This is a truly great story.

However, it seems to be overly descriptive.

The details are perhaps a bit too abundant, which might cause the reader to lose focus on the main plot or the essence of the story.

While description is important for creating a vivid and immersive experience, there is a fine line between providing enough detail and overloading the reader with unnecessary information.

It would be beneficial to perhaps trim down some of the more excessive descriptions and focus on highlighting the key elements and events that drive the story forward.

This way, the reader can better engage with the story and follow the narrative more easily, without getting bogged down in a sea of words.

Overall, the story has great potential, but with a bit of refinement in the descriptive aspects, it could be even more impactful and engaging.

Journey


A sweeping and tumultuous story unfolds. An injured American civil war soldier, Inman, goes AWOL and embarks on a relentless and perilous journey back home to Cold Mountain, longing to reunite with the woman, Ada, he dreams of spending the rest of his life with. As enchanting as Homer’s Odyssey, Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain is an outstanding literary masterpiece.


Frazier skillfully weaves the story of Inman and Ada, delving into their past, introducing the diverse characters they encounter on their travels, highlighting the numerous challenges they face, and revealing the dreams they hold dear. It is not only a physical journey home but also a profound journey of personal development. Both aspects are equally captivating, equally precarious, and equally draw the story to a climactic ending. With a magician’s touch, Frazier keeps us spellbound with the central narrative, while seamlessly conjuring wisps of literary tales from Greek, Roman, and English literature and artfully weaving them into the fabric of the story.


Inman battles the unforgiving elements of nature as he traverses through the harsh winter. Cold, wet, hungry, and at times disorientated, he soldiers on. He is an honest man who often reflects on the consequences of his actions, realizing that “... the wrong a man does flies back at him.” As a soldier, he has witnessed and been part of unspeakable horrors, yet he approaches each situation with a positive intent, hoping for fairness. Sometimes his kindness is repaid, while other times it is exploited. Nevertheless, Inman must confront all his trials as he descends through the levels of hell, perhaps echoing Dante’s Inferno.


Meanwhile, Ada, joined by Ruby, endeavors to make her farm operational after the death of her father. Once a lady of leisure, Ada now faces the harsh reality of hard work. She must journey through the challenges of growing crops, raising livestock, fixing fences, and trading for goods. Ruby, experienced in such work, firmly pushes Ada to play her part. As a result, Ada now goes to bed tired and physically exhausted, and her outward appearance transforms with sun-drenched skin, rough hands, and practical work clothes.


Frazier masterfully uses nature as a constant reference point, infusing it with distinguished ardor. The presence of birds and trees adds a deeper appreciation of the signs nature presents to us. Nature, with its mythical connections, provides Frazier with another tool to magically enthrall us.


This was a first buddy read with Julie, and it was a joy to take our time, discuss the intricate links, and decipher the meaning of various scenes. After devouring this epic piece of work, I am filled with admiration for Charles Frazier. I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book, which has now become another addition to my Top 10 books of all time.

This was a rather long read for me.

It is set in 1864 in the South during the Civil War. The language and lingo used in the story are probably what was truly spoken back then, which made my reading progress a bit slower.

It is a multi-faceted story that encompasses war, brutality, hopelessness, survival, questioning, and personal growth. There are numerous vivid descriptions of the land, vistas, and farming methods, along with profound thoughts and questions about the meaning of our existence and why we are engaged in killing each other.

The core of the story revolves around one man's realization that he no longer desires to kill and instead longs to return home to the mountains, to find peace, and to be with a woman he believes he loves. Along his journey, he meets various people, each with their own tales to share. And as he interacts with these individuals, he discovers that his sense of hopelessness is gradually lifting.

Overall, I liked the story, and the characters were distinct and interesting. However, it did have a tendency to be a bit overly descriptive at times. Additionally, there are no quotation marks used, which was a bit of an oddity.

I would rate this story 3.75 stars.

Read many years ago, it was truly a quite moody rumination on what it was like to be living through the ghostly morass of the American Civil War.

The author's use of language was really precise, as if with a fine-toothed comb, pinpointing the most delicate emotional nuances and the subtlest character development.

One could almost feel the turmoil and chaos of that era through the vivid descriptions.

The story seemed to unfold like a haunting melody, captivating the reader's attention from start to finish.

It was a journey into the past, a exploration of the human spirit in the face of war and destruction.

Even after all these years, the impact of that reading still lingers in my mind, a testament to the power of great literature.

Cold Mountain is a work of literature that presents slow moving and lyrical prose. It masterfully interweaves the stories of Inman and Ada. Inman is desperately trying to get back home to Cold Mountain, away from the brutalities of the civil war. He has endured so much and just wants to return to the place he loves. On the other hand, Ada, who was once a pampered preacher's daughter, is now trying to learn the art of survival in a world that has been completely turned upside down. She has to adapt to a new reality that is far removed from all that she ever knew growing up. The writer is a bit descriptive, but this adds to the beauty and moving nature of the piece. It truly is a remarkable work of literature that earns a five-star rating.

