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curiousneuron's review against another edition
4.0
Intriguing characters and fascinating sense of imagination
I highly enjoyed this novel. The conflicting goals that each of the characters had within themselves kept me guessing at alliances and motives to the end. Prose sometimes gets tedious, but the excitement of what curiosities Auraria will produce next guides you safely through these parts.
I highly enjoyed this novel. The conflicting goals that each of the characters had within themselves kept me guessing at alliances and motives to the end. Prose sometimes gets tedious, but the excitement of what curiosities Auraria will produce next guides you safely through these parts.
angielisle's review
5.0
The story begins with Holtsclaw leaving behind the civilized city to travel to Auraria, a once-booming gold mining town turned ghost town, located in Georgia's rural mountains. His boss, Shadwell, has assigned him the task of purchasing all the land in town - by whatever means necessary.
Holtsclaw cares only for money; he dreams of being a big business tycoon like his boss Shadwell. But the business in Auraria doesn't go as Holtsclaw planned, namely because the local folklore is still alive and magic doesn't respond as mortals do. With help from a quirky cast of characters, Holtsclaw realizes that life offers something much more magical than money or gold.
Much of the folklore is based on early Colonial interpretations of Cherokee myths, showing how the Cherokee left their marks on the land, even after the Trail of Tears. This theme is reinforced by Westover's use of the actual historical events that followed the Trail of Tears: the gold rushes of colonial NC and GA, the tourist trade in Appalachia, and a new era of industrialization. The reader can continue this theme by comparing and contrasting the Industrial Era and today's computer era. In a unique way, the story shows how time, and people, continue to leave marks on a place. The well of local legends is never depleted, but continuously renewed.
I received a free uncorrected proof copy of this book from goodreads first reads. There were a few typos/grammatical errors but Tim Westover assures me that the these have been fixed in the final version. This is the author's first novel written in English; this book feels like it was written by someone born and raised in Appalachia.
Holtsclaw cares only for money; he dreams of being a big business tycoon like his boss Shadwell. But the business in Auraria doesn't go as Holtsclaw planned, namely because the local folklore is still alive and magic doesn't respond as mortals do. With help from a quirky cast of characters, Holtsclaw realizes that life offers something much more magical than money or gold.
Much of the folklore is based on early Colonial interpretations of Cherokee myths, showing how the Cherokee left their marks on the land, even after the Trail of Tears. This theme is reinforced by Westover's use of the actual historical events that followed the Trail of Tears: the gold rushes of colonial NC and GA, the tourist trade in Appalachia, and a new era of industrialization. The reader can continue this theme by comparing and contrasting the Industrial Era and today's computer era. In a unique way, the story shows how time, and people, continue to leave marks on a place. The well of local legends is never depleted, but continuously renewed.
I received a free uncorrected proof copy of this book from goodreads first reads. There were a few typos/grammatical errors but Tim Westover assures me that the these have been fixed in the final version. This is the author's first novel written in English; this book feels like it was written by someone born and raised in Appalachia.
abookishaffair's review
4.0
This book was definitely different than I expected. It's sort of hard to categorize it. The story is definitely unique. I could see this story appealing to a wide variety of readers. As a historical fiction lover, I really liked the historical elements. The story takes place in the late 1800s. It was interesting to see what things were like then. There is also a really interesting fantasy element to it, mostly having to do with the characters, which I will get into later.
Auraria is in the middle of nowhere Georgia. It's not all that notable except for the people or rather beings that make their home there. I loved all of the different beings in this book. Westover does a great job with making them feel really real. That's definitely a talent! I love when authors are able to turn the fantastic into something familiar. It's sort of magical realism in a way. My favorite character was the Princess of the lake. She is just a really cool and very well written character.
The downside of this book to me really had to do with the main character, Holtzclaw. There is all of this fantastic stuff going on around him and he's just not that exciting on his own. He's definitely a good guy and is trying to do right by his employer, Shadburn, and by the people of the town but he struck me as a little bit flat. On the upside, he did help to make the more unique characters stand out a little bit more.
Bottom line: This book is great for those who like a little fantastic with their literary.
Auraria is in the middle of nowhere Georgia. It's not all that notable except for the people or rather beings that make their home there. I loved all of the different beings in this book. Westover does a great job with making them feel really real. That's definitely a talent! I love when authors are able to turn the fantastic into something familiar. It's sort of magical realism in a way. My favorite character was the Princess of the lake. She is just a really cool and very well written character.
The downside of this book to me really had to do with the main character, Holtzclaw. There is all of this fantastic stuff going on around him and he's just not that exciting on his own. He's definitely a good guy and is trying to do right by his employer, Shadburn, and by the people of the town but he struck me as a little bit flat. On the upside, he did help to make the more unique characters stand out a little bit more.
Bottom line: This book is great for those who like a little fantastic with their literary.
bract4813mypacksnet's review
4.0
Auraria is a marvelous book. Though it is apparently based on a real Georgian ghost town, in the book, natural, supernatural, real and fake cause tension. With its water spirits, sheep fruit, moon maidens, haunted pianos, ghosts (including a headless one and one who plays the piano), and a story-telling invincible terrapin that lives under the mountains, it is comparable to reading an extended fairy tale or folk tale. Wondrous things keep Holtzclaw, the protagonist, busy, but he eventually takes them in stride. The book is filled with playful absurdities, with the qualities of folk tales and legends.
thereadinghammock's review
1.0
I literally don't know what this story was about. The narration ambles and stumbles through strange legends and obscure "magic." James Holtzclaw buys the Auraria valley in Georgia by order for his shady employer Hiram Shadburn, with no knowledge of why. The story itself never really explains the reason for why Shadburn is so adamant about bringing the valley a resort hotel. The whole plot struggles to keep any kind of cohesiveness and engaging plot. I kept waiting for the story to come together, but it never did.
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