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Categories: Science fiction Fantasy Mystery Romance Business Classic Sports Young adult Humor Memoirs See all categories... |
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Categories: Science fiction Fantasy Mystery Romance Business Classic Sports Young adult Humor Memoirs See all categories... |
4.5 StarsHave you ever been so intimidated by the plethora of 5 star reviews of a particular book that you dare not pick it up for fear of disappointment? This happens to me occasionally and is probably the main reason this lovely 1907 dustjacketed book stood in my bookcase for well over a year before I read it. Shocking, I know.Still, I'm a firm believer in "the right book at the right time" and this was the right time so it all worked out.I won't go into detail on the plot because there's a lot of reviews on this already. Basic story line: An older city gentleman moves to the Ozark mountains to get away from society, purge his demons and try to make amends for something in his past. There he settles down more comfortably than expected and becomes "one of the family" to the mountain folk who live there, 'finding himself' in the process.But old secrets die hard...or not at all.This book had a little of everything: the mad boy who runs wild in the hills, strange sounds in the forests, a forgotten gold mine, larger than life "Lorna Doone-type" menfolk, drought, poverty, redemption, romance etc.The author was apparently a minister before he turned to writing, but this is not a preachy or doctrinal book. Moralizing, ok perhaps a little, (the author had a "real men work the land" mentality) but no sermonizing or religious agenda. The characters believe in God as the Creator and that is a part of who they are. But the characters are multi faceted and flawed. They make mistakes and grow from them, learning the true meaning of being a "sure enough" lady or gentleman, and this really touches the heart of the reader.A good, old fashioned read.
