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Kevin Ansbro's Reviews > Cold Mountain
Cold Mountain
by
by
Kevin Ansbro's review
bookshelves: great-outdoors, gritty-realism, human-emotions, human-imagery, human-psyche, immorality, literature-for-grown-ups, morality, nature, parable, quest, romance
Feb 19, 2018
bookshelves: great-outdoors, gritty-realism, human-emotions, human-imagery, human-psyche, immorality, literature-for-grown-ups, morality, nature, parable, quest, romance
"Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier; I have seen worse sights than this."
—Homer, The Odyssey
Having recently read The Odyssey, I was prompted by Goodreads friend, @JulieGrippo, to go on this journey - namely, Homer's epic voyage transposed to the terrain of 19th-century North America.
Inman (not as heroic as Odysseus), an army deserter wounded in the American Civil War, faces a treacherous, interminable journey home to his love, Ada (ergo Odysseus’s Penelope).
You can see from my five-star rating that I was captivated by this book, but it could just have easily been demoted to three stars as it was very nearly hoisted by a petard of its own poetic prose.
So I'll just get my two gripes out of the way, then we can all sit down and have a nice cup of tea…
Gripe #1
One of my pet peeves is seeing dialogue that isn't neatly nestled between some perfectly respectable speech marks.
Why, Charles Frazier? Why? They were evidently good enough for Dickens, Hugo and Dostoyevsky yet, for some artsy reason, you didn't feel the need.
Of course, the enlightened readers among us can get by without them but, applying the same logic, why bother with commas and full stops? In fact, let's go the whole hog and eliminate vowels as well! Huh! Bloody vowels, making words much longer than they need to be!
Gripe #2
More than most, I drool over a banquet of sumptuous prose. Frazier writes beautifully and songbirds landed on my shoulders while I read, rather like a dreamy scene from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. All, it seemed, was perfectly spiffing in my world.
But holy pretentiousness, Batman! Surely, he didn’t have to pack every blimmin' paragraph with eminence until each one burst at the seams! The high calibre prose, though meritorious, did quicksand the pace of my read and decelerated the narrative thrust of the story.
Ahhh, now isn't it just grand to get things off one's chest? So, how about that nice cup of tea ... do you take milk and sugar?
The story, despite my two gripes, is a towering epic worthy of the utmost praise. Evocative and monumental, it carries weighty themes of love, resilience, honour and devotion with great aplomb.
Granted, it doesn't flow like a cold mountain stream, but you won't often see writing as good as this in our modern age.
—Homer, The Odyssey
Having recently read The Odyssey, I was prompted by Goodreads friend, @JulieGrippo, to go on this journey - namely, Homer's epic voyage transposed to the terrain of 19th-century North America.
Inman (not as heroic as Odysseus), an army deserter wounded in the American Civil War, faces a treacherous, interminable journey home to his love, Ada (ergo Odysseus’s Penelope).
You can see from my five-star rating that I was captivated by this book, but it could just have easily been demoted to three stars as it was very nearly hoisted by a petard of its own poetic prose.
So I'll just get my two gripes out of the way, then we can all sit down and have a nice cup of tea…
Gripe #1
One of my pet peeves is seeing dialogue that isn't neatly nestled between some perfectly respectable speech marks.
Why, Charles Frazier? Why? They were evidently good enough for Dickens, Hugo and Dostoyevsky yet, for some artsy reason, you didn't feel the need.
Of course, the enlightened readers among us can get by without them but, applying the same logic, why bother with commas and full stops? In fact, let's go the whole hog and eliminate vowels as well! Huh! Bloody vowels, making words much longer than they need to be!
Gripe #2
More than most, I drool over a banquet of sumptuous prose. Frazier writes beautifully and songbirds landed on my shoulders while I read, rather like a dreamy scene from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. All, it seemed, was perfectly spiffing in my world.
But holy pretentiousness, Batman! Surely, he didn’t have to pack every blimmin' paragraph with eminence until each one burst at the seams! The high calibre prose, though meritorious, did quicksand the pace of my read and decelerated the narrative thrust of the story.
Ahhh, now isn't it just grand to get things off one's chest? So, how about that nice cup of tea ... do you take milk and sugar?
The story, despite my two gripes, is a towering epic worthy of the utmost praise. Evocative and monumental, it carries weighty themes of love, resilience, honour and devotion with great aplomb.
Granted, it doesn't flow like a cold mountain stream, but you won't often see writing as good as this in our modern age.
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Reading Progress
January 25, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 25, 2018
– Shelved
February 15, 2018
–
Started Reading
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
great-outdoors
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
gritty-realism
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
human-emotions
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
human-imagery
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
human-psyche
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
immorality
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
literature-for-grown-ups
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
morality
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
nature
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
parable
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
quest
February 19, 2018
– Shelved as:
romance
February 19, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 85 (85 new)
message 1:
by
Cheri
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Feb 16, 2018 11:55AM
Wondering if you are enjoying this, Kevin. I remember the lovely writing the most!
