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Bottomland
As featured on Nashville Public Radio -- A new Southern Gothic novel that will appeal to fans of William Faulkner, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Based on actual events, Bottomland is the story of the murder of a young woman in Franklin, Tennessee. Set in 1953, it explores the social mores of the town itself and the personalities of all involved, from the townspeople, to the police, to the killers. Told from the perspective of a 17-year-old high school senior who has just fallen in love for the first time, Bottomland reflects Franklin's evolution from the Civil War through World War II and segregation, while chronicling the narrator's family history and coming of age. The story unfolds over the four day period during which the the body and the perpetrators remain unidentified. Reviewers "Holt's character-work is first-class, and his clever, authentic-sounding Southern dialogue is full of life and character... Beautiful, evocative descriptive passages drift through the narrative. He also has a great talent for quick, memorable character sketches... As a true-crime buff, I'd never heard of the real-life case this is based on before.... There is surprisingly little [that has been written about the case] beyond Holt's splendid book." --The Reader in the Tower blog"This remarkable, intricately crafted novel is clearly not for everyone. I can see why after a body is discovered many people would go in mystery mode, but that isn't what this is. Nor is it a book that maintains an easily understood story line; at times I wasn't exactly sure which time period we were in but as it turns out that just contributed to the overall effect. Instead, it is a story from the mind of a teenage boy of great sensitivity, caught between a host of conflicting forces, and emerging from it with a deepened sense of the meaning of life and its tragedies. The characters all arise out of the very Southern soil of Franklin, Tennessee, but for all that they represent a wide spectrum of human experience. The use of his mentally ill uncle to bring reflections on the human conditions is brilliant. As in Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury and Shakespeare's King Lear, the 'fool' is often the one with the deepest insights. We as readers are, to be sure, asked to stay with this story amidst its many complicated tangles, but it is a journey well worth taking. It is the sort of book I'd like to read again, only this time with a group of friends to discuss the journey along the way. I think we would all learn much about ourselves and each other." --Karl Frederickson, Amazon.com reader review
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2015
177 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 29, 2015
Lawd help me! I thought I'd never finish this book. While the plot/premise was interesting enough, all the flip-flopping back and forth in time was brutal. There was nothing to indicate when the time frame was changing. It was just a difficult book to read. Not to mention the editing errors.
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August 24, 2022DNF at about page 110 - I persevered but I just couldn't and life's too short to read something you're not interested in. I had no idea what was going on half the time as the plot flip flopped all over the place with no clear indication of who was talking etc, maybe some better editing would help.
August 25, 2015
I downloaded this book for free and so glad I did not pay for it! I do have to say that Holt has potential, but someone should at least have edited this book. The grammatical errors are rampant! It contains misuse of homophones, omission of articles, omission of prepositions, poor usage of dangling participles and just plain incorrect verb usage. There are incomplete as well as run-on and rambling sentences that just do not make sense. These errors are not in the authors use of colloquialisms, which I actually thought he did a very decent job of portraying the local language usage. The errors are in the text. I decided in the last 50 pages to mark them and got past 20!
This could have been an interesting story. The Kindle version I downloaded had 433 pages and that was about 100 pages too long. All the information about the Civil War, even though I understand it was used to help describe the character of Percy, was unnecessary and drawn out. The football information was too detailed and also unnecessary. The story jumps around so much that it is hard to understand when or what has happened. I only kept reading this book because I wanted to find out who murdered Rosa. Well that does not happen until the epilogue. There should have been more information on the murder and the victim. I understand the idea of telling the story around the lives of Henry and Lucky, but this was really not the story of Rosa Mary Dean. I am only giving this 2 stars because I believe the author has potential if he would get himself a good editor!!!
This could have been an interesting story. The Kindle version I downloaded had 433 pages and that was about 100 pages too long. All the information about the Civil War, even though I understand it was used to help describe the character of Percy, was unnecessary and drawn out. The football information was too detailed and also unnecessary. The story jumps around so much that it is hard to understand when or what has happened. I only kept reading this book because I wanted to find out who murdered Rosa. Well that does not happen until the epilogue. There should have been more information on the murder and the victim. I understand the idea of telling the story around the lives of Henry and Lucky, but this was really not the story of Rosa Mary Dean. I am only giving this 2 stars because I believe the author has potential if he would get himself a good editor!!!
August 23, 2015
Good voice.
