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Hagridden
As the Civil War winds violently down, fears of the South's uncertain future fuse with its unraveling traditions. Against the backdrop of this post-apocalyptic landscape, so littered with corpses and mythology and desperation, two women, stranded and alone in the Louisiana bayou, fight to survive.
252 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2014
8 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Snoek-Brown
12 books51 followersSamuel Snoek-Brown is the author of the story collection There Is No Other Way to Worship Them (Blue Cactus Press, 2018) as well as the fiction chapbooks Where There Is Ruin (Red Bird Chapbooks, 2016) and Box Cutters (sunnyoutside press, 2013), and the novel Hagridden (Columbus Press, 2014), for which he received a 2013 Oregon Literary Fellowship. His most recent book is the nonfiction chapbook There Are No False Alarms (Blue Cactus Press, 2020), an account of an active-shooter lockdown at a Pacific Northwest community college.
When he's not teaching college or writing fiction, he works for Jersey Devil Press. Occasionally he'll also show up online at snoekbrown.com. He lives with his librarian wife in the Pacific Northwest.
When he's not teaching college or writing fiction, he works for Jersey Devil Press. Occasionally he'll also show up online at snoekbrown.com. He lives with his librarian wife in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 5, 2015
Brutal and beautiful and haunting. This story will stay with me for a long time.
January 15, 2023
Hagridden is a dark tale about three folks eking out a desperate living in Louisiana bayou country during the American Civil War. Author Sam Snoek-Brown is a supremely capable wordsmith. His themes, evocative descriptions, colorful/realistic dialog, and highly flawed characters will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Cormac McCarthy, Tom Franklin, William Gay, and Larry Brown. Hagridden is not only beautifully written, but a page-turner as well. Highly recommended.
"The oaks along the ridge were writhing like tortured epileptics in the winds, and she could make out through the thick rain a cascade of water like a cataract come roiling down the inside slope toward her; a vast arching spray exploded bright against the dark sky as the Gulf slammed over the chenier.”
"The oaks along the ridge were writhing like tortured epileptics in the winds, and she could make out through the thick rain a cascade of water like a cataract come roiling down the inside slope toward her; a vast arching spray exploded bright against the dark sky as the Gulf slammed over the chenier.”
August 1, 2014
I'm not always a big fan of historical fiction because so many books like that don't do much more than fictionalize a narrative life around a historical account. Yeah, it might give me a different picture of what life was like during a particular time, but if I want just the history I'll read a historical account. From a novel I want more. However, I was excited about this one because after reading "Box Cutters" I knew Snoek-Brown would give me more. The historical time and place come alive for me in this book, the devastation that is left in rural Louisiana at the end of the Civil War, but the darkness that is always hiding below the surface of humanity comes to such a bigger life. It's something to see, an enthralling use of a unique setting to explore who people can end up being. The result is unsettlingly wonderful, something I wouldn't have imagined but can't manage to refute. This definitely isn't something you'd find in your school history book.
November 17, 2014
Hagridden, a novel of Samuel Snoek-Brown
For disclosure purposes, Sam is a friend of mine from a few years back. But I must try to assure you that even if he were a total stranger to me this critique would be essentially the same. Objectivity may, indeed, be difficult. But our acquaintance cannot alter the fact that Sam's writing is superb. And let it be known that I do not like this site's star-category descriptions, and hence have given five stars only twice, so far. But Sam's book is one of them.
Even if you have not previously read anything by this author, it shouldn't take you long to recognize what you are holding in your hands as you begin to read his first novel. I had the privilege of reading his chapbook, Boxcutters, prior to getting a copy of @Hagridden. So I knew a little bit about what to expect of this novel. But knowing what to expect and actually reading it are two separate things.
By the end of the very short first chapter, there have been three murders committed and this reader was bathed in a mesmerizing environment of difficult poverty and dangers, human and otherwise. One idea repeatedly presented itself in my thoughts: Immersed. I was immersed in the period, the place, and the language context.
It is near the end of the American Civil War in the marshes of Louisiana, and two women living alone are fighting to survive in a hostile environment. Sam's descriptive imagery presents in vivid detail the people, their misery and the drudgery of their lives, the dangers of both the war and the salt marsh, and the altered morality demanded for survival.
Sam chose to eliminate some dialog tags and all quotation punctuation, neither of which was particularly noticeable at first, and later only momentarily distracting. It felt for just a moment as if he were playing a little trick on the reader, attempting perhaps to imitate one of the characteristic idiosyncrasies of a William Faulkner. Perhaps a bit pretentious, I thought. But very quickly a realization swept over me as I read on. There was no pretense here. This was no pretext. There was good reason to step outside convention and eliminate quotation marks and dialog tags. This was no idle imitation, it was an echo.