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I’m glad you enjoyed this, Kevin. Charles Frazier and I have issues. I couldn’t finish Varina...it’s rather “cold.”
Cheri wrote: "Wondering if you are enjoying this, Kevin. I remember the lovely writing the most!"I enjoyed it very much, ma Cheri.
The writing was lovely, but it almost drew attention away from the arc of the story.
Fab review, Kevin. I now have visions of you prancing in the forest among the deer and dwarves. Is that wrong?
Kevin, I read this long enough ago that I don’t remember your gripes, but I do remember what a terrific story this is as is your review !
Tammy wrote: "I’m glad you enjoyed this, Kevin. Charles Frazier and I have issues. I couldn’t finish Varina...it’s rather “cold.”"Thanks, Tammy!
I also had issues with Mr Frazier (he frustrated the hell out of me for much of the read), but his undoubted writing skill won the day.
Robin wrote: "Fab review, Kevin. I now have visions of you prancing in the forest among the deer and dwarves. Is that wrong?"Thanks, Robin!
I'm happy to fuel your fantasies. Imagine me as Pan; half man, half goat...
: )
Angela M wrote: "Kevin, I read this long enough ago that I don’t remember your gripes, but I do remember what a terrific story this is as is your review !"Thanks, Angela! You are always too kind (but I love it).
Have you read Ithaca yet?
Wonderful review, Kevin!
Andrea wrote: "Have you read Ithaca yet?"I haven't, Andrea, but you're the second person to mention it. I shall add it to my list. : )
Ahh, which Ithaca? There are a few...
Paula wrote: "Wonderful review, Kevin!"Thanks, Paula! : )
The full 5*, despite your gripes. You're a generous man, but your GR friends already know that. Your final paragraph is perfect, and I can't wait to see how books like this and the original Odyssey inspire you forthcoming novel.
As for getting things off one's chest... (view spoiler)
Cecily wrote: "The full 5*, despite your gripes. You're a generous man, but your GR friends already know that. Your final paragraph is perfect, and I can't wait to see how books like this and the original Odyss..."
Ha! Love it, Cecily! (Thanks for the secret heads-up. Shush, no-one noticed, least of all me). (view spoiler)
: )
And thanks for the kind words!
Hi Kevin, I enjoyed the gripes even more than the cup of tea. Both were delectable. Fantastic review that says “ Read this book.”
Laysee wrote: "Hi Kevin, I enjoyed the gripes even more than the cup of tea. Both were delectable. Fantastic review that says “ Read this book.”"Thanks, lovely Laysee!
I'm pleased you liked both (and I do make a nice cup of tea).
It's a review that says, 'read this book, despite my misgivings'.
Great review, Kevin! I read this many years ago and don't remember it all that well. I need to give it another read sometime.
I must be getting used to the lack of punctuation, which I noticed more years ago, and less often now, but how disruptive I find it often depends on the author's skill to calm my ruffled feathers and lure me back in. These days I'm just glad when someone bothers to spell out an entire group of words into a proper sentence, in an era where so many words are being replaced by emoticons. I ♥ your review, Kevin :-) And yes, I agree with you that this is a modern-day epic.
I was drinking my coffee as I was reading your beautiful review. Your gripes are understandable. I watched the movie, does it count?
Fabulous review, Kevin! Despite your gripes, I have added this to my Cold Mountain-sized TBR - there are times where I will probably love it because I need it! And besides, a 5-Star read is a 5-Star read! :)
Fantastic review Kevin! I read this so very long ago, and have never seen the movie!
Marvelous review, Kevin! And just the sugar with the tea, no milk please... and thank you :) I can't remember why I knocked a star off this book. I think I may have been cranky about the ending!
Bianca wrote: "I watched the movie, does it count?"If you enjoyed the movie, that's great, but it is very different in tone, theme, and some plot points. (I explained more at the end of my own review, here.)
Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "Great review, Kevin! I read this many years ago and don't remember it all that well. I need to give it another read sometime."Oh, please do, Tadiana. And thank you for your kind comment! : )
Cheri wrote: "I must be getting used to the lack of punctuation..."Same here, Cheri.
I'm totally used to the omission of punctuation due to some authors wanting to express their individuality (yawn!); doesn't mean I have to like it.
I loved Angela's Ashes, but it would be all the better for the addition of speech marks! : )
Kendall wrote: "Great review Kevin!!"Thanks, Kendall!