The author has caught the voice and tone of his people wonderfully. This is skilled writing. However the timeline is very unclear and jumps all over the place. As well, the author continually brings up threads of plot lines and drops them, and I found myself frustrated that he didn't just continue and resolve one. Those two issues made the book confusing and a little irritating for me. So while I found it worth reading once I won't save it. However there is some very real talent here and I will give other works by Holt a try.
The author has caught the voice and tone of his people wonderfully. This is skilled writing. However the timeline is very unclear and jumps all over the place. As well, the author continually brings up threads of plot lines and drops them, and I found myself frustrated that he didn't just continue and resolve one. Those two issues made the book confusing and a little irritating for me. So while I found it worth reading once I won't save it. However there is some very real talent here and I will give other works by Holt a try.
September 11, 2015
It was like the train wreck you couldn't turn away from watching as it happened.
This book jumped timelines so much it was impossible to know which end was up.
Also, there were several times that I thought people were dead when it was a foreshadow or simply some imaginative thought of the narrator.
Confusing, upside-down and definitely hard to follow.
I stayed with it, skimmed large portions - particularly when Percy was waxing poetic on the Battle of Franklin. Seriously??
Thank goodness the epilogue at least brings some closure to this mess of a book.
This was free from BookBub
This book jumped timelines so much it was impossible to know which end was up.
Also, there were several times that I thought people were dead when it was a foreshadow or simply some imaginative thought of the narrator.
Confusing, upside-down and definitely hard to follow.
I stayed with it, skimmed large portions - particularly when Percy was waxing poetic on the Battle of Franklin. Seriously??
Thank goodness the epilogue at least brings some closure to this mess of a book.
This was free from BookBub
August 1, 2015
Interesting if a bit confusing
I did enjoy Bottomland but I kept wishing I had a time-line to help me through the narrative. It wasn't just a matter of jumping back and forth between years, but back and forth between months or less which caused the problems I had following the story. I didn't give up, and I'm glad I didn't.
I did enjoy Bottomland but I kept wishing I had a time-line to help me through the narrative. It wasn't just a matter of jumping back and forth between years, but back and forth between months or less which caused the problems I had following the story. I didn't give up, and I'm glad I didn't.
October 30, 2016
Good story but way too long
I think the basic story line was good, but at 9 hours to read on my iPad, it was just too freakin' long. Instead of being concerned about the characters after halfway through I just wanted it to end.
I think the basic story line was good, but at 9 hours to read on my iPad, it was just too freakin' long. Instead of being concerned about the characters after halfway through I just wanted it to end.
November 13, 2015
Gave up. As much as I liked the history of the area(we knew this area) I couldn't follow the time lines. It just was too frustrating for me.
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September 19, 2015Couldn't get into it..
January 31, 2018
READER BEWARE: THIS BOOK REQUIRES PERSEVERANCE
Crazy Uncle Percy standing in front of the attic window in his yellowed underwear and socks (that holds his cigarettes) rambling on and on, again, about the ‘three ingredients to our existence and all the actions therein: Randomness, a Planned Nature of things and Basic Human Frailty.’
RANDOMNESS: As the majority of reviewers have lamented, the randomness of the story is absolutely frustrating to follow. The stories skip back, forward, and sideways through time seemingly disjointed. The storyline was so difficult to follow that I literally threw my hands in the air and resigned to just not try to figure out any order. Instead I tried to just absorb each piece of information as I received it. And the thought occurred to me…
BASIC HUMAN FRAILTY: I need order and the author refuses to conform. It is his story to tell, after all. I certainly prefer some sequential order to a story, not this disjointed one. Aghast! I realize I may not be open-minded enough to fully discern the story the author is constructing. He keeps circling back through events adding more detail and eluding to future events. The scattered snippets jumping from one moment to another. And my frustration is mine—I want, I need order.
PLANNED NATURE OF THINGS: Gradually, I became aware that my subconscious mind was keeping up with the story whereas my conscious mind could not, would not. I thought I was completely lost, since I had no clue how to keep up with the disjointed parts of the narrative. But, my subconscious mind pieced together the stories and, like a puzzle, they all started to take shape, blossoming into a rich garden of characters, and lives, and relationships.
This book is not for the recreational reader. It is not an easy summer read. It is not the typical, book club, historical fiction book. But Bottomland will challenge your mind and stretch it. You will grow as you contemplate the Randomness, Planned Nature of Things and Basic Human Frailty of life. Enjoy!