P. D. Ouspensky titled his monumental philosophical work Tertium Organum, and by so doing boldly claimed his place alongside Aristotle and Bacon who had given the world Organon and Novum Organum. And just as Ouspensky claimed his rightful place among the bright lights of scholarly greatness, Sam Snoek-Brown has claimed his place alongside the likes of Faulkner. Yes, I said that. And let it be known that this review is written in September, 2014, before this book is nominated for the awards for which is is certainly eligible. There are good reasons why Sam's work has been compared to that of Cormac McCarthy.
Sam's undeniable gift for imagery through metaphor is the most rewarding component of his writing, at least for me. But this book also presents a depth of context that only comes from diligent research. The Louisiana salt marsh environment was completely foreign to me before reading Hagridden. Now I feel as if I know the place almost like my hometown. The book's detail and imagery are wonderfully offered up to the eager reader. Right down to the liver spots on that woman's feet. And I say, 'that woman,' because the two main characters are never named other than as the girl and the old woman. And yet long before the book concludes, you will have the distinct impression that you know them intimately well.
It's time to make room at the big folks' table. And we should look forward to many more novels by Samuel Snoek-Brown.
For disclosure purposes, Sam is a friend of mine from a few years back. But I must try to assure you that even if he were a total stranger to me this critique would be essentially the same. Objectivity may, indeed, be difficult. But our acquaintance cannot alter the fact that Sam's writing is superb. And let it be known that I do not like this site's star-category descriptions, and hence have given five stars only twice, so far. But Sam's book is one of them.
Even if you have not previously read anything by this author, it shouldn't take you long to recognize what you are holding in your hands as you begin to read his first novel. I had the privilege of reading his chapbook, Boxcutters, prior to getting a copy of @Hagridden. So I knew a little bit about what to expect of this novel. But knowing what to expect and actually reading it are two separate things.
By the end of the very short first chapter, there have been three murders committed and this reader was bathed in a mesmerizing environment of difficult poverty and dangers, human and otherwise. One idea repeatedly presented itself in my thoughts: Immersed. I was immersed in the period, the place, and the language context.
It is near the end of the American Civil War in the marshes of Louisiana, and two women living alone are fighting to survive in a hostile environment. Sam's descriptive imagery presents in vivid detail the people, their misery and the drudgery of their lives, the dangers of both the war and the salt marsh, and the altered morality demanded for survival.
Sam chose to eliminate some dialog tags and all quotation punctuation, neither of which was particularly noticeable at first, and later only momentarily distracting. It felt for just a moment as if he were playing a little trick on the reader, attempting perhaps to imitate one of the characteristic idiosyncrasies of a William Faulkner. Perhaps a bit pretentious, I thought. But very quickly a realization swept over me as I read on. There was no pretense here. This was no pretext. There was good reason to step outside convention and eliminate quotation marks and dialog tags. This was no idle imitation, it was an echo.
P. D. Ouspensky titled his monumental philosophical work Tertium Organum, and by so doing boldly claimed his place alongside Aristotle and Bacon who had given the world Organon and Novum Organum. And just as Ouspensky claimed his rightful place among the bright lights of scholarly greatness, Sam Snoek-Brown has claimed his place alongside the likes of Faulkner. Yes, I said that. And let it be known that this review is written in September, 2014, before this book is nominated for the awards for which is is certainly eligible. There are good reasons why Sam's work has been compared to that of Cormac McCarthy.
Sam's undeniable gift for imagery through metaphor is the most rewarding component of his writing, at least for me. But this book also presents a depth of context that only comes from diligent research. The Louisiana salt marsh environment was completely foreign to me before reading Hagridden. Now I feel as if I know the place almost like my hometown. The book's detail and imagery are wonderfully offered up to the eager reader. Right down to the liver spots on that woman's feet. And I say, 'that woman,' because the two main characters are never named other than as the girl and the old woman. And yet long before the book concludes, you will have the distinct impression that you know them intimately well.
It's time to make room at the big folks' table. And we should look forward to many more novels by Samuel Snoek-Brown.
August 19, 2014
Full disclosure: I'm the publisher of this book. But that should tell you something. I not only loved this book enough to read it and give it 5 stars, I loved it enough to invest time, resources and capital into it.
My company receives hundreds of unsolicited submissions each year, and we publish one, maybe two of them. And for this year, this is the one. This is truly the cream of the crop, a magnificent book that I was privileged to read and produce with the author, Samuel Snoek-Brown.
If you like Cormac McCarthy (The Road, No Country for Old Men), you will like this book. It has the same gritty reality to it, coupled with beautiful, complex prose.
I truly hope you enjoy Hagridden. I know I did, and I couldn't be more proud to have published such a fine book.
