American Civil War. The prospect of a slave-catching, gambling, drinking, laudanum addicted anti-hero may not immediately appeal, but Michael White writes him as a nuanced character, with a colourful backstory, capable of soul searching and redemption. The cast of supporting characters are all well rounded and vivid in their description. The book was obviously well researched and makes one want to find out more about the time, but also has a cinematic feel to it, so that it may not be too long before it ends up on the big screen. Although the plotline is a little obvious at times it is done with consumate skill so that it manages to hold its own in comparison to Cold Mountain. A memorable, fascinating, fast-moving read.
December 10, 2008
Soul Catcher is a phenomenal book about slave catcher named Cain who is hired to catch a runaway slave named Rosetta. The novel takes place in the mid 1800s before the Civil War, in a time when slavery was still alive and the racism against black people in the South was strong and violent. Eberly is a slaveowner and plantation farm owner who is DESPERATE to have Rosetta, a young slave who runs away while pregnant with Eberly's child! Eberly is a cruel man who will stop at nothing to get her back. He sends Cain off on a mission to capture and return Rosetta, but on the journey, Cain discovers that there is more to life than money, that slavery is an evil cause and that honor and love can overcome greed and hate. His and Rosetta go on a long journey, not just in miles traveled, but also in lessons learned and lives lived. I learned a great deal about the Civil War time period and the cruelty that went on during these hate-filled times.
October 5, 2008
This is a tale of good and evil, of making moral choices. In pre-Civil War Virginia,
Augustus Cain is a gambler, though not a very good one. In order to pay off a substantial poker debt he agrees to retrieve two slaves. Soul Catcher is a name given to those who perform such work and Cain is a pro. He is sent north to find a male, and most importantly, an octoroon female for Mister Eberly, a wealthy landowner. Cain is an interesting character, educated some, and totes a copy of Milton’s Paradise Lost for light bedtime reading. Eberly sends three of his employees along with him. Preacher is an ignorant sadist with no redeeming characteristics. That, in addition, White depicts two real clerics in a very negative light says something about his view of religion. This is a journey-of-self-discovery work, as Cain is confronted with what he has done and what he has become. The aptly named octoroon, Rosetta, is the key that opens him up to self-re-evaluation. She points out to him that life is about making choices, not just coping with what life deals out passively.
There are occasional markers that point the way to upcoming events and restate themes. He quotes Milton here and there. There is an image of a dog or wolf trapped in ice (p25); what appears to be a stick is really a snake (p50) calling to mind not only the image of danger but the film The Ten Commandments; a hawk is harried by two small blackbirds (p 102). This last is particularly predictive as the soul catchers encounter a group of men known as blackbirds. These are people who capture blacks, regardless of their legal status and sell then into slavery. A group of such harry Cain and Rosetta later in the novel. “The crow, smaller by half, had held its own (against turkey buzzards vying for a rattlesnake carcass), seemed even to have the upper hand,” reinforces the notion that the smaller (slaves) were able to hold their own against larger forces (slavery). There is a blind seer, name not noted, who predicts that Cain will be responsible for two souls and will face a difficult choice. Cain is shot in the side and the head when the blackbirds come after Rosetta, calling to mind Jesus’ wounds. When talking in code about runaway slaves, they are referred to as sheep, calling to mind Odysseus’ ploy for escaping Cyclops.
This was a pretty good book, but I felt that it was a by-the-numbers effort. I found very little here surprising at all. Never was there a moment when I though, “Wow. I never saw that coming.” Still, it is a fast, enjoyable read, worth the time expended. It is disappointing in that it might have been better, but is certainly good enough.
Augustus Cain is a gambler, though not a very good one. In order to pay off a substantial poker debt he agrees to retrieve two slaves. Soul Catcher is a name given to those who perform such work and Cain is a pro. He is sent north to find a male, and most importantly, an octoroon female for Mister Eberly, a wealthy landowner. Cain is an interesting character, educated some, and totes a copy of Milton’s Paradise Lost for light bedtime reading. Eberly sends three of his employees along with him. Preacher is an ignorant sadist with no redeeming characteristics. That, in addition, White depicts two real clerics in a very negative light says something about his view of religion. This is a journey-of-self-discovery work, as Cain is confronted with what he has done and what he has become. The aptly named octoroon, Rosetta, is the key that opens him up to self-re-evaluation. She points out to him that life is about making choices, not just coping with what life deals out passively.