Crazy Uncle Percy standing in front of the attic window in his yellowed underwear and socks (that holds his cigarettes) rambling on and on, again, about the ‘three ingredients to our existence and all the actions therein: Randomness, a Planned Nature of things and Basic Human Frailty.’
RANDOMNESS: As the majority of reviewers have lamented, the randomness of the story is absolutely frustrating to follow. The stories skip back, forward, and sideways through time seemingly disjointed. The storyline was so difficult to follow that I literally threw my hands in the air and resigned to just not try to figure out any order. Instead I tried to just absorb each piece of information as I received it. And the thought occurred to me…
BASIC HUMAN FRAILTY: I need order and the author refuses to conform. It is his story to tell, after all. I certainly prefer some sequential order to a story, not this disjointed one. Aghast! I realize I may not be open-minded enough to fully discern the story the author is constructing. He keeps circling back through events adding more detail and eluding to future events. The scattered snippets jumping from one moment to another. And my frustration is mine—I want, I need order.
PLANNED NATURE OF THINGS: Gradually, I became aware that my subconscious mind was keeping up with the story whereas my conscious mind could not, would not. I thought I was completely lost, since I had no clue how to keep up with the disjointed parts of the narrative. But, my subconscious mind pieced together the stories and, like a puzzle, they all started to take shape, blossoming into a rich garden of characters, and lives, and relationships.
This book is not for the recreational reader. It is not an easy summer read. It is not the typical, book club, historical fiction book. But Bottomland will challenge your mind and stretch it. You will grow as you contemplate the Randomness, Planned Nature of Things and Basic Human Frailty of life. Enjoy!
September 12, 2017
It took me forever to read this book because it was boring and confusing. The author jumps from the 1950’s to the 1940’s, goes into the future, then reverses back to the past to do it all over again. I wasn’t sure who was coming or going, and had to reread portions to figure out what had just happened. Read the rest of the review on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
June 23, 2018
Haunting Realities from the Past
A well written, although sometimes confusing story based on a true murders I. What many think was a simpler time. The struggles of real people in an era before segregation. Somewhat sad yet true to life.
A well written, although sometimes confusing story based on a true murders I. What many think was a simpler time. The struggles of real people in an era before segregation. Somewhat sad yet true to life.
November 26, 2021
Interesting Story
This book has a great story and good characterization but it really needs more careful editing. Misspelled words and usages (like their instead of there) were really distracting.
This book has a great story and good characterization but it really needs more careful editing. Misspelled words and usages (like their instead of there) were really distracting.
May 18, 2017
Little to do with the murder and a lot to do with dysfunctional characters. I was choking on the smoke.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2018
Interesting.
Could have done without the expletives, not understanding the need for them or for the history lesson. Otherwise,a page turner.
Could have done without the expletives, not understanding the need for them or for the history lesson. Otherwise,a page turner.
December 28, 2018
Hard rrading
I could not finish reading this book because of the foul language used. Would not have purchased it if I had known it would be so coarse and graphic.
I could not finish reading this book because of the foul language used. Would not have purchased it if I had known it would be so coarse and graphic.
April 12, 2020
Never finished it. Boring
March 16, 2017
I wanted to like this book. I tried. I really tried. The story takes place near my home and I recognized so many landmarks and learned a few things about the local history; however, I thought the book was going to be about solving the mystery of Rosa Mary Dean's murder. She has barely been mentioned and the characters the author is developing are all awful and unlikeable. Actually, it's not even that I dislike them, I'm uninterested. I have had to force myself to pick the book up and just can't muddle through it any more so I'm giving up. I haven't done that very many times.
June 25, 2016
I can definitely see the comparisons to Faulkner with this book. The writer has a knack for Southern gothic writing, and the words just drip off the page in that way that makes you think its 101 with 100% humidity in the air. The level of detail is just breathtaking in how events are described.
However, what drove me over the edge was the back and forth in time. I just couldn't stay in the book well enough, and I'd end up having to re-read the previous chapter and jump back to get something. That kind of back and forth drives me insane - its a mark that the writer doesn't know how to handle flow.
I'll be intrigued to see more from this author as he picks up the knack of how to emulate the flow of the greats. If he shoots more for "A Rose for Emily" and less "As I Lay Dying" he'll nail Southern literature.
However, what drove me over the edge was the back and forth in time. I just couldn't stay in the book well enough, and I'd end up having to re-read the previous chapter and jump back to get something. That kind of back and forth drives me insane - its a mark that the writer doesn't know how to handle flow.
