novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
4 STARS
"With her eagerly awaited second novel, Tawni O'Dell takes readers back to the coal-mining country of western Pennsylvania. Set in a town ravaged and haunted by a mine explosion that took the lives of 96 men, Coal Run explores the life of local deputy and erstwhile football legend, "The Great Ivan Z.," as he prepares for a former teammate's imminent release from prison. As the week unfolds and Ivan struggles to confront his demons, he reveals himself to be a man whose conscience is burdened by a long-held and shocking secret." (From Amazon)
A great follow up novel! Set in a small coal mining town about it's dysfunctional people. This novel has a bit more humour.
"With her eagerly awaited second novel, Tawni O'Dell takes readers back to the coal-mining country of western Pennsylvania. Set in a town ravaged and haunted by a mine explosion that took the lives of 96 men, Coal Run explores the life of local deputy and erstwhile football legend, "The Great Ivan Z.," as he prepares for a former teammate's imminent release from prison. As the week unfolds and Ivan struggles to confront his demons, he reveals himself to be a man whose conscience is burdened by a long-held and shocking secret." (From Amazon)
A great follow up novel! Set in a small coal mining town about it's dysfunctional people. This novel has a bit more humour.
virginiacjacobs's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy O'Dell's writing. This is a story of a guy (Ivan) who basically made some shitty decisions and was a total ass to a girl when he was a teenager, so he runs away, and then comes back to his hometown several years later, and is still basically a loser. I know--that description really makes you want to read this book. But there are other, more interesting, good characters in this book, and you spend a lot of time really hoping that Ivan gets his shit together and does the right thing. And he does, sometimes. By the end of the book, Ivan seems to be on the path towards being a decent human being. You never really like him, but you also don't dislike him. He's a very believable character, and O'Dell's writing has a truth to it.
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
Coal Run is a beautifully written book. O'Dell does an excellent job capturing angst and communicates the sense of being lost, rudderless in a major storm really and finding the way to calm. This book had a way of forcing me to think and then to apply the emotions of the book to my life. Good books should have that effect.
susanatwestofmars's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The ending was a bit of a letdown, but this book is otherwise brilliant. Beautifully written (wow!), laugh out loud almost every time I read... it's got it all. Ivan is an anti-hero for the ages, although I kept waiting for his big secret to be about Reese and something else that tied them together, something tied to what happened to his knee.
The way this unfolds is real mastery, with each character coming across with subtle nuance and removal of layers of their personality, although I understood the situation with Jess and Bobbie earlier than Ivan did. (Ivan is a bit dense, but deliciously so.)
It's funny because I was talking to someone about how I hate characters who are mired in their addictions. They usually need agency. And here's Ivan, who actually has a lot of agency, and a lot of it. It's just not what we talk about in terms of female kick-ass characters who find their agency. It's more subtle, more delicious, and it pulls us along with Ivan as his own layers open up and we get to discover different parts of him and the situation at large.
Also? I love Ivan's problem solving. If only all cops acted like him in the early going. People would still be alive.
The way this unfolds is real mastery, with each character coming across with subtle nuance and removal of layers of their personality, although I understood the situation with Jess and Bobbie earlier than Ivan did. (Ivan is a bit dense, but deliciously so.)
It's funny because I was talking to someone about how I hate characters who are mired in their addictions. They usually need agency. And here's Ivan, who actually has a lot of agency, and a lot of it. It's just not what we talk about in terms of female kick-ass characters who find their agency. It's more subtle, more delicious, and it pulls us along with Ivan as his own layers open up and we get to discover different parts of him and the situation at large.
Also? I love Ivan's problem solving. If only all cops acted like him in the early going. People would still be alive.
karasmichelle's review against another edition
1.0
Chose this book because it's based in a PA coal town and has references to State College/PSU (my hometown). I should've known nothing good could've come from an author named Tawni. This is unredeemable dreck.
jlholowaty's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this beautifully written novel about a mining town in Pennsylvania. Unexpected, draws you in. Intriguing and dynamic characters. I highly recommend this book!
gorskaya's review against another edition
3.0
Читается книга легко, тревожно-мрачный, герой неприятный, но ему нельзя не сочувствовать, но вот конец у книги несправедливый.
menfort's review
3.0
Nothing special. It kept my attention and I wanted to keep reading but wasn't moved by it!
trademark's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0