The Road From Chapel Hill

by Joanna Catherine Scott

Eugenia Mae Spotswood, the daughter of a failed aristocrat, longs to regain the life she lost. The slave Tom wants one freedom. After becoming the property of Eugenia Mae, a dangerous affection grows. But he learns freedom is not something she can give him - he must fight for it himself. Clyde Bricket, the farm boy responsible for Tom's capture, has always believed in the South. But he soon learns that sometimes the only way to redeem yourself is to fight against everything he thought he believed in.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Southern, Civil War, Historical, Book Club

340 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Joanna Catherine Scott (1943--) was born in England during an air raid over London, raised in Australia by a rabidly religious mother and a phlegmatic engineer father, married way too young, divorced, fell in love again and came with her American husband to live in the US where, aside from a couple of years in the Philippines, she has lived below the Mason Dixon line ever since. Her five novels and oral history collection have all been based on true life stories, giving voice to the voiceless. Her poetry tells stories too. She has six children, three Australian and three adopted Korean, as well as a young man whom she met while he was on death row whom she regards as her seventh child. A Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow, she is a graduate of Adelaide and Duke Universities and lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Kristina Stewart · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book. I almost didn’t finish it. Only reason I continued it was because I DNF my last book and didn’t want to give up on two in a row. I couldn’t connect at all with these characters or the storyline. The pace jumped too much too. The writing was boring and I didn’t enjoy the way the story jumped from person to person and just didn’t really develop any of these characters or plots thoroughly. This was a boring drag to get through but maybe im just being really picky. I love historical fiction but this wasn’t it for me.

[Jacquelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical fiction book from the Civil War era. I thought the plot was interesting and different from a typical book of this era. Scott didn't try to gloss over anything to give us a falsely upbeat novel. Murder, suicide, lost fortunes, lost limbs, battlefield horrors, disappointment, sadness, and grief are all themes explored here. As the book neared the end, I really thought Eugenia & Tom would get together and raise Rose, but that would not have been realistic to the time period, and wouldn't have fit into this gloomy novel. Scott ended the book, leaving several questions unanswered, of which the reader needs to imagine for themselves. If you require happy endings that are all wrapped up, this book isn't for you.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Review of Audio Format **

Not My Cup of Tea

I am usually a Civil War story fanatic, but there was something about this story that never connected with me. Maybe it was the way Eugenia started by whining about her life and the number of slaves she used to own and the embarrassment of not owning them anymore. And to go from that Scarlett O'Hara self centeredness to suddenly helping the underground railroad. I had a hard time believing in this about face. It tainted this book for me.

The narration by Karen White was nuanced with the right tone and cadence for this story. She is enjoyable to listen to.

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Meredith Conder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical fiction about Chapel Hill, NC during the Civil War, using a factual account of a runaway slave. THe book puts a spotlight on those who cared for the injured during the War and how inequitably people of color were treated. Living in Chapel Hill, I found the way Scott wrote about the familiar local settings in and around Chapel Hill, heartwarming. The author's character and setting development helped to give me a new source of empathy for those who lived through this awful time in our history.

[Betty Silvia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I lived near Chapel Hill, North Carolina for years, so the title of the book drew my attention.

As you might expect in a book in the War of the Rebellion era, there were horrors going on between everyone - northern and southern population, white and black people, families, employers and everything in between. Civil War is horrible. The story may be based on a true situation, but it was still hard to read of all the cruelty.

[Anne Roszczewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good historical content and good perspective from the slaves viewpoint. Often the story seems a bit far fetched regarding Eugenia's thoughts. Still worth reading.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. It started out good 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Entertaining, interesting and Enjoyable

Story of how 3 lives intersect right before and during he Civil War.

Eugenie Mae Spotswood, is naive about the world and sets unforeseen consequences into motion when she frees Tom.

The story follows Tom, a slave, and Clyde Bricket, a boy who changes his view on slavery throughout the story, who is also the son of Toms former owner.


Eugenie ends up becoming a member of the Hero's of America or a red string, the underground railroad for rebels against the war. Helping to take care of injured soldiers.
Tom was freed by Eugenie, ends up becoming a scout for the Union army.
Clyde even though he believes in the ways of the south he ends up fighting with the Union Army
The story follows each of them through this time period in their life and the ways in which each of their lives are changed.

It was heartbreaking listening to Tom trying decide on a last name.

Absolutely hated the ending.

Karen White did a great job with the narration as usual. Her character voices are great. Nice voice very easy to listen to. Always enjoyable listening to her narration.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.com

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: Set during the civil war Chapel Hill and other areas in North Carolina, Eugenia is a young woman whose family fortune is lost and she now works at a gold mine town. Tom is a young slave who tries to run away but is later captures and sold to Eugenia and her father. Clyde is a young hillbilly boy who wants to become a slave patroller. Their stories connect in a wonderful way and their attitudes and lives change for the better.

