Helpful Score: 11
Life's too short. I don't care how beautiful the prose (and it was lovely), how accurate the dialect (very accurate), or even the artistic value of the novel as a whole. After the first 50 pages, I just didn't want to read any more, and that was a good enough reason to stop.
Possibly the biggest contributing issue was the structure: it's the story of a girl named Myra, told from multiple viewpoints, starting with alternating narratives from the grandmother and a childhood friend. Both of these narrators ramble a good bit, so that by the 50th page (almost to the end of their turns as narrator) I knew very little about the subject character, and a whole lot about Doug wanting to poison a horse.
Oh, did I mention poisoning a horse? NOT - HELPING.
Possibly the biggest contributing issue was the structure: it's the story of a girl named Myra, told from multiple viewpoints, starting with alternating narratives from the grandmother and a childhood friend. Both of these narrators ramble a good bit, so that by the 50th page (almost to the end of their turns as narrator) I knew very little about the subject character, and a whole lot about Doug wanting to poison a horse.
Oh, did I mention poisoning a horse? NOT - HELPING.
Helpful Score: 7
I really liked this book. It was terribly sad, but utterly fascinating. I must admit, the beginning of the book was a little hard for me to get into. The style of writing took some getting used, but once I got sucked into the story and the characters, I started to really enjoy it. There were a couple of things that I would have liked clarified - the mystery of Ford Hendrix being at the top of that list. The setting for this book was unique and gave the book a different, almost timeless feel. All of the strands of the story fit well together, though the epilogue did not quite match the preceding sections. I think that this would make a wonderful audio book, if the accents are done correctly.
Helpful Score: 6
This has got to be the best book that I have read in a long time..
This is not normally the type of book that I would purchase for myself but it was recommended to me by a friend. It took me a little while to get into it with the going back of forth of characters and the time periods.
At the end, I could not put it down and was sad when it ended. The characters grip you and it is amazing how everyones lives interact at some point. You will not be disappointed with this book!!
This is not normally the type of book that I would purchase for myself but it was recommended to me by a friend. It took me a little while to get into it with the going back of forth of characters and the time periods.
At the end, I could not put it down and was sad when it ended. The characters grip you and it is amazing how everyones lives interact at some point. You will not be disappointed with this book!!
Helpful Score: 5
This book spans the history of Myra Lamb's relatives from her Grandmother, Byrdie, who co-narrates the first third of the book, telling stories from her own past and that of older relatives. I didn't want the Douglas and Byrdie part of the book to end, but then got just as drawn into the Johnny and Laura part of the book. This book gets sadder and sadder as it goes along, but it also answers questions, leading the reader along as you begin to care about or hate each character introduced. It is such a believable story and really understated when it comes to the mental illness that one of the characters suffers from. It never hits you over the head about the mental illness, but you can see how it happened. Very emotional. I highly recommend it. If you like the author, Sandra Dallas, this feels a lot to me like something she might have written. Bravo, Amy Greene.
Helpful Score: 5
This is quite possibly the best book I have ever read. It is haunting and memorable on many levels. My family comes from Tennessee, so perhaps this book means that much more to me. In it, I heard the voices of my own speaking to me. But, I know this novel is far more special.
It is hard to believe this is a novel. The layers of this book are thick and tangible, with generations, people, lore and history. Ms. Greene is a very rare and gifted writer. I don't know how she can possibly exceed such writing...but I will be there to read it.
It is hard to believe this is a novel. The layers of this book are thick and tangible, with generations, people, lore and history. Ms. Greene is a very rare and gifted writer. I don't know how she can possibly exceed such writing...but I will be there to read it.
Helpful Score: 2
If you are one of the rare readers who doesnt think this is the best book ever written please understand that you are not alone. Although this is a well written piece of literature, it just isnt the greatest book. The story line is choppy, and not really very redeeming, with all the sadness, and violence, and ugliness. I was really expecting Wuthering heights set in the Mountains. I think I got a mixed up Gerry Springer show. I coulndt find one person I liked except the grandma.
The whole family was supposed to be touched or magical, but they didnt use this to overcome anything.
I did finish the book, but couldnt wait for it to end.
The whole family was supposed to be touched or magical, but they didnt use this to overcome anything.
I did finish the book, but couldnt wait for it to end.
Helpful Score: 1
I read BLOODROOT for this month's "Blood" theme in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
It's a southern fiction family saga, with multiple narrators who just ramble on and on, piling layer after depressing layer of tragedy and despair on the reader. So, if you're in good spirits and want to keep it that way - stay away from this book! LOL
This felt like the type of story you'd find in Oprah's Book Club. It's a dank, dark, dreary and depressing narrative, without much light at the end of the tunnel...at least not enough to make up for the previous trek of darkness.
