On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Comments on this board are made with the assumption that readers have finished the book and June include spoilers.

Well, this book is now one of my faves! Compelling story,some romance, great nature descriptions,interesting characters & plot twists,non-trad family structure.Good stuff.

I read it when it first came out and really enjoyed it.

It’s great. I wasn’t ready for a reread but it’s one that shouldn’t be missed.

I didn't want to reread either, but it was a great book. The movie is pretty good too.

Unlike so many of you, I hadn’t read it previously, although I’ve been meaning to for years. I remembered enjoying the movie, but I clearly didn’t actually recall any of the actual film, just that it was good and I wanted to read the novel that preceded it. Well, I just finished reading it, and I was not disappointed. The characters are very believable and draw you into their story lines, even that old SOB, Veasey. There’s plenty of action, a heart warming/heart breaking love story, resurrection and redemption, and the chance to say the things we wished weren’t left unsaid.

I expected to enjoy Cold Mountain… I did not expect to be blown away.

Also noteworthy, after far longer than I’m proud of, for the first time I have completed one of the OTSLT selections during the month it was selected to be read. Yay, me! 😂

Yay you, Roy! Yes, Cold Mountain will blow you away. I had to read the chapter where Inman died about 4 times before I believed it. As much as I was shocked and saddened, I dont believe it would have been as powerful had it not happened. I also loved all the old words that Frazier included in the narrative. A lot of them I remember my grandparents using.

Diane, I agree that Inman's death made it so powerful. I also really liked the depictions of how women coped in the isolated area,often w/kids as the men were gone. Likely pretty accurate, the herbal meds and couldn't dig a grave to bury her daughter. Inman was a good guy!

Here's an excerpt from My FULL REVIEW


What I loved most about the novel was the relationships between and personal growth of the women – Ada and Ruby – how they moved from dependent/superior to an equal partnership and true friendship. They grew to recognize and admire one another’s strengths, put their differences aside and developed a true and genuine trust between them born of hard work and repeated small tests. While Ada and Inman’s bond was ethereal and romantic, the bond between Ada and Ruby was grounded in the North Carolina soil and woods they called home. Had Sherman marched his forces through their cove I’d bet on Ruby and Ada to get the best of the federals.

I didn't reread it, but it's a book that lingers strongly in my memory five years after I read it. The Homeric parallels are subtle, the characters are imperfect and plausible, and the contrasts and issues give it depth.

I'm glad Book Concierge mentioned the relationship between Ada and Ruby, as I think it's sometimes side-lined by the the overtly romantic one between Ada and Inman.

My detailed review is here.

Cecily .. having read your excellent review I'm struck by your comment re a potentially ambiguous ending. I, too, am a fan of ambiguous endings. I like to let my own imagination fill in the blanks to complete the story.....

Yep, much as I loved the book, I would have preferred it with out the last few Hollywood pages.

I finally read this wonderful book and finished it today. It was such a journey. I was also blown away by the relationship between Ada and Ruby. I loved how they learned from each other what each had to teach. It was a beautiful journey of friendship from the moment Ada realized how much help she needed to the way that Ruby was able to use her knowledge to bring the farm back to life. I am doubly amazed that these two, tiny women did it together but on their own.

I was not certain of Inman's death either but knew that it had to be that way. I think Cecily is right about the Epilogue pages - Hollywood end - great way to put it. The ambiguity would have been a more powerful ending.