What I liked about the book:

I live in Chapel Hill so that is what originally drew me to the book. All the places, Salisbury, New bern, the gold mine town called Gold Hill, are real places in North Carolina.

The book grimly reveals what life was like during the civil war--Clyde in the prision camp, Eugenia in her secret hospital, and Tom in the newly free men's town but the book isn't too heavy in the historical details--in terms of dates, battles, and names. This is definitely not Gone With the Wind (not bashing Gone with the Wind by the way) bell of the ball society.

[Readnponder · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story set during the Civil War years in North Carolina. Despite the title, most of the book takes place in and around Salisbury NC or down East. Not much occurred in NC.
Eugenia's family falls on hard times and the pampered daughter finds herself cooking for a mining camp. Her path crosses Tom's, a runaway slave from Chapel Hill. The two begin to love each other, although this is something which cannot be expressed.

The novel traces Tom's efforts to find freedom and Eugenia's experience nursing soldiers alongside the Quakers. An interesting view of the time and place, although I'm unsure how accurate or plausible the story line is.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”



I had high hopes for this book, but I was disappointed. The storyling dragged on forever without much original thought. The characters were predictable and after a

while I became bored, just wishing for the end. The American Civil War was a terrible period of time and it takes someone special to tell a fictionalized tale not yet

shared.

The narration was well done,considering the material she was given. The characters were portrayed as well as expected..

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any historical fiction fans. One warning though, this book is set before and during the civil war and has situations of racism and war typical of that time. Also, it takes a couple chapters to get into the story but I'm glad I stuck it out since the story got much better.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the details about how life might have been for southerners during the Civil War, especially towards the end of the war when food, shelter & clothing were difficult or impossible to come by. I think I would have liked more closure for the characters. There are a lot of unanswered questions - will there be a sequel?

[Mina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book can be summed up in one word: MEDIOCRE. I found myself entirely incapable of caring about any of the characters. It was one of those books where I reached the end and wondered what the point of it was. I think I know what the author was going for, but I didn't find anything in this book remotely compelling. I was definitely tempted to abandon it partway through.

[Sally Buckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

How those who opposed the war worked to help wounded Union soldiers in Salisbury, NC. From history and such novels as Cold Mountain I already knew how the war disrupted the civil society and made ruffians of ordinary people, but Scott reminded me of the corruptions caused by war.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't always enjoy history books, but this one was different. I like the intertwining stories of the three main sections of the book. There is a young woman and her father, a slave named Tom, and a boy named Clyde. Based in the Civil War era this was a great book to read.

[Joycelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wondered throughout the book how the author would tie together these three distinct yet interrelated characters and stories. I am still wondering as the end left as many questions as answers. A lot of this novel is somewhat grim and depressing.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disapointed in this book. I couldn't figure out how Clyde had any relavance or importance in the novel other than to annoy me. The end was also saddening and didn't tie up any of the loose ends that the author had created.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this better than I thought I would. I expected something very formulaic and predictable, but it continued to surprise me, right to the end. Interesting look at what was going on in and around my current hometown during the Civil War.

[Jsimpson143 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like North Carolina historical fiction, you'll like this. The main character is a young woman who goes from a life of privilege to one of service to wounded Conferederate deserters. Scott's development of main and supporting characters is outstanding.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweeping tale set in the south during the Civil War, in which three people, worlds apart, are joined in a struggle for something greater than themselves. It was a well written book, vivid in detail, but not a fun read.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Histocial fiction about a young woman and a male slave during the Civil War era. The whole story takes place in North Carolina, with special emphasis on Chapel Hill.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the Civil War time period. I was sad at the end, but I guess things always don't work out as I hope!

[Penny Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read a good civil war novel in a while and it was good to get back into that genre.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I had hoped for from a historical fiction novel about the Civil War. There were parts that were interesting but most of it was rather boring.

[Msporter64 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was prdictable, but I was wrong. I wanted to keep reading, but was a bit disappointed. However, it does inspire me to want to read more about the Civil War.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book overall. I really enjoyed it - but was somewhat disappointed with the ending. Didn't feel that there was enough resolution and felt abrupt.

[barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I technically didn't 'read' this book. I got almost 100 pages into and had to give up. I just couldn't get into it.

[Cynthia T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Companion book to Child of the South. Generally about life in post Civil War in North Carolina. Learned alot of history. Learned there was once a "poorhouse" in Greensboro!

[Cj Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, predictable. If you are ever in the mood for a quick easy read that doesn't weigh down your mind, here you go.