There are occasional markers that point the way to upcoming events and restate themes. He quotes Milton here and there. There is an image of a dog or wolf trapped in ice (p25); what appears to be a stick is really a snake (p50) calling to mind not only the image of danger but the film The Ten Commandments; a hawk is harried by two small blackbirds (p 102). This last is particularly predictive as the soul catchers encounter a group of men known as blackbirds. These are people who capture blacks, regardless of their legal status and sell then into slavery. A group of such harry Cain and Rosetta later in the novel. “The crow, smaller by half, had held its own (against turkey buzzards vying for a rattlesnake carcass), seemed even to have the upper hand,” reinforces the notion that the smaller (slaves) were able to hold their own against larger forces (slavery). There is a blind seer, name not noted, who predicts that Cain will be responsible for two souls and will face a difficult choice. Cain is shot in the side and the head when the blackbirds come after Rosetta, calling to mind Jesus’ wounds. When talking in code about runaway slaves, they are referred to as sheep, calling to mind Odysseus’ ploy for escaping Cyclops.
This was a pretty good book, but I felt that it was a by-the-numbers effort. I found very little here surprising at all. Never was there a moment when I though, “Wow. I never saw that coming.” Still, it is a fast, enjoyable read, worth the time expended. It is disappointing in that it might have been better, but is certainly good enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2008
Set in antebellum America, this novel gives a penetrating look at the pursuit of runaway slaves by bounty hunters, the slave owners who funded them, the abolitionists who opposed them, and the deep emotions evoked by slavery.
Augustus Cain is one of the best hunters, or "soul catchers" as they are called by the blacks and northerners. He wants to quit the business and go west to California, but after losing his prize horse in a gambling debt, he is obligated to pursue one more slave girl. He bears his own deep scars from past experiences in war and love.
Rosetta is the runaway slave, passionate about her freedom but deeply scarred by a life of servitude to a cruel and lustful master. She would rather die than return to him.
The character development is excellent, as we gradually learn about Cain and Rosetta and others who oppose or support them. Rosetta shows herself to be more than the typical runaway. Cain is conflicted about his own past and the discoveries he makes about the nature of the slave girl's abuse. The great theme of this book is his moral reckoning about what is just and fair, and what is best for himself and his prisoner.
The language (frequent use of the "n word") and violence were sometimes abrasive, but seemed authentic to the setting, and helped convey the deep emotion of the times. The novel builds to a climactic ending that was at times predictable but had some unexpected twists.
Augustus Cain is one of the best hunters, or "soul catchers" as they are called by the blacks and northerners. He wants to quit the business and go west to California, but after losing his prize horse in a gambling debt, he is obligated to pursue one more slave girl. He bears his own deep scars from past experiences in war and love.
Rosetta is the runaway slave, passionate about her freedom but deeply scarred by a life of servitude to a cruel and lustful master. She would rather die than return to him.
The character development is excellent, as we gradually learn about Cain and Rosetta and others who oppose or support them. Rosetta shows herself to be more than the typical runaway. Cain is conflicted about his own past and the discoveries he makes about the nature of the slave girl's abuse. The great theme of this book is his moral reckoning about what is just and fair, and what is best for himself and his prisoner.
The language (frequent use of the "n word") and violence were sometimes abrasive, but seemed authentic to the setting, and helped convey the deep emotion of the times. The novel builds to a climactic ending that was at times predictable but had some unexpected twists.
January 15, 2012
Soul Catcher is a solid adventure tale set sometime between 1855 and 1859, following the changing fortunes and heart of a slave hunter. I enjoyed reading it for pleasure, and as a part of my study of the craft of writing historical fiction. If the theme interests you, it's worth your time to read.