My company receives hundreds of unsolicited submissions each year, and we publish one, maybe two of them. And for this year, this is the one. This is truly the cream of the crop, a magnificent book that I was privileged to read and produce with the author, Samuel Snoek-Brown.
If you like Cormac McCarthy (The Road, No Country for Old Men), you will like this book. It has the same gritty reality to it, coupled with beautiful, complex prose.
I truly hope you enjoy Hagridden. I know I did, and I couldn't be more proud to have published such a fine book.
November 3, 2014
It's not often that you come across an author who's brave enough to unflinchingly illustrate the depraved, desperate side of the human condition. Samuel Snoek-Brown has created characters so genuine I couldn't wait to read more about their fantastically deplorable troubles.
The dialogue is peppered with authentic Creole diction, and combined with compelling descriptions, Snoek-Brown transports his readers straight to the swampy Louisiana Bayou.
Hagridden hooked me in the first couple pages. Dark, gritty and violent, yet eloquent and intriguing, this is the best book I've read all summer.
The dialogue is peppered with authentic Creole diction, and combined with compelling descriptions, Snoek-Brown transports his readers straight to the swampy Louisiana Bayou.
Hagridden hooked me in the first couple pages. Dark, gritty and violent, yet eloquent and intriguing, this is the best book I've read all summer.
August 18, 2015
Talk about unique! This book is so different from anything else I have ever read. I read it based on a recommendation from a friend (and the fact that I could download it for free from Amazon that day), without knowing what to expect, and it blew me away.
First of all, this is not your typical historical fiction novel - nor is it for the faint of heart. The characters and the setting are unlike any I have encountered in any genre previously. Particularly for a novel in which the two main characters are female, this one is, in many parts, shockingly violent and disturbing. The relationships between the characters are incredibly intense - a tension that only continues to build right up until the end. I have to say I felt more like I was reading a thriller/horror story rather than historical fiction.
I would love to ask the author why he made some of the choices he did: Why did he not give the female characters names? Why did he choose not to use punctuation with his dialogue? I have some speculation as to why he might have made these choices but it would be interesting to hear the answer straight from the horse's mouth.
If you're looking for a happy, feel-good story, this is definitely not the book for you. But if you are looking for something unique and you don't mind a story that is brutal, raw, violent, and yet strangely bewitching and alluring at the same time, then I would highly recommend this one.
First of all, this is not your typical historical fiction novel - nor is it for the faint of heart. The characters and the setting are unlike any I have encountered in any genre previously. Particularly for a novel in which the two main characters are female, this one is, in many parts, shockingly violent and disturbing. The relationships between the characters are incredibly intense - a tension that only continues to build right up until the end. I have to say I felt more like I was reading a thriller/horror story rather than historical fiction.
I would love to ask the author why he made some of the choices he did: Why did he not give the female characters names? Why did he choose not to use punctuation with his dialogue? I have some speculation as to why he might have made these choices but it would be interesting to hear the answer straight from the horse's mouth.
If you're looking for a happy, feel-good story, this is definitely not the book for you. But if you are looking for something unique and you don't mind a story that is brutal, raw, violent, and yet strangely bewitching and alluring at the same time, then I would highly recommend this one.
August 26, 2014
In Hagridden, Samuel Snoek-Brown drops the reader directly into a darkly crafted Civil War setting that captivates and terrifies. Often brutal and always brilliant, this novel moves quickly as it follows the lives and hardships of characters entrenched in a war-torn society. Don't mistake historical fiction for a boring history lesson. This is a character and plot-driven novel that is sure to thrill any reader. Snoek-Brown has obviously done his homework. This is well-researched with deep roots in the history of the U.S. all while maintaining an incredible readability. Hagridden is a journey through hell, away from the battlefields, calling on Southern mythology to reveal dark secrets of the soul. A must read for anyone interested in the Civil War, the South, U.S. history, or the elusive human condition in general.
August 19, 2014
A truly excellent book. I don't consider myself a historical fiction buff, I like my books raw, gritty and in the now. But this had all of those components, simply complimented by a truly unique situation and historical setting. I was engaged. This is the kind of book that college students will be writing papers about in 10 years.
August 19, 2014
Absolutely fantastic book. Great writing, good pacing, fascinating setting and historical details. Don't miss out on Hagridden by Samuel Snoek-Brown, highly recommended.
July 22, 2015
I could not put this book down and read it in two days. Its historical and tells about the end days of the Civil War, also tells the story about two women living in the Bayou and what they had to do to survive, it's very brutal and dark and the descriptions of living out in the Bayou was breathtaking, made you feel like you were right there. Also liked how they told about the legend of the rougarou which was scary..... I definitely recommend this book and would love to see a movie made from it.. I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 27, 2014
I found this book to be a great insight into the intense strength and courage needed to survive in the Louisiana bayou at the end of the civil war. The two women on this journey in time are both remarkable and revolting to me, but I certainly enjoyed their story. It's clear that this book is very well researched and carefully constructed. I absolutely look forward to reading more works from this author!