I'll be intrigued to see more from this author as he picks up the knack of how to emulate the flow of the greats. If he shoots more for "A Rose for Emily" and less "As I Lay Dying" he'll nail Southern literature.
October 5, 2015
Yikes!
This book was WAAAAAAAY longer than it should have been. I got it through Amazon for free and read it based solely on the description (BIG mistake!). The story jumps incomprehensibly from year to year with no warning whatsoever, sometimes even within the same chapter. It is also very poorly written from a grammatical standpoint. Did the author not ask anyone to read this first?? The multitude of typos are unforgivable. I did read the entire book but wanted to quit about a third of the way into it. Beyond painful!!!
This book was WAAAAAAAY longer than it should have been. I got it through Amazon for free and read it based solely on the description (BIG mistake!). The story jumps incomprehensibly from year to year with no warning whatsoever, sometimes even within the same chapter. It is also very poorly written from a grammatical standpoint. Did the author not ask anyone to read this first?? The multitude of typos are unforgivable. I did read the entire book but wanted to quit about a third of the way into it. Beyond painful!!!
September 6, 2015
The story offered so much possibility but it just fell flat with the constantly moving timeline and way more history than can be justified. Also, and I cannot emphasize this enough, editing can make or break a book, and while I've see worse that is no excuse for the poor proofreading and editing in this book. I often read books that were published decades ago and they don't have anywhere near the errors of this or many other current novels. How can it possibly be so hard to get it right with all the technology we have today?
August 16, 2016
I think this could have been a much better story than it was. 1st off it needs a little editing help (but don't we all) 2nd and the reason for just 2 stars, It takes forever to get into the story, or it did for me. I like for a book to suck me in and keep me in that world for the duration of the book. I love books that make me want to stay in their world instead of coming back into mine. However this book didn't do that.
August 20, 2015
I loved this book.
This author is great with words. I'm from the South and he described just exactly like it is. I couldn't put this book down. It brought back those days of first love and our experiences of real life and death. I hope Trey Holt has more books published I can read
This author is great with words. I'm from the South and he described just exactly like it is. I couldn't put this book down. It brought back those days of first love and our experiences of real life and death. I hope Trey Holt has more books published I can read
September 13, 2015
Disconnected
It took me a week to get through this book . I usually read a book in one or two days, but I found this like listening to someone ramble. The story line was good enough but totally disconnected. The ending also fell short and was more a synopsis of the end. It could have been written a little better.
It took me a week to get through this book . I usually read a book in one or two days, but I found this like listening to someone ramble. The story line was good enough but totally disconnected. The ending also fell short and was more a synopsis of the end. It could have been written a little better.
October 8, 2015
I usually like stories like Bottomland, however, after having read 20% of the book, I noticed that I just couldn´t keep my attention to the story and so I just gave up trying. Books are meant to captivate the mind and I think the story´s just too slow to make it interesting. I wouldn´t recommend Bottomland.
September 25, 2015
Could not get through this book!
I am a fast reader and normally will finish any book I start. However, there was t ok much Civil War history and not enough progression about solving g the murder. Many errors in word choice which stopped the flow. A depressing book. I made it to 57% and gave up.
I am a fast reader and normally will finish any book I start. However, there was t ok much Civil War history and not enough progression about solving g the murder. Many errors in word choice which stopped the flow. A depressing book. I made it to 57% and gave up.
August 15, 2015
Disturbing & dysfunctional
It was hard to follow the story line as the author kept going back years to things that had little to do with the main theme. Way to many pages as well about civil war mistakes.
It was hard to follow the story line as the author kept going back years to things that had little to do with the main theme. Way to many pages as well about civil war mistakes.
September 26, 2015
This book was a little bit of a hard read. It kept jumping to the past and the present and once in a while a little bit of the future. Just when you thought that you were going to learn something new, you were brought back into the past again.
October 5, 2015
This is really more of a " coming of age " tale than a mystery . I like the writing style , loved the characters ( most of them anyways ) and the ending . Just wish the author would not have jumped around in time so much .
January 19, 2016
Very confusing storyline
I can not recommend this book to my friends, it made me feel as crazy as the character's . The story jumped around so much that it was very difficult to follow.
I can not recommend this book to my friends, it made me feel as crazy as the character's . The story jumped around so much that it was very difficult to follow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews