A review by judyward
Bloodroot by Amy Greene

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.