August 19, 2014
Brutal, but compelling...
October 28, 2014
A Civil War literary thriller of the first order steeped in the myths, culture and history of the Louisiana bayou.
May 22, 2019
3.5 stars
November 1, 2014
Dusk shadowed the reed bed and the sky gloomed red like fired iron, and while the cicadas set in and far off the frogs began a song, a spectral figure emerged hat and shoulders from the rippled surface of the backwaters.Once you start hearing that studied, melancholy drawl in your head, it's addictive... you can't avoid hearing everything that way, even starting to talk that way yourself. Or at least I couldn't.
—p.16
Samuel Snoek-Brown's auctorial voice is already noticeably self-assured in Hagridden, his first novel. It seems tailor-made for grim aphorisms:
"{...} sad don't get the dishes done."
—p.24
Full disclosure: my wife and Samuel Snoek-Brown's are professional colleagues, and before having read or heard a single word of Hagridden, I had a chance to meet the author in person (and liked him immensely, on our brief acquaintance) at Portland's laid-back and writer-friendly Jade Lounge (free plug—no compensation provided—and I bought my own copy of the book, by the way). But, that said... I still wouldn't be reviewing this novel at all if I didn't think it was worthwhile.
It won't be for everybody, though—Snoek-Brown's blasted postbellum South is an extraordinarily miserable place. Everything has gone to rot and ruin; the comparison I overheard (oh, it's also on the back cover) to a post-apocalyptic wasteland seems entirely apt. Its denizens bow to implacable exigencies because they must—eating unripe persimmons, for example, bitter as they are and knowing full well that doing so will give them the runs, because they can find no other food.
If you're the sort who needs cinematic comparisons, Hagridden combines the blood-drenched barbarism of Deliverance with the bleak bayou poverty and occasional magical touches of Beasts of the Southern Wild .
Hagridden carefully protects its ambiguity when it comes to magic, though. The fearsome "rougarou" (cognate with the French loup-garou) who stalk these Louisiana marshes at the tag-end of the War Between the States may just be soldiers gone feral, hiding their faces behind wolfskins, the better to strike fear into their adversaries and lend themselves the ferocity that comes with anonymity. Maybe...
Despite all that, though, I'm not sure the title really fits. I could not avoid thinking of J.K. Rowling's character before opening the book, and afterward... well, there's a lot of torment in the book, to be sure, but it's mostly experienced by the women, including the one who might most plausibly be called a hag, rather than meted out by them.
Hagridden could have been more assiduously copy-edited, too. There were occasional odd word choices that I'm pretty sure weren't intentional, like this one from the very first page:
"{...}and at night the baritone croak of the frogs was cheerless and departed."
I'm not at all sure what was meant by "departed" there. Then there's the wall of a shack that's "cantered" (instead of "canted") into the marsh, on p.26, and a place where the women "circumvented" instead of "circumnavigated" that marsh, from later in the book.
However, those bobbles really are few and far between. What comes through most strongly in Hagridden is a strong new storyteller's voice, leading us on as if clutching a rusty bayonet at the head of a column of doomed soldiers, leading us on to a conclusion which, however bloody, only seems inevitable in retrospect.
October 30, 2014
Hagridden by Samuel Snoek- Brown is a 2014 Columbus Press publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Without a doubt this one of the strangest novels I've read. Historical Fiction is the category this book is mentioned in the most, and technically it is. The setting is in the past, and it's fiction. So, it qualifies. But, this novel is unlike any other I've read in this category. Seeing the mostly glowing reviews on the book, I'm wondering if I have missed something here, but I have to say, it was not really my kind of book. Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine, and being born in the state of Louisiana I found the synopsis intriguing. I had no preconceived notions going into the book, so I had no expectations one way or the other. I did find some things very curious. The women appeared to have not been named, while the men did have names. The old woman in the story tells tales of a rougarou which starts off a series of events in which a certain paranoia takes hold.
The woman and the girl are a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law all alone in the waning days of the Civil War. While they wait for the son/husband to return from war they work together to survive. They must resort to some pretty ghastly measures to stay alive, but one day a man arrives who was a friend with the husband/son and a kind of jealousy takes hold. The suspense increases as time goes by and the woman begins to really fear she is losing the girl to their neighbor.
A rougarou is a mythological creature akin to a werewolf. While there were plenty of real things to fear, it was the legend of the rougarou that had the trio on edge.