One of my all-time favorite books is truly a remarkable piece of literature.

It has the power to transport me to different worlds and introduce me to a plethora of unique characters. The story is so engaging that I find myself completely immersed from the very first page.

The author's writing style is captivating, with vivid descriptions that bring every scene to life. I can almost picture myself standing right there, witnessing the events unfold.

Each chapter holds a new adventure and keeps me on the edge of my seat, eager to discover what will happen next. This book has not only entertained me but also taught me valuable lessons about life, love, and friendship. It has had a profound impact on me and will always hold a special place in my heart.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read that will leave them inspired and wanting more.

I really shouldn't like this book as much as I do. A historical romance? Come on.

However, Frazier's prose is truly remarkable. It follows the tradition of that poetic backwoods style which you might encounter in some of Faulkner's works or in the films of Terrence Malick and David Gordon Green. It's clearly the output of a learned individual striving to sound as if he hails from the sticks, with an equal blend of Old Testament fire-and-brimstone and rootsy colloquialism.

His story is highly ambitious. It endeavors to convey the feelings of the grandeur of America, the smouldering passions that the impossible distances cannot dull, and the world-weariness that every generation experiences as soon as it realizes the magnitude of evil in humanity. And, to be honest, he manages to pull it off spectacularly.

Yes, this is indeed a kind of crowd-pleasing fiction. But it stands out as one of the best things to grace any bestseller list in recent years. Sometimes, you just need to read something like this. Maybe it's the escape we all seek from time to time, a chance to immerse ourselves in a world of passion, history, and the complex emotions that make us human.

A Lyrical Masterpiece

All that night, the aurora flamed and shimmered in lurid colors across the sky to the north. Such a rare event was regarded as an omen by the men along the line, and they competed to see who could most convincingly explain its meaning in plain speech. Somewhere above them on the hill, a fiddle struck up the sad chords of Lorena.

Inman was wounded in the battle at Fredericksburg and sent to the hospital for recovery, only to return to battle. The above quote was taken from this battle, and it couldn't help but remind me of the words to this melancholy song, a song that Civil War soldiers sang, causing many to desert and attempt to travel home to their loved ones. It was finally banned by many officers for this very reason. Was the fiddler's playing of this song intended to demoralize the enemy? I think so, and I believe it led to the theme of this book, Inman's desertion.

Henry Webster, a Unitarian minister, wrote this song, “Lorena,” after his beloved Ellafff left him. Like Inman, he met his own beloved at church. Henry never got over her. The tune of this song, combined with its lyrics, is both beautiful and heart-wrenching. You can read their story in the book, “The Sweetheart of the Civil War.”

Lorena

“The years creep slowly by, Lorena
The snow is on the grass again
The sun's low down the sky, Lorena
The frost gleams where the flowers have been
But my heart beats on as warmly now
As when the summer days were nigh…”

Inman wrote a letter to his beloved Ada while in the hospital, telling her he would be returning to her. Then, one day, he simply walked out of the hospital and began walking to Cold Mountain, to Ada.

Ada had also written to him, missing him and hoping for his safe return. She was now alone; her last family member, her father, had died. Her neighbors, few as they were, were helpful. By this time, she had little to eat and didn't know how to farm or care for the animals, which were not raised for food but for pleasure. Her family had been somewhat wealthy, but now the money was gone, and she had only been taught to read and play the piano. She didn't even know how to cook, yet she was a fine person, not really spoiled in the true sense of the word. Then a woman named Ruby came to help and teach her how to take care of the farm.

Note: I read this book many years ago and loved it then. I even saw the movie, but I never thought to read it again. Instead, I looked for others like it. As you can see, I changed my mind. I even bought the audio, which I found to be wonderfully narrated by a man who knows how to read this lyrical book. Then I learned that that man was Charles Frazier, the author. He speaks as well as he writes. Like the song “Lorena” and its tune, there is nothing more beautiful than Frazier reading his poetic book.

As I said, I spent years trying to find a book like this one, reading other Civil War novels, but I found nothing. That is, until I read “Wilderness” by Lance Weller, another lyrical writer. He wrote a post-Civil War novel with flashbacks of the war. So, the man in his book was not walking away from the war; his walk was to find his stolen dog. Yet, I know that I will always be looking for another “Cold Mountain,” even though “Wilderness” has been one for me. And I know that I will read this book again.

Cold Mountain is an exquisitely beautiful and captivating debut novel by Charles Frazier. It is said to be based on the local history and family folklore that has been passed down through generations in his family. Frazier grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, in the shadow of Cold Mountain.