That said, I have two problems with the book. The first concerns the figure of John Brown himself, whose life is sufficiently well known to make it impossible to imagine a time in which he would personally have led a group of armed abolitionists in the East chasing slave hunters. The author would have done much better not to name his soul catcher chasing John Brown character "John Brown." This criticism comes simply from knowing too much history for my own good. I recognize it as a danger any writer of historical fiction faces: the story must be written in the interstices of the known, in the spaces between the incontrovertible facts, in those places and moments where we hope the reader is sufficiently ignorant that we may play our tricks as writers. It may be necessary to estimate how much of the history is known to your audience, and hope that they are not experts. You always run the danger of finding a reader who simply knows too much to suspend disbelief and follow you into your story. Unfortunately I am one of those readers.
Second, I asked myself repeatedly whether the relationship between the slave catcher and the woman he first catches, and then develops a more complicated relationship with, really was imaginable in the mid-nineteenth century. Sometimes I thought "yes" but too often I found myself wondering whether these were not modern ideas and people, placed in the mouths and clothes of 19th century characters. This too is a recognizably difficult problem for any writer. When we write a story set in the past, what elements of obvious modernity shall we allow to remain? And what elements of the period do we bring forward to signify that we are situated in the past? White, for example, brings forward period details about horses and guns and slave catching, and quite a few 19th century expressions (at least they sound to me like 19th century expressions.) These were all quite well deployed. But if we desire to know also the inner emotional lives of 19th century characters, then an author faces a much greater challenge. I'm not sure that I'm up to meeting it myself as a writer, but I'm not entirely persuaded by White's effort to do so either. Would the central relationship described in this book even be possible in its time and place? Is it possible on the terms and with the feelings that the characters express here? What did love and sex really feel like, and how did they express themselves in the 19th century? And if we grasp that, then how would the unique situation of this slave chaser and this former slave modify these realities?
These difficulties aside, the author does a very credible job of building a range of supporting characters who struck me as thoroughly 19th century in their aspects. Again, their persuasiveness may be related to the exteriority with which they are portrayed. Writing nineteenth century exteriors (surfaces, language, clothing, expressions) is one thing, but writing 19th century interiors a whole other literary challenge.
Finally, to White's credit the conclusion of the book doesn't take the easy way out, and by steering his tale away from the easy romantic possibilities that his story offers, White in the end writes a convincing tale of a southern man's journey through life. If we are not entirely persuaded by every one of the emotions and conversations that pass on the way, the larger arc of the life that is portrayed seems true to its time and place.
That said, I have two problems with the book. The first concerns the figure of John Brown himself, whose life is sufficiently well known to make it impossible to imagine a time in which he would personally have led a group of armed abolitionists in the East chasing slave hunters. The author would have done much better not to name his soul catcher chasing John Brown character "John Brown." This criticism comes simply from knowing too much history for my own good. I recognize it as a danger any writer of historical fiction faces: the story must be written in the interstices of the known, in the spaces between the incontrovertible facts, in those places and moments where we hope the reader is sufficiently ignorant that we may play our tricks as writers. It may be necessary to estimate how much of the history is known to your audience, and hope that they are not experts. You always run the danger of finding a reader who simply knows too much to suspend disbelief and follow you into your story. Unfortunately I am one of those readers.
Second, I asked myself repeatedly whether the relationship between the slave catcher and the woman he first catches, and then develops a more complicated relationship with, really was imaginable in the mid-nineteenth century. Sometimes I thought "yes" but too often I found myself wondering whether these were not modern ideas and people, placed in the mouths and clothes of 19th century characters. This too is a recognizably difficult problem for any writer. When we write a story set in the past, what elements of obvious modernity shall we allow to remain? And what elements of the period do we bring forward to signify that we are situated in the past? White, for example, brings forward period details about horses and guns and slave catching, and quite a few 19th century expressions (at least they sound to me like 19th century expressions.) These were all quite well deployed. But if we desire to know also the inner emotional lives of 19th century characters, then an author faces a much greater challenge. I'm not sure that I'm up to meeting it myself as a writer, but I'm not entirely persuaded by White's effort to do so either. Would the central relationship described in this book even be possible in its time and place? Is it possible on the terms and with the feelings that the characters express here? What did love and sex really feel like, and how did they express themselves in the 19th century? And if we grasp that, then how would the unique situation of this slave chaser and this former slave modify these realities?
