carstensena's review against another edition
3.0
This one doesn't quite live up to its initial promise, but is a good read all the same. Generations of poor Apalachian folks cursed in love.
clarissaruthless's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The voices of each of the characters are very distinct, but jumping back and forth between both characters and times made it a bit hard to follow. Part 3 is told entirely by one narrator, but without any breaks, it can be hard to get back into the story. The characters are very well developed and I found myself invested in them, but I also felt the book lacked enough resolution for my taste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Rape
wenwe's review against another edition
1.0
Was not in the mood for this book when it arrived from the library. read the first several chapters and sent it packing.
paultypething's review
4.0
One thing that I've learned from selling books for the past five years is that more often than not, you CAN judge a book by it's cover. That being said, this book needs a new cover. It looks like it wants nothing more than to be bought by middle aged housewives so they can pretend to read it for their book club.
But that was not the case. The writing was beautiful and descriptive and for the most part the characters were all really engaging.
I didn't necessarily like that the second part of the book being placed where it was. It made it a lot harder to sympathize with Myra in part three, even though the horrors she suffered were pretty similar to the shit her children ended up suffering because of her. And I'm not really sure how I feel about the author ending things from John's perspective. It does kind of wrap things up in a way that she couldn't have otherwise done but it also you makes you sympathize with someone she made you think was a total douche in the previous part.
Still, this book was a lot better than I was expecting and something I won't have to feel bad recommending to old ladies that want something for their book club.
But that was not the case. The writing was beautiful and descriptive and for the most part the characters were all really engaging.
I didn't necessarily like that the second part of the book being placed where it was. It made it a lot harder to sympathize with Myra in part three, even though the horrors she suffered were pretty similar to the shit her children ended up suffering because of her. And I'm not really sure how I feel about the author ending things from John's perspective. It does kind of wrap things up in a way that she couldn't have otherwise done but it also you makes you sympathize with someone she made you think was a total douche in the previous part.
Still, this book was a lot better than I was expecting and something I won't have to feel bad recommending to old ladies that want something for their book club.
sheila_p's review
4.0
A really good book! I loved the characters and the language in this story. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and there was enough movement in the story to keep me interested throughout. I found the underlying element of guilt a powerful element of the story without taking over or depressing the story. I wanted the characters to succeed and find their way but within the confines of what I believed to be the realities of this story.
jessring's review against another edition
3.0
First third of this book really drew me in. The last two parts were more depressing and meandered. Overall an ok book. Felt like I was sitting on a porch in TN, sipping sweet tea, and listening to a few people telling stories about their hard lives.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
An Appalachian novel told in the voices of a family living on Bloodroot Mountain. Each character is brought to life and unforgettable.
--Recommended by Connie
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbloodroot%20greene__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
--Recommended by Connie
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbloodroot%20greene__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
This debut novel reminded me of the early novels by Lee Smith. Bloodroot is a multi-generational book told in multiple first person accounts. While I initially had some trouble keeping all of the characters straight, it was interesting to see the same events told from different points of view. In this story of four poor, but strong, women in the Lamb family--Birdie, Clio, Myra, and Laura (along with a cast of other characters, many of them major characters)the story stretches from the Great Depression to the present. These four women have an almost mystical relationship with Bloodroot Mountain in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. The geography and the beauty of Bloodroot Mountain is so well drawn that the mountain becomes another character in the book. The mountain is a place of refuge and safety for some characters while others seem to be living for the day that they can leave it. This book explores multiple themes, but one of the strongest deals with the bonds that ties a mother and her children together. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "It's not forgetting that heals. It's remembering." I'm looking forward to the next book by Amy Greene.
kmcclung00's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0