Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier is a buddy read for November/ December 2021

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Thank you Katy!! Starting soon!

Excellent

Thanks Katy. Good to see you Lori.
I will start previewing and just start reading tonight.

I’m in.

I have just barely started but I already like Frazier’s writing.

I have read the first three chapters.
Already I can see how more in depth is the novel then the movie.
I am so prepared to once again admire the work and friend partnership of Ada and Ruby

Anyone else here seen the movie?

Cynda, I have seen it a couple of times, but it’s been a while.

Me too. Years--since movie was still new. What I see is how backstory here is told where in the movie it can only be indicated where it is not just cut.

Yes! And the writing is gorgeous — so finely tuned to the time of the novel, don’t you think? His descriptions include tangible non-modern things. For example, when describing Ruby, “Ada thought she saw a spark as bright and hard as one struck with steel and flint.”

I don’t like writing in books or folding down corners, so I have taken to tearing thin strips of post-its to mark passages that I really like. Some novels only give me one or two, even though I may enjoy the reading, but at 15% into this one, I have already used six strips.

I'm about 32%.
I like the folk wisdom that Ruby uses to educate Ada to help her Ada help herself. In the time to come after the Civil War when plantations broke up--when they weren't confiscated for taxes-+ more women had to take up manual skilled tasks their grandmothers and women for generations before had to do.

Really I like how Ada and Ruby both teach each other.

Ruby teaches Ada practical things. And Ada teaches Ruby the world of imagination and ideas.

Both of the women seem to appreciate and maybe enjoy downright enjoy learning new things.

A great business and friend partnership.

It turns out that I really don’t want to do anything but read this book, as nighttime is quickly falling and I’m possibly at about 40% in.

Good Terry. I had to make myself stop reading late last night/early this morning. I may just go for it tonight, or just a large chunck of the book. Let's see how it goes. . . .

Ok ladies, you have me wanting to be as far into this book as you both are. I will start tomorrow and can't wait after reading your glowing comments!

I’m so glad you ate joining us, Lori! I am certain you will love this book.

Lori glad you are still interested. I am 72% through with 100 left to go. I am taking a break on Friday and plan to return on Saturday.

Jillian, exactly how I would phrase it: Frazier writes women well.

Another contrast between the women that stands out for me:

Ada has travelled to France and likes her French garments. (I'm thinking of pre-internet global market.)

Ruby wants to buy in local market. (I'm thinking of Support Local Businesses/Buy Local.)

Issues that still concern us today.

Inman could have stayed with lonely helpless Sara, but Inman recognized the amount of effort that he would put onto the place and never escape, never be done with a chore list enough to get free. So he does do an honorable thing by getting the next big task done for Sara, and then moves on

Cynda I love the relationship of Ruby and Ada as you have described it. They needed each other not knowing how much they would learn from each other. The folk lore is prevalent in every Appalachian area all along the mountains. I do love it and would often hear some "old wives tales" my mother would like to tell me when I was little. Now if I could just remember which ones. I'm pretty sure I've heard the one about seeing your future if you look in the bottom of a river using a mirror. These things are priceless knowing that this generation believed in them.

I'm halfway finished and really wishing Veasey would leave Inman be and let him go on his own. He's an interesting character but won't likely learn the lesson Inman tried to teach him.

I look forward to getting further today because I have a chunk of time. If my mind would settle from thoughts of ideas for the new challenges popping in my head and then I spend time doing research! It's fun though.

So glad to be reading this and I keep thinking about Enemy Women as well.

Yes, Lori, I agree this book is strongly tied to the story of Enemy Women. Ruby reminds me of my maternal grandmother whose name was Monta. She had a working vegetable garden that was a tangle of plants, including gourds, with skinny paths in no particular order. Monta canned all manner of fruits and vegetables, and would go blackberry picking most every year when the berries were ripe. Her house was similarly filled with sewing and craft projects, which she would tackle, as the mood hit her, leaving others at various stages of completion, the same way that Ruby attacks her chores. She was not well educated, but she had a lot of practical knowledge which she taught to her children.

Lori we have many Scots-Irish here, probably throughout Texas. I vaguely remember little girls my age who would use mirrors to scry their husbands to come. Older traditions practiced by women, probably worldwide, used wells and ponds. Mirrors were far too expensive and not effective as ours.

Until "black bark in winter, the women complement each other. But grief with all its intensity, the women cannot hit social stride. Ada knows of quiet talking, comforting touch, and a faith in some divine plan. Ruby must find her peace as she always has--alone in quiet.

Spoiker about the end of the book

(view spoiler)[Eleven foreshadowings. So many foreshadowings that when the end came it could be written quietly respectfully and beautifully. (hide spoiler)]

I finished the book last night, after taking most of the weekend off and away from it. Cold Mountain was good right up to the very last pages, being one of those books that I did not want to end. It will be a 5 star book for me, but I will wait a day before writing my review. I have so many quotes from the book that those alone will take quite a bit of time. Not only does Frazier write beautiful prose with time and place authenticity, he also has general insight into the human condition and the specific, tragic issues of post traumatic stress caused by war.

Lori, have you finished yet?

