Cold Mountain Book Review

            Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier was his debut novel and was a huge success. After being published in 1997 it won critical acclaim and the National Book Award for fiction. Due to him being an author of travel books and short stories it was very easy for Frazier to write about the descriptive landscapes of North Carolina. In his writing is a clear connection to transcendentalism and the writings of authors such as Emerson and Whitman. Living in Carolina, Frazier does a remarkable job of conveying the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The book is set during the civil war and fallows two characters, Ada and Inman, during this time of conflict between the north and the south. Although the war is only a background to Inman’s story, it has affected him with long-term effects. The story starts off in a hospital in Virginia, before dawn. Inman wakes to the fact that his neck wound, which he suffered fighting for the confederates in the Civil War, has attracted flies. The morning is gloomy and his usually view of the oak tree can’t be seen through his window.  After going into town he writes to Ada, his lover in North Carolina, and tells her he is coming home. That night he leaves through an open window in the hospital.

The second story is that of Ada and her life in North Carolina. Ada’s story with alone at Black Cove Farm. Her father, Monroe, has just died and she has no idea what do to with her life or how to make any money to survive. She takes a visit to her neighbors, the Swangers, who talk with and get her on the right path. The next day they send over a local girl, Ruby, to help out with all the farm work. Ada and ruby end up becoming great friends during this time.

Throughout the book these two stories intertwine together going back and forth. We fallow Inman as he makes his big journey back to Carolina. He encounters many new people and things he is not used too. Throughout his journey he is fearful of being caught and forced to go back and fight in the war. On the hand Ada and Ruby also face a number of obstacles. While trying to run and maintain the farm they have to deal with robbers and other difficulties.

This is the very first passage of the book were we are introduced to Inman and given a little insight into his situation. “At the first gesture of morning, flies began stirring, Inman’s eyes and the long wound at his neck drew them, and the sound of their wings and the touch of their feet were soon more potent than a yardful of roosters in rousing a man to wake. So he came to yet one more day in the hospital ward.”

Cold Mountain is a fairly easy read and an enjoyable one as well. It’s not too long and keeps you interested the whole way through. If you are a person looking for book set in Civil War times or just wanting a simple love story I would recommend this book for you to you read.