While I like to tell people when they suggest a story is on the dark side, I am a little dark and twisty myself. I can really enjoy dark fantasy, dark Gothic tales, and dark humor is really high on my list. However, there is a big difference between dark and depressing and for me I found the book didn't seem to have a single uplifting moment, not one little tiny ray of peace or redemption shone through, that I could pick up on It was a strange story, perhaps littered with some kind of symbolism or allegory I failed to pick up on. I'm not a total idiot, I did understand the irony, but I'm wondering if I really grasped what the author was going for here.
Despite the subject matter, the author does know how to weave a story. There is nothing wrong with his writing skills or his characterizations. It is quite obvious he put a lot of effort into this book and added visual details that were very impressive. Sadly, it was the story itself I had a difficult time enjoying so this makes rating the book a difficulty for me. I think 3 stars is where I'm going to land on this one.
Without a doubt this one of the strangest novels I've read. Historical Fiction is the category this book is mentioned in the most, and technically it is. The setting is in the past, and it's fiction. So, it qualifies. But, this novel is unlike any other I've read in this category. Seeing the mostly glowing reviews on the book, I'm wondering if I have missed something here, but I have to say, it was not really my kind of book. Historical fiction is a favorite genre of mine, and being born in the state of Louisiana I found the synopsis intriguing. I had no preconceived notions going into the book, so I had no expectations one way or the other. I did find some things very curious. The women appeared to have not been named, while the men did have names. The old woman in the story tells tales of a rougarou which starts off a series of events in which a certain paranoia takes hold.
The woman and the girl are a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law all alone in the waning days of the Civil War. While they wait for the son/husband to return from war they work together to survive. They must resort to some pretty ghastly measures to stay alive, but one day a man arrives who was a friend with the husband/son and a kind of jealousy takes hold. The suspense increases as time goes by and the woman begins to really fear she is losing the girl to their neighbor.
A rougarou is a mythological creature akin to a werewolf. While there were plenty of real things to fear, it was the legend of the rougarou that had the trio on edge.
While I like to tell people when they suggest a story is on the dark side, I am a little dark and twisty myself. I can really enjoy dark fantasy, dark Gothic tales, and dark humor is really high on my list. However, there is a big difference between dark and depressing and for me I found the book didn't seem to have a single uplifting moment, not one little tiny ray of peace or redemption shone through, that I could pick up on It was a strange story, perhaps littered with some kind of symbolism or allegory I failed to pick up on. I'm not a total idiot, I did understand the irony, but I'm wondering if I really grasped what the author was going for here.
Despite the subject matter, the author does know how to weave a story. There is nothing wrong with his writing skills or his characterizations. It is quite obvious he put a lot of effort into this book and added visual details that were very impressive. Sadly, it was the story itself I had a difficult time enjoying so this makes rating the book a difficulty for me. I think 3 stars is where I'm going to land on this one.
March 5, 2015
Hagridden means “Afflicted by nightmares of anxieties” and this novel really hits hard in the full context of its meaning.
It's the end of the Civil War. Many men have been killed in action, many have deserted, others have gone rogue, maddened by bloodlust. The orderliness of both sides of the military have disappeared and chaos reigns. The south is devastated, its people hungry, suffering, and poor. This is the backdrop of this very dark, haunting story.
There are two women at the heart of the story - the mother of a son who was killed in action, and her daughter-in-law. They survive by killing soldiers, regardless of whether they are Confederate or Union, stripping them of any possessions, and then selling or trading them for food or supplies. When the best friend of the old woman's son returns, she struggles to keep her daughter-in-law from leaving her to be with him.
There is much to like about this novel. The writing is haunting, simple, and blunt. The characters are colorful and three-dimensional, always surprising, even shocking. There is a lot of killing in this book, so you'd better have a hard stomach. I looked beyond the continual violence to take note of how devastating, how stripped, how desperate life for those in the south who survived the war had to endure. There is even a villain who is bent on revenge and murder.
If you like your stories dark and that embrace violence, then I'm sure you'll enjoy this very unique novel. It's definitely a gripper!
It's the end of the Civil War. Many men have been killed in action, many have deserted, others have gone rogue, maddened by bloodlust. The orderliness of both sides of the military have disappeared and chaos reigns. The south is devastated, its people hungry, suffering, and poor. This is the backdrop of this very dark, haunting story.
There are two women at the heart of the story - the mother of a son who was killed in action, and her daughter-in-law. They survive by killing soldiers, regardless of whether they are Confederate or Union, stripping them of any possessions, and then selling or trading them for food or supplies. When the best friend of the old woman's son returns, she struggles to keep her daughter-in-law from leaving her to be with him.
There is much to like about this novel. The writing is haunting, simple, and blunt. The characters are colorful and three-dimensional, always surprising, even shocking. There is a lot of killing in this book, so you'd better have a hard stomach. I looked beyond the continual violence to take note of how devastating, how stripped, how desperate life for those in the south who survived the war had to endure. There is even a villain who is bent on revenge and murder.