Cynda, I appreciate your insights on this and other books. Are you joining the January Buddy Read of The Siege?

I am still about 100 from the end. Inman is with Sara right now. I am savoring it so much and have been truly amazed by the prose and authenticity as well. I have marked many quotes as well. I think this is so much more than a love story as many probably think is the main story line. I love the way Frazier writes so well the human condition at this time, as you've said Terry. It's really harsh and he makes it come to life. The chapter than really captured me was the one where Inman and Veasey helped with the dead bull and then were blindsided by the man and all of his seductive daughters. There was a lot of humor in this chapter but the end proved otherwise.

Ladies,
I thought I'd mention that in my other group On the Southern Literary Trail, Charles Frazier's Thirteen Moons looks like it is winning the poll. I will be reading that one in January if you'd like to join in! It would be fun!

Oh and I’m so behind in my reviews right now that I need to take a day a catch up. I’ll look Ft to both of your reviews!

Thirteen Moons sounds interesting, Lori.

I am glad I read the book and not just watched the movie. I enjoyed their romance more at the end of the book, found it more satisfying.

Yes, I agree, Cynda. There romance really didn’t click until then.

Yes.
If Thirteen Moons wins, I will be glad to read with you two at Southern Literary Trail. I have had other GR friends who read there as well.

Wow! I have finished today and am lingering with my thoughts about the ending. This was so beautifully done. (view spoiler)[When Inman talked about his fantasy for when he and Ada would run into each other's arms and express their love, I knew nothing like that would happen. It was such the opposite that it was so much more realistic and satisfying to read. Imagine coming upon the woman you've loved and thought about returning to for 4 years and she's dressed like a man carrying a gun she just shot for the first time killing 2 turkeys. And on top of that, she doesn't recognize you. He almost walked away. I loved everything about how they fell in love here at the end and how tender Frazier wrote the scene where Ada undresses (awkwardness and all). I almost didn't believe Inman had died and wished it had ended without the epilogue. What do you guys think about the 10 years later update? I didn't love it and wished he hadn't added it and left the ending ambiguous. (hide spoiler)]

I would love to know what you guys thought about the epilogue. Should Frazier have ended the book without it?

I am ambivalent about the ending, but given that ending, I did like the epilogue.

I actually wasn't certain that he had (view spoiler)[died until I read the epilogue. And the 9 year old daughter must be Inman's. (hide spoiler)]

I looked up the story of Baucis and Philemon which added to the understanding.

Lori, myths can add so much to later stories. So here in Cold Mountain, what is a parallel or two to Baucis and Philemon story?

In the myth, Baucis and Philemon are rewarded with a transformation to be together forever and are turned into intertwining trees. They have a happy ending because the gods honor them this way for giving them respite. Ada and Inman don't get their forever happy ending together but their transformation occurs after Inman returns and they fall in love and finally come together making their life plans and are happy. Their finality is a tragedy though. But Ada has in the end decided her life's path will be to honor the way of life she and Inman were to have and we witness her progression from a Charleston society girl to a pioneer of her farm with the help of Ruby. So it must be Ruby and Ada who have the happy ending because they stay together.

I also have planned to read Homer's the Odyssey this year for Bingo and think it will change my view of Inman's journey as well. And now that I've delved more deeply into the myth, I am not so harsh about the epilogue. It gives a closure that has depth and meaning.

Thank you clarifying Lori. I do better understand now.

I reread some ancient myths the last couple of years with a couple different GR groups. With another group as buddy reads, we read alongside the ancient texts:

An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohn

Why Homer Matters by Adam Nicolson

Sometimes people ask for secondary book titles to help with the primary, so I offer these both as good and worthwhile. In case you are interested.

Jillian this not wanting to miss out happened in the human experience. So many Civil War brides. Maybe this is first time in American history these war brides happened? I do not remember this being a topic in French and Indian War, American Revolution or the War if 1812.

Jillian ❀‿❀ wrote: "Lori wrote: "So it must be Ruby and Ada who have the happy ending because they stay together."

YUP! & I love that this was written by a male author! :-)

It's almost as if Inman symbolized the for..."

Jillian, what a beautiful way to wrap up the ending. You said it so well and I agree with everything you said. If things had turned out differently the meaning of all that they went through for 4 years and finding their transformations would have meant nothing.
Thank you!

Cynda wrote: "Thank you clarifying Lori. I do better understand now.

I reread some ancient myths the last couple of years with a couple different GR groups. With another group as buddy reads, we read alongside ..."

Thank you Cynda! I appreciate the additional texts to look into on mythology. I gotta admit I've never really been very interested in ancient texts or mythology but now I would really love to learn so that my reading will be more grounded. I'm realizing that so much literature revolves around these ancient stories. And at this stage of my life, I am ready for it!

Terry,
I have The Seige on my reading calendar! See you there.

Me too!! I will read The Seige! Picked it up yesterday but don’t know if I’ll start the year with it.
I started the Cold mountain movie last week and didn’t get to finish it. I’m halfway through. I plan to watch the rest tonight. It’s on Netflix until Dec 31.

Tells Lori what you liked more in book and in movie. We will compare notes :-)