These difficulties aside, the author does a very credible job of building a range of supporting characters who struck me as thoroughly 19th century in their aspects. Again, their persuasiveness may be related to the exteriority with which they are portrayed. Writing nineteenth century exteriors (surfaces, language, clothing, expressions) is one thing, but writing 19th century interiors a whole other literary challenge.
Finally, to White's credit the conclusion of the book doesn't take the easy way out, and by steering his tale away from the easy romantic possibilities that his story offers, White in the end writes a convincing tale of a southern man's journey through life. If we are not entirely persuaded by every one of the emotions and conversations that pass on the way, the larger arc of the life that is portrayed seems true to its time and place.
February 16, 2011
This book was rather slow moving but over time developed deeply. The era is pre civil war and the protagonist is a "Soul catcher," a man employed to track runaway slaves and retreive them back to their "lawful"owners. He doesn't like his job, but sees himself as providing a service in accordance with the law. Although his conscience tugs, he prefers not to dwell on the deeper moral issues until he meets the likes of Rosetta.
I enjoyed this book, and digested it very slowly. It's gritty and real with characters that are flesh and blood and multilayered. It's not a fast or a light read. I was a bit disappointed with the ending though. It lacked the denouement I had anticipated, but I highly recommend it nevertheless.
I enjoyed this book, and digested it very slowly. It's gritty and real with characters that are flesh and blood and multilayered. It's not a fast or a light read. I was a bit disappointed with the ending though. It lacked the denouement I had anticipated, but I highly recommend it nevertheless.
January 4, 2008
Another book I may not have choosen if it was a book club selection but I'm so glad I did. Told during the Cvil War era this story tells about the life of a man who catches run away slaves, a legal practice then. Turbulent times in every way and brutally honest about the treatment of slaves. Heartbreaking to know that the generalization is true although this man's story is fiction.
February 24, 2024
Bien écrit, l'intrigue nous permet de ne pas oublier la triste époque de l'esclavage.
October 26, 2024
Good book, easy reading. Interesting story and he writes well. 3 and a half stars.
October 3, 2007
Michael White's Soul Catcher starts out with a big liability: It's not Cold Mountain. Soul Catcher--the term refers to men who caught runaway slaves--covers much of the same ground, though: a wounded soldier traversing the Civil War-era South, facing demons both external and internal. That's a tough comparison, because Cold Mountain was a tour de force; still, once the comparisons are left behind, Soul Catcher is a pretty decent read. White has a fine eye for landscape--grouse exploding in a cloud at twilight, a house floating through a flood, carrying a dead, naked woman on its roof--and an easy way with an effective turn of phrase (a "dagger-cold river," a pain that "formed a kind of adversary, something animate ... whose goal was ... [his] death"); he also has an interesting tale to tell and keeps the plot moving. He brings the Civil War era to life in a convincing way (but see below), although once in a while he gets carried away by the research; really, there's no reason to include the word "sockdologer" except to show you're familiar with Our American Cousin.
The book's major flaw is its main character, a Milton-reading, square-jawed, laconic, tough-as-nails loner straight from the Cormac McCarthy School for Hardbitten, Sensitive Tough Guys. He seems to have been formed from an amalgam of Central Casting favorites: a pinch of Bogart, a little Bruce Willis, a touch of Henry Fonda, with some Clint Eastwood and Russell Crowe thrown in for good measure. He's a down-on-his-luck tough bastard with a heart of gold, doing a dirty job (soul catcher, that era's version of an HMO accountant), and have we ever seen this before? Why, yes, the last time we turned on the TV. In fact, one of the oddities of the book is that the more minor the character, the more realistic he or she is. (As with Cold Mountain, characters are met and left behind, glimpses of lives of the time. Some are quite interesting.)