Coincidentally, Cold Mountain was also the debut opera score written by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon, who also grew up in Appalachia. In August 2015, we had the privilege of attending the World Premiere of Cold Mountain at the Santa Fe Opera, just north of Santa Fe. On the night of the final performance, as the conductor took the stage, there were thunderous claps followed by the skies lighting up the stage. Since it is an open-air theater with a magnificent backdrop of the beautiful Sangre de Christo Mountains of Northern New Mexico, it was a truly unique and unforgettable experience. The performance was superb, and the impeccable timing of the thunder and lightning, which coincided with the opera script and musical score, added to the magic of the evening.

Now, many years later, I am finally reading the historical fiction novel by Charles Frazier. The story is told with great beauty and elegance. Frazier found his inspiration for what he calls his "American odyssey" in the area's unique history. He has said that his family has lived in the hills of North Carolina for over two hundred years. At the heart of this story is a tale of survival. It follows the journey of a Confederate soldier and deserter in 1865 as he makes his way home to his beloved Ada Monroe at the end of the Civil War. We witness Inman's long and dangerous journey, as well as the vast devastation suffered in the South as the Confederates approach defeat. The book alternates between Inman's struggles and Ada and Ruby's struggles to revive her father's failing farm after his death. Ruby, with her Native American roots, has a deep connection to the land and shares her wisdom with Ada, who works tirelessly beside her. A bond forms between these two women. At the stunning conclusion of this Odysseus-like tale, Inman and Ada must face the transformation that has occurred in their lives.

The novel is filled with beautiful and thought-provoking quotes, such as the ones in the blockquote. Monroe might have dismissed such beliefs as superstition or folklore, but Ada, increasingly desiring Ruby's knowledge of the ways of living things in this particular place, chose to view the signs as metaphoric. She saw them as an expression of stewardship, a means of taking care, and a discipline. They provided a ritual of concern for the patterns and tendencies of the material world where it intersects with some other world. Ultimately, Ada decided that the signs were a way of being alert, and under those terms, she could honor them.

Cold Mountain is a remarkable novel that combines history, romance, and adventure. It is a must-read for anyone interested in American history or great literature.

This is a truly beautiful story that is set during the tumultuous era of the Civil War.

Several interconnected stories unfold simultaneously, captivating the reader's attention. We follow the arduous and perilous journey of a wounded Confederate soldier, Inman, as he endeavors to return to his home and the woman he deeply loves, Ada.

Concurrently, we are privy to Ada's story as she valiantly attempts to manage her father's farm single-handedly.

Both Inman and Ada have been profoundly transformed by the challenges they have endured, and so has the war-torn South that surrounds them.

The remarkable character development and the profound insights into the lives of humans affected by such devastating change are what make this story all the more compelling.

It is simply impossible not to care deeply about these characters and become emotionally invested in their fates.

Based on local history and family stories that have been passed down through the generations by Frazier’s great-great-grandfather, this story adds an extra layer of authenticity and charm.

It offers a unique and poignant perspective on a significant period in American history, making it a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction.

3.8

The book presents two storylines that alternate between chapters, namely Ada's and Inman's.

Ada's story unfolds in a linear fashion. It features relatively few characters, yet each one has a distinct personality, and the plot is well-defined. This straightforward narrative makes it easy for the reader to follow and become invested in Ada's journey.

In contrast, Inman's story is more like a compilation of short stories. It involves a diverse range of characters, each with their own names. While this adds depth and complexity to the overall narrative, it can also be a bit overwhelming at times. Compared to Ada's story, Inman's was slightly less engaging. However, it did offer a unique perspective on the Civil War through the experiences of one soldier. (Personally, I have a strong aversion to war.)

On page 275, there is a profound statement: "Nigger-owning makes the rich man proud and ugly and it makes the poor man mean. It's a curse laid on the land. We've lit a fire and now it's burning us down. God is going to liberate niggers, and fighting to prevent it is against God."

The book also includes a map, but unfortunately, it didn't provide much assistance. Inman had a portion of Bartram's Travels, which is a book that I would be interested in reading someday.

On page 279, there is another thought-provoking quote: "Marrying a woman for her beauty makes no more sense than eating a bird for its singing. But it's a common mistake nonetheless."

Pages 420-421 contain a thoughtful discussion on grief and mourning, which adds an emotional layer to the story. Overall, the book offers a rich and complex exploration of love, war, and human nature.

The rare book presents a rather peculiar scenario.

It seems that despite events taking place, there is a sense of nothing truly happening. There is no distinct apex, no thrilling climax, and no real denouement to speak of.

Instead, it tediously recites the daily occurrences during the end days of the Civil War until it simply comes to an abrupt end.

Even when the plot manages to converge, there are no spectacular fireworks or exciting developments. It is treated as if it were just a common, unremarkable happening.

To say the least, it is highly disappointing. I have no idea whatsoever as to why this book was ever made into a movie.

I can only imagine that I would have easily fallen asleep while reading it or watching the movie adaptation.

It lacks the necessary elements to engage the reader or viewer and fails to leave a lasting impression.

Perhaps it was an attempt to capture a different kind of story, but unfortunately, it falls short in many aspects.

Overall, it is a rather forgettable piece of literature.