Bianca wrote: "I was drinking my coffee as I was reading your beautiful review. Your gripes are understandable. I watched the movie, does it count?"Of course it (kinda) counts, Bianca ... unless you've only seen the Captain Corelli film, without reading the book. In that event, it definitely doesn't count! : )
Jaline wrote: "Fabulous review, Kevin! Despite your gripes, I have added this to my Cold Mountain-sized TBR..."Ha! Cold Mountain-sized TBR!! Loved that, Jaline! : )
if you should read it, please let me know when the review is up. I'll be interested to read your thoughts.
Karen❄️ wrote: "Fantastic review Kevin! I read this so very long ago, and have never seen the movie!"Thanks, Karen! : )
I've never seen the movie neither. I shall if it ever pops up on my TV.
Candi wrote: "Marvelous review, Kevin! And just the sugar with the tea, no milk please... and thank you :) I can't remember why I knocked a star off this book. I think I may have been cranky about the ending!"Thanks, Candi. I've set your tea down beside you, don't allow it to get cold.
I could so easily have deducted stars, as the book made me cranky too. Ultimately, I couldn't deny the author's supreme writing skill.
❤️ rvw kvn, grps nd ll! (Really hard to write without those damned vowels, you're right, Kevin!)
I read this too long ago to review now on GR, but I loved this book. No hyperbole there. I loved every word. The perfect 'odyssey' for me at the time of reading perhaps. Your lovely review does it humorous, poetic justice.
Julie wrote: "❤️ rvw kvn, grps nd ll! (Really hard to write without those damned vowels, you're right, Kevin!)
I read this too long ago to review now on GR, but I loved this book. No hyperbole there. I loved..."
Thnks, Jl! 'm plsd y lkd my rvw! ; )
God, it's a nightmare writing without vowels!!
I appreciate your comment!
Marita wrote: "Excellent review, Kevin. I share that pet peeve of “seeing dialogue that isn’t neatly nested between some perfectly respectable speech marks”. It gets me grumping every time. 😖"I’m especially pleased to hear that, Marita. Just smacks of pretentiousness as far as I’m concerned.
And it’s good to have a grump from time to time! : )
Extra crumpets and a healthy dose of clotted creme for those two gripes. Two (of several) pet literary peeves. Loved this review!
Victoria wrote: "Extra crumpets and a healthy dose of clotted creme for those two gripes. Two (of several) pet literary peeves. Loved this review!"Why, thank you, Victoria.
You are always the voice of reason.
Yum to the crumpets and clotted cream!!!
Kimber wrote: "Another marvelous review, Kevin. : ) "But holy pretentiousness, Batman!" This is a great line! : )"
Aww, thanks, Kimber! : )
"Bloody vowels, making words much longer than they need to be!"Italian Americans figured that out.
"The high calibre prose, though meritorious, did quicksand the pace"
I thought this about Paradise Lost in parts, would Satan really sound like Shakespeare? But then I got into it.
"So, how about that nice cup of tea ... do you take milk and sugar?"
I'll take coffee, straight and black too.
...unless we're talking iced-tea. Then I might go half unsweet tea, half lemonade with crushed ice, lemon slice, and sugar on top.
Yes. Exactly. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Aaron wrote: ".I'll take coffee, straight and black too..."Oh, Aaron ... coffee without sugar and milk? Yuchh!
Sydney wrote: "Yes. Exactly. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻"Thanks, Sydney! : )
Brilliant, Kevin....now for that cup of tea!!
Paromjit wrote: "Brilliant, Kevin....now for that cup of tea!!"Thanks, Paromjit!
Pouring you one now...
Lovely review, Kevin! The gripes are definitely gripe-worthy. I wonder if Cold Mountain started the trend with dialogue? I’m reading dialogue written that way more and more. I need to make the time to read this because you and Julie, and the world it seems, love it so much!
I felt exactly how you did about this book. Great review Kevin!
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader wrote: "Lovely review, Kevin! The gripes are definitely gripe-worthy. I wonder if Cold Mountain started the trend with dialogue? .."Thanks, Jennifer, kind as ever!
No, it didn't start the trend; for a long while, plenty of authors have eschewed speech marks, God knows why!
Despite my grumbles, this is a very well-written book, though not a page-turner, due to reason #2
: )
Melanie wrote: "I felt exactly how you did about this book. Great review Kevin!"Thank you so much, Melanie. I had already spotted your five-star rating!
When Snow White’s birdie friends launder your socks and make the bed, THAT’S when you get quotation marks.This book and The Time Traveler’s Wife (yech) are the two most common contemporary Odysseus retellings we hear about, and Im so glad you got around to this one!
You need to be a writer. Such a fun review!
"songbirds landed on my shoulders while I read" 😍
LeAnne wrote: "You need to be a writer. Such a fun review! ..."Um, I am a writer, LeAnne! : D