Having a stock protagonist means that it's a foregone conclusion that he'll have a change of heart about his work; the only question is how and when it will happen. To White's credit, he handles the transformation in a realistic manner.
One small but irritating note: There isn't a lot of Spanish in this book, which makes it all the more perplexing that almost all of it is so grammatically incorrect. It's not "muerta," it's "muerto"; it's not "la colgaron," it's "las ahorcaron." These are not mistakes real Spanish-speaking people would make. A small point, true, but it brought into doubt the accuracy of much of the rest of this otherwise convincing book.
The book's major flaw is its main character, a Milton-reading, square-jawed, laconic, tough-as-nails loner straight from the Cormac McCarthy School for Hardbitten, Sensitive Tough Guys. He seems to have been formed from an amalgam of Central Casting favorites: a pinch of Bogart, a little Bruce Willis, a touch of Henry Fonda, with some Clint Eastwood and Russell Crowe thrown in for good measure. He's a down-on-his-luck tough bastard with a heart of gold, doing a dirty job (soul catcher, that era's version of an HMO accountant), and have we ever seen this before? Why, yes, the last time we turned on the TV. In fact, one of the oddities of the book is that the more minor the character, the more realistic he or she is. (As with Cold Mountain, characters are met and left behind, glimpses of lives of the time. Some are quite interesting.)
Having a stock protagonist means that it's a foregone conclusion that he'll have a change of heart about his work; the only question is how and when it will happen. To White's credit, he handles the transformation in a realistic manner.
One small but irritating note: There isn't a lot of Spanish in this book, which makes it all the more perplexing that almost all of it is so grammatically incorrect. It's not "muerta," it's "muerto"; it's not "la colgaron," it's "las ahorcaron." These are not mistakes real Spanish-speaking people would make. A small point, true, but it brought into doubt the accuracy of much of the rest of this otherwise convincing book.
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June 12, 2020This is an excellent book, well written and with a simple yet compelling story. White manages to portray his characters well and also makes the plot and situations within the book realistic and believable.
Although this is not a period of history I am particularly familiar with (it is set in pre-civil war America), the details seemed convincing and set a good tone throughout the book.
In summary of the plot, Augustus Cain is a 'soul-catcher', making a living from catching runaway slaves. He convinces himself he is just saving money to make a new life. After incurring a large gambling debt, he is forced to take on one last commission. The book follows the story of what happens next, as Cain struggles to find and return the slave - Rosetta - and finds it a harder job than he had hoped for.
It has been described as 'beautifully written' and I would agree with this. It's easy to read because it flows so well and yet is full of detail that makes the story richer.
I would definitely recommend this book as one to try/buy, whether you enjoy historical fiction or just a good read generally.
Although this is not a period of history I am particularly familiar with (it is set in pre-civil war America), the details seemed convincing and set a good tone throughout the book.
In summary of the plot, Augustus Cain is a 'soul-catcher', making a living from catching runaway slaves. He convinces himself he is just saving money to make a new life. After incurring a large gambling debt, he is forced to take on one last commission. The book follows the story of what happens next, as Cain struggles to find and return the slave - Rosetta - and finds it a harder job than he had hoped for.
It has been described as 'beautifully written' and I would agree with this. It's easy to read because it flows so well and yet is full of detail that makes the story richer.
I would definitely recommend this book as one to try/buy, whether you enjoy historical fiction or just a good read generally.
July 11, 2016
I love a good Civil-War-era/1800s-in-the-U.S. historical fiction novel. And this *was* a good one. Cain is a man who’s more than a little bit lost. He’s basically sleep-walking through life, drunk on either whiskey, laudanum, or both, and gambling for money to live. Except he’s not always a great gambler, and now he’s gotten himself into a debt he can’t run away from. When the man he owes money to wants him to use his tracking skills to bring home his runaway slave, Rosetta, Cain doesn’t really have a choice. Soul Catcher is the story of that journey.