If you like your stories dark and that embrace violence, then I'm sure you'll enjoy this very unique novel. It's definitely a gripper!
January 30, 2015
“Hagridden”: /’hag, ridn/ (adj) “Afflicted by nightmares of anxieties”
I found “Hagridden” a bit like a haunting song – reading it was vivid, detailed and an unsettling experience. The book is set in rural Louisiana as the Civil War is winding down. From the beginning, Snoek-Brown had fantastic skill of bringing the time and place alive for. It provides a unique perspective on the Civil War that I hadn’t read before. Though the history books and historical fiction often focus on the north or the post-war slave culture, most overlook rural southerners who were poor before the war much less afterward.
The women in the book have learned to do anything they need to in order to survive. When the younger woman’s husband is reported dead and his best friend has returned, their world is turned upside down. Each reacts in a different way and the older women the most drastically while they both try to balance the fight to survive. In her efforts to keep the younger woman close to her, will the old woman driver her away or win her loyalty forever?
Warning: Contains repeated violence
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review courtesy of the author.
Who should read it? Fans of historical fiction or looking for a unique view of the civil war.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
I found “Hagridden” a bit like a haunting song – reading it was vivid, detailed and an unsettling experience. The book is set in rural Louisiana as the Civil War is winding down. From the beginning, Snoek-Brown had fantastic skill of bringing the time and place alive for. It provides a unique perspective on the Civil War that I hadn’t read before. Though the history books and historical fiction often focus on the north or the post-war slave culture, most overlook rural southerners who were poor before the war much less afterward.
The women in the book have learned to do anything they need to in order to survive. When the younger woman’s husband is reported dead and his best friend has returned, their world is turned upside down. Each reacts in a different way and the older women the most drastically while they both try to balance the fight to survive. In her efforts to keep the younger woman close to her, will the old woman driver her away or win her loyalty forever?
Warning: Contains repeated violence
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review courtesy of the author.
Who should read it? Fans of historical fiction or looking for a unique view of the civil war.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
December 13, 2016
A cover blurb for Hagridden compared this debut novel by Samuel Snoek-Brown to Cormac McCarthy. I can see that. There are a number of similarities: the grittiness, the descriptive phases, the shocking violence, and some of the dialogue. For example, this two-sentence exchange: “You hard on a man.” “Then get comfortable, cause I don’t get no easier.”
The author’s use of simile and metaphor is also striking, such as in this spot-on metaphor: “They held their weapons perpendicular like circus artists on a tightrope and walked swiftly along the narrow ridge of earth until they came to a shallow lake, a lonely cypress rising from water at the edge, a tribe of woody knees surrounding the trunk like a congregation.” Or this bone-chilling description: “Frigid drops trapped in the thatch seeped through and dripped over them or hissed into the fire and they felt for a while like prehistoric figures alone in a living cave, wild and silent without words or even sign language. Just their cold eyes alit before the fire and their jaws set firm in the cold, the little muscles at the hinges clinched to keep their teeth from rattling.”
Samuel Snoek-Brown is one hell of a writer, and this gripping tale is historical fiction such as you’ve never before seen.
The author’s use of simile and metaphor is also striking, such as in this spot-on metaphor: “They held their weapons perpendicular like circus artists on a tightrope and walked swiftly along the narrow ridge of earth until they came to a shallow lake, a lonely cypress rising from water at the edge, a tribe of woody knees surrounding the trunk like a congregation.” Or this bone-chilling description: “Frigid drops trapped in the thatch seeped through and dripped over them or hissed into the fire and they felt for a while like prehistoric figures alone in a living cave, wild and silent without words or even sign language. Just their cold eyes alit before the fire and their jaws set firm in the cold, the little muscles at the hinges clinched to keep their teeth from rattling.”
Samuel Snoek-Brown is one hell of a writer, and this gripping tale is historical fiction such as you’ve never before seen.
December 2, 2014
I meant to write this review back when I first read the book while it was fresh in my mind, but ran into a deadline. Luckily, it's impossible to forget.
If you read Hagridden, you might want to grab a Pez despenser full of Paxil, and your favorite episodes of Care Bears to follow because, damn, it's dark. It grabs you by the feelings and kicks you in the sunshine--that's not a bad thing. Go dark, blot out the stars, by all means.
I don't have any complaints, but if you're from California, like me, some of the dialect might leave you scratching your head. I went to a family reunion once on the Tennessee / Virginia border and was like, "huh?", while everyone was talking. eventually, I learned to just smile and nod my head, pretending I knew what people were saying. I had to do that a few times while reading Hagridden, and like some commoners, I struggle at times to pick up on dialog when there are no quotation marks. But it was never enough to fall out of the stranglehold Hagridden kept me in.
also, that title, it's dope.