On a positive note, I did feel the writing was strong, in that the setting did come alive - I felt I was on Bloodroot Mountain with these characters, all of which the author gave his/her own unique voice. So even though I would be open to trying another Amy Greene book, I wouldn't be in a hurry.
I give BLOODROOT a C.
It's a southern fiction family saga, with multiple narrators who just ramble on and on, piling layer after depressing layer of tragedy and despair on the reader. So, if you're in good spirits and want to keep it that way - stay away from this book! LOL
This felt like the type of story you'd find in Oprah's Book Club. It's a dank, dark, dreary and depressing narrative, without much light at the end of the tunnel...at least not enough to make up for the previous trek of darkness.
On a positive note, I did feel the writing was strong, in that the setting did come alive - I felt I was on Bloodroot Mountain with these characters, all of which the author gave his/her own unique voice. So even though I would be open to trying another Amy Greene book, I wouldn't be in a hurry.
I give BLOODROOT a C.
Helpful Score: 1
Myra Lamb, a wild young girl with haunting blue eyes and a mysterious, almost fey-like disposition, grows up on remote Bloodroot Mountain raised by her grandmother Byrdie. Named for a flower whose blood-red sap possesses the power to heal or to poison; Bloodroot Mountain is part of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range in Tennessee.
Byrdie Lamb is fiercely protective of her granddaughter and passes down to her "the touch" that bewitches people and animals alike. However, she can not protect Myra from living her life and falling in love. This novel centers around an incendiary romance which consumes everyone in its path: from Myra's childhood friend Doug - who is secretly in love with Myra, but is destined never to have her - to the twins Myra is forced to abandon, but who never forget their mother's deep and abiding love for them.
John Odom is the man who captures Myra Lamb's heart. He is the man who tries to tame her; and he is the man who ultimately meets with shocking, violent disaster. Against the backdrop of a beautiful but often unforgiving country, these lives come together - only to be torn apart - as a dark, riveting mystery unfolds.
I absolutely fell in love with this book! Amy Greene is such a fantastic writer whose characters come vividly alive and capture the reader's heart and mind. I give Bloodroot by Amy Greene a definite A+! I'm eagerly awaiting the chance to read her next book Long Man at some point in the future.
Byrdie Lamb is fiercely protective of her granddaughter and passes down to her "the touch" that bewitches people and animals alike. However, she can not protect Myra from living her life and falling in love. This novel centers around an incendiary romance which consumes everyone in its path: from Myra's childhood friend Doug - who is secretly in love with Myra, but is destined never to have her - to the twins Myra is forced to abandon, but who never forget their mother's deep and abiding love for them.
John Odom is the man who captures Myra Lamb's heart. He is the man who tries to tame her; and he is the man who ultimately meets with shocking, violent disaster. Against the backdrop of a beautiful but often unforgiving country, these lives come together - only to be torn apart - as a dark, riveting mystery unfolds.
I absolutely fell in love with this book! Amy Greene is such a fantastic writer whose characters come vividly alive and capture the reader's heart and mind. I give Bloodroot by Amy Greene a definite A+! I'm eagerly awaiting the chance to read her next book Long Man at some point in the future.
Very good book - easy to get into right away. I haven't read a book quite like this one. The characters came alive. Most of them I liked, some of them I loved and a few I hated. And I cared very much what happened to them, so the pages flew by fast. The author, Amy Greene, must have spent a great deal of time sorting her characters and putting them in order so that the book flowed seamlessly from start to finish and all the loose ends were tied up nicely at the end. I turned back only once to check on a character and there were many of them. The setting was vivid and so well described I could imagine it as if I had once been there and now it lived in my memory. If my review seems vague, it is because I do not want to give away any of the story. I am so glad I was lucky enough to find and read this book. It will not be easily forgotten.
I don't know what draws me to these Appalachian stories, but this one is fantastic, and comparable to "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls, and "Bastard Out of Carolina" by Dorothy Allison. To quote Wally Lamb, "stories that examine the push of the human spirit against the forces of tyranny and poverty." Greene is a borne story teller, and writes magnificently.
Not the book for me I suppose. I hated jumping back and forth with the format of this book. What was even more difficult and annoying was reading the written language accents. I quit after 15 pages. I'm sure to someone it's a good book. But I hated it.