Cain is forced to travel with a group of men that you would expect to be slave-catchers… generally either apathetic or downright cruel and sadistic. There is a lot of both the expected and unexpected here, and though I mostly guessed the ending and the decision Cain would make about his life, I never would have guessed the final twist. Some may question how realistic Cain and Rosetta are in their actions and interactions, but I can believe it all the same.
Cain is forced to travel with a group of men that you would expect to be slave-catchers… generally either apathetic or downright cruel and sadistic. There is a lot of both the expected and unexpected here, and though I mostly guessed the ending and the decision Cain would make about his life, I never would have guessed the final twist. Some may question how realistic Cain and Rosetta are in their actions and interactions, but I can believe it all the same.
April 7, 2009
Frankly, I was disappointed that it didn't have the supernatural sort of undertones that I expected from reading the description. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff.
What I found interesting is that one can gain a feel for the mentality of the southerner and how slavery could be acceptable...how one could come to appreciate Cain,the main character in the book. He never really seemed like a villain even though he was a soul catcher(or slave catcher).
By the end of the book, the moral question of slavery comes full circle and slavery takes on the full measure of its inhumane nature.
At the end, Cain never stops being a Southerner, but has a change of heart concerning the appropriateness of slavery.
It was a good book. I'd recommend it.
What I found interesting is that one can gain a feel for the mentality of the southerner and how slavery could be acceptable...how one could come to appreciate Cain,the main character in the book. He never really seemed like a villain even though he was a soul catcher(or slave catcher).
By the end of the book, the moral question of slavery comes full circle and slavery takes on the full measure of its inhumane nature.
At the end, Cain never stops being a Southerner, but has a change of heart concerning the appropriateness of slavery.
It was a good book. I'd recommend it.
May 30, 2011
A classic chase/adventure story of a man on a mission and his prey, with the hunter wrestling with his conscience. Perhaps the conscience-wrestling got a bit tedious for me, or we are reassured a few too many times what a good man the hero Cain is despite the fact that he is tracking down a runaway slave, Rosetta, in freedom in the North to return her to her (call central-casting) sadistic owner. A host of adventures and interesting minor characters await them on the journey home, which I won't spoil for you. This was a page-turning read, and although I felt Rosetta succumbed to Stockholm Syndrome all too conveniently, this novel had enough fine writing and really interesting story elements to hold my attention throughout.
July 24, 2017
Cons:
-Historical details seemed forced and consciously sprinkled throughout
-I didn't buy into the main character as a real person
-Main character's journey to understanding his own prejudice as a result of a sexual relationship seems to devalue the "aha!" moment
-Tired plot: "been there, done that"
Pros:
-Loved the descriptions of nature
-Enjoyed the flawed, tragic characters
-Entertaining twists and events throughout the adventure
-Historical details seemed forced and consciously sprinkled throughout
-I didn't buy into the main character as a real person
-Main character's journey to understanding his own prejudice as a result of a sexual relationship seems to devalue the "aha!" moment
-Tired plot: "been there, done that"
Pros:
-Loved the descriptions of nature
-Enjoyed the flawed, tragic characters
-Entertaining twists and events throughout the adventure
June 4, 2009
A Soul Catcher is a slave catcher and it's set in pre civil war south about a beautiful slave girl who runs away. She's captured by the slave catcher and he and fellow slave catchers take her on the long journey back to captivity, or try to. I loved this book. It was the first Historic Fiction I've ever gotten all the way through. That's because it's a real page turner I couldn't wait to find out whats gonna happen next. I highly recommend Soul Catcher.
May 9, 2012
Michael White has convincingly conveyed a transformation of a character. Cain is a conflicted individual who is very good at the strange skill of a Soul Catcher, but also has been exposed to many thoughts that do not support the concept of slavery. While Cain is the lead in this play, the key person is Rosetta whose presence and personality truly captures Cain's soul. Great plot, exceptional character development, wonderful prose. Would be an interesting movie.
November 6, 2009
I learned a lot of interesting facts about pre-civil war history while reading this novel. The story is fast paced and full of action but at the heart of the story is the relationship between a conflicted slave catcher and a intriguing runaway slave. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this era of American history.