Like Cormac McCarthy, Tom Franklin, and Alden Bell, Sam Snoek-Brown has become another favorite southern literary fiction writer of mine.
If you read Hagridden, you might want to grab a Pez despenser full of Paxil, and your favorite episodes of Care Bears to follow because, damn, it's dark. It grabs you by the feelings and kicks you in the sunshine--that's not a bad thing. Go dark, blot out the stars, by all means.
I don't have any complaints, but if you're from California, like me, some of the dialect might leave you scratching your head. I went to a family reunion once on the Tennessee / Virginia border and was like, "huh?", while everyone was talking. eventually, I learned to just smile and nod my head, pretending I knew what people were saying. I had to do that a few times while reading Hagridden, and like some commoners, I struggle at times to pick up on dialog when there are no quotation marks. But it was never enough to fall out of the stranglehold Hagridden kept me in.
also, that title, it's dope.
Like Cormac McCarthy, Tom Franklin, and Alden Bell, Sam Snoek-Brown has become another favorite southern literary fiction writer of mine.
February 12, 2015
For my particular tastes, historical fiction should do two things: illuminate some vivid realities of the time period in question while never letting the simple fact that the story is from another time distract it from entertaining. And Hagridden by Sam Snoek-Brown does both -- really well.
The flowing, cinematic prose delves deep in to the near-apocalyptic daily struggle of the post Civil War Louisiana -- primarily following two hard-scrabble, tough-as-hand-forged-nails women as they scratch, claw, fight, and kill to stay alive. It's not pretty -- these lean days of crawdads and dogmeat out there in the saltmarshes -- but it's haunting and vivid with just the slightest touch of the so-called supernatural. Trying desperately to outlast the wanton and senseless war in hopes of rebuilding some kind of civil life, the women are, at turns, both despotic and tender...leaving us with a memorable if not cautionary tale on the utter destruction so often wrought by fear. Get ready to taste the blood and bile of the bayou.
The flowing, cinematic prose delves deep in to the near-apocalyptic daily struggle of the post Civil War Louisiana -- primarily following two hard-scrabble, tough-as-hand-forged-nails women as they scratch, claw, fight, and kill to stay alive. It's not pretty -- these lean days of crawdads and dogmeat out there in the saltmarshes -- but it's haunting and vivid with just the slightest touch of the so-called supernatural. Trying desperately to outlast the wanton and senseless war in hopes of rebuilding some kind of civil life, the women are, at turns, both despotic and tender...leaving us with a memorable if not cautionary tale on the utter destruction so often wrought by fear. Get ready to taste the blood and bile of the bayou.
April 3, 2015
Part Civil War period drama and part bayou gothic, Hagridden is a dirty little fever-dream of a novel. The plot follows a woman and her daughter-in-law who turn to robbery and murder to survive after being left to fend for themselves during the war. Things take a turn for the worse when a Confederate deserter from their past returns home, pursued by a crazed, very human rougarou, the werewolf-like creature from Cajun folklore.
The bayou, depicted here as a fetid wasteland as bleak and unforgiving as Cormac McCarthy's West,is a fitting backdrop for the troubling story. Fortunately, there's enough humanity on display here to rise above the bleakness and devastation. Hagridden makes good on all its promises, delivering a gut-punch of a story that's as memorable as it is uncomfortable.
The bayou, depicted here as a fetid wasteland as bleak and unforgiving as Cormac McCarthy's West,is a fitting backdrop for the troubling story. Fortunately, there's enough humanity on display here to rise above the bleakness and devastation. Hagridden makes good on all its promises, delivering a gut-punch of a story that's as memorable as it is uncomfortable.
December 23, 2016
Hagridden is a rare gem in the vein of an Ancient Greek tragedy written by a talented modern author. This book won't make you feel good, but it will challenge your soul -- like any honest portrayal of the tragic historical period the story covers. And on the score of accuracy, Snoek-Brown gets high marks. So if you're looking for a happy story with soaring moral victories, you won't find either.
Snoek-Brown is an exceptionally skilled writer as evidenced by his spellbinding imagery and command of language. He uses both to pull you into his scenes and draw you close to each character's emotions. The biggest mistake a reader can make is to resist his unique style of writing. Trust this author, he knows how to let his art guide you.
I highly recommend this book.
Snoek-Brown is an exceptionally skilled writer as evidenced by his spellbinding imagery and command of language. He uses both to pull you into his scenes and draw you close to each character's emotions. The biggest mistake a reader can make is to resist his unique style of writing. Trust this author, he knows how to let his art guide you.
I highly recommend this book.