July 14, 2017
Loved this book. Thought provoking and informative. Good storytelling!
January 2, 2018
Very thought provoking, fiction, book on slavery.
First time reading one of this author s books. Kept my attention throughout the whole book and made me sit back and reflect what slaves had to endure. Makes one glad that all men/women are created equal, in our great nation. This book is about how men are hired to go after runaway slaves, thus how they got the name of being a soul catcher. Bounties were put on the slaves, depending on their worth to their owners. Slaves had no rights, no opinion, no options but to go back to their masters if the soul catcher caught them. Luckily in this work of fiction, it was to be the last soul catchers job and he ended up having a change of heart about slavery in general, yet he went on to volunteer for the South in war. To him the war between the North and South wasn't about slavery to begin with. Sure wish there would be a follow-up book. Really enjoyed this book and even though it was a work of fiction, there was a lot of truth in the events in this book.
First time reading one of this author s books. Kept my attention throughout the whole book and made me sit back and reflect what slaves had to endure. Makes one glad that all men/women are created equal, in our great nation. This book is about how men are hired to go after runaway slaves, thus how they got the name of being a soul catcher. Bounties were put on the slaves, depending on their worth to their owners. Slaves had no rights, no opinion, no options but to go back to their masters if the soul catcher caught them. Luckily in this work of fiction, it was to be the last soul catchers job and he ended up having a change of heart about slavery in general, yet he went on to volunteer for the South in war. To him the war between the North and South wasn't about slavery to begin with. Sure wish there would be a follow-up book. Really enjoyed this book and even though it was a work of fiction, there was a lot of truth in the events in this book.
April 19, 2020
Man, am I torn on this book. A lot of great writers blurbed for this - Richard Russo (a personal fav), Kevin Baker - but I find myself disagreeing with them. Not only was it too long by at least 100 pages, I felt this was a "movie of the week" treatment of the subject matter. It certainly didn't help that he ended the book with the main character returning to his Virginia roots to fight for Lee in the Civil War. If this is ever turned into a movie, I guarantee you that the ending will be changed to reflect the struggle the author tried to portray in the main character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2019
I had many problems w/ this book. Treatment of women in this book is offensive. Yes - Rosetta was a slave and yes she is accustomed to being dominated by a white male. Would she willingly choose this? Would she willingly choose to sacrifice all to save a white male? As her character is drawn, I think not. I just didn’t believe this story or these characters. Not recommended.
May 3, 2020
An absolute must read.
December 31, 2017
Spoiler: this turns into a love story. If I'd known that, I probably wouldn't have read it, but it held my interest throughout. White makes his protagonist not quite likeable, but at least realistic. More of an adventure story than historical fiction, on the whole, but not bad. I'd read another of his books.
December 15, 2017
Great book! Moving and thought provoking!
A great book encompassing a confusing time in the history of the United States. Little thought about persons in history and how they must have felt about slavery.
A great book encompassing a confusing time in the history of the United States. Little thought about persons in history and how they must have felt about slavery.
December 12, 2017
Changes
Well written. You don't know from chapter to chapter what Cain will do. A page turner.
Very enjoyable.
Highly recommended.
Well written. You don't know from chapter to chapter what Cain will do. A page turner.
Very enjoyable.
Highly recommended.
December 17, 2017
A complex story about a man who hunted down runaway slaves and the twist at the end. A look at the people at the time of the Civil War and how they shaped their lives.
December 2, 2017
After reading "Hadrian's Wall" by William Dietrich whose prose was wonderful it took me a bit of time to engage fully with Michael White's story. However, by the time the book was finished he won me over. Soul Catcher is a very good read, Cain, the main character had you rooting for him and although my romantic side wanted a different ending, how this adventure concluded seemed the right conclusion. I'm thinking I might have to read another story by this author.....perhaps "The Garden of Martyrs". The title looks interesting.
December 4, 2017
Very readable. Good storyteller. Couldn't wait to pick it up each time.
December 9, 2017
Can recommend this book. Good story line and not your usual story. Another look at slavery in the South.
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