September 19, 2014
Hagridden is one of those books that stays with you. Snoek-Brown's use of imagery, language, and metaphor combine to paint a stark, painfully realistic picture of life during wartime and what the struggle for survival brings some people to. I don't believe I've ever enjoyed a werewolf book more. At times the text resembles Cold Mountain as retold by Cormac McCarthy. That comparison cuts both ways, but what is clear is that Snoek-Brown has a gift for language, character, plot, and setting that is only going to get better as he continues to deliver.
March 5, 2015
I received this book through GoodReads First Reads.
A truly unusual book. Taking place in the Civil War era, this book takes the reader into the world of two women, a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, living in rural Louisiana, whose son/husband was off fighting for the South. Left with nothing, they do all the chores, obtain/grow all their food, sustain their own existences.
The culture of that time and area was fascinating. The characters were well-developed, the story flows rapidly. A well-written book!
A truly unusual book. Taking place in the Civil War era, this book takes the reader into the world of two women, a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, living in rural Louisiana, whose son/husband was off fighting for the South. Left with nothing, they do all the chores, obtain/grow all their food, sustain their own existences.
The culture of that time and area was fascinating. The characters were well-developed, the story flows rapidly. A well-written book!
January 23, 2015
Raw, gritty and meticulously researched Hagridden by Sam Snoek-Brown defies traditional category. Not quite southern gothic, not quite historical fiction, not quite myth, the story of weaves traditions from each to portray a post-Civil War hard scrabble existence for its main characters. Elegantly written it is easy to fall into the rhythm of Hagridden. The only real complaint one can have is that it will be over before you know it.
September 3, 2018
A grim look at the devastation of war, Hagridden is sure to appeal to fans of Cormac McCarthy and Ian McGuire.
January 2, 2018
Extremely well written and well researched. It's leans to the horror genre as well as historical, but what war doesn't have its horror?
August 9, 2015
To be honest with you, I had a lot of trouble getting through this book. While the writer does have some talent and there is some good writing in the bones of this novel, there were just some stylistic things that bugged me at a point it made it difficult to even read. Between the confusing opening, to the odd writing style, I admit, I just couldn't get over some of my first impressions.
The one thing that I severely disliked was the lack of quotation marks in Hagridden. Dialog was just throw in here and there and there was nothing to separate it from the rest of the text. I know, Samuel Snoek-Brown isn't the first author to use this technique, but it personally just distracting for me and interrupts the flow of a book. The speech itself did give a nice impression of the area and the people in the story, but I felt like I was often backtracking when I hit conversation to read it as intended.
The other thing that gets annoying is the two women in this story never get names. Everyone around them is given an identity, but the main characters remain faceless. Again, this is a stylistic thing, but it made it hard for me to relate to them. When you start the story with so much distance, it makes it hard to immerse yourself.
The story itself was interesting. The pacing to start was awkward (I don't even know how to explain it, but it was just difficult to read. The perspectives felt off, and it sort of had that 'shaky camera angle' type feel to it), but after the first chapter it was easier. The story had a strong sense of place, and you could feel like you were in the correct point in history, which is always a plus with historical novels. Characters felt dynamic, and there was a good mix of events happening (romance, drama, suspense). It's a bit hard for me to talk about the story since the main characters don't have names, but the relationship dynamics were unique to see. I liked the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship because it's a bit unusual. I also liked seeing their struggles with the husband of the girl out of the picture.
Overall, the bones were really nice. Just some overlying problems that really kept me from getting into things. Other readers may really like this, but it wasn't the book for me in the end.
The one thing that I severely disliked was the lack of quotation marks in Hagridden. Dialog was just throw in here and there and there was nothing to separate it from the rest of the text. I know, Samuel Snoek-Brown isn't the first author to use this technique, but it personally just distracting for me and interrupts the flow of a book. The speech itself did give a nice impression of the area and the people in the story, but I felt like I was often backtracking when I hit conversation to read it as intended.
The other thing that gets annoying is the two women in this story never get names. Everyone around them is given an identity, but the main characters remain faceless. Again, this is a stylistic thing, but it made it hard for me to relate to them. When you start the story with so much distance, it makes it hard to immerse yourself.
The story itself was interesting. The pacing to start was awkward (I don't even know how to explain it, but it was just difficult to read. The perspectives felt off, and it sort of had that 'shaky camera angle' type feel to it), but after the first chapter it was easier. The story had a strong sense of place, and you could feel like you were in the correct point in history, which is always a plus with historical novels. Characters felt dynamic, and there was a good mix of events happening (romance, drama, suspense). It's a bit hard for me to talk about the story since the main characters don't have names, but the relationship dynamics were unique to see. I liked the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship because it's a bit unusual. I also liked seeing their struggles with the husband of the girl out of the picture.
Overall, the bones were really nice. Just some overlying problems that really kept me from getting into things. Other readers may really like this, but it wasn't the book for me in the end.
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