Cold Mountain: One of my Favorite Books. Ever.

     I can think of no other way of beginning this post than by saying that I absolutely love Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain. It’s the sort of book that feels so real that you sort of fall into it, and when you put it down and return to reality, it’s takes a while to adjust to the world outside of the book’s cover. I could go on for hours about why I found Cold Mountain so captivating, but I will try to limit myself, as I do not want to bore you or ruin the novel for you.

Here’s a quick rundown of the book’s premise:

     It’s the tail end of the Civil War and Inman, a wounded Confederate soldier, is disillusioned and homesick. Within the first chapter or so, Inman deserts the army and embarks on a perilous journey back to his home in Cold Mountain and to the love of his life, Ada Monroe. The novel is told in third person point of view, and the narrator switches off between Inman and Ada each chapter.

     Doesn’t sound like anything spectacular? Here are three good reasons why I think everyone should read this book:

1.       Characters

              While the premise may sound like a 19^th century Nicholas Sparks novel, the striking realism of the characters saves the novel. Inman and Ada’s romance is anything but oversentimental. It is understated, genuine, and at times, awkward. More importantly, they do not dwell on their lovesickness; it is something that is always with them, but never something that never overshadows their struggle to survive. Frazier allows the reader to delve into both Inman and Ada’s psyches, and by the time the book comes to a close, the reader feels as if he or she has personally known each and every character.

2.       Historical Accuracy

While reading Cold Mountain, I often had to check the copyright date. Though published in 1997, I could have easily been convinced that it was published in 1870. Granted, I’m no historian, but everything just feels right. Antiquated words are used. The food the characters eat, the way the food is made, the weapons they use, all are described in such detail that it seems that the book had to have been written by one of the characters themselves. It is evident that even if the historical accuracy isn’t quite as perfect as I think it is, Charles Frazier put a great deal of time and effort into recreating this world. He managed to give a convincing account of a time period alien to us without overloading the book with historical facts and trivial trivia. Everything just seems so natural.

3.         Setting

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Cold Mountain is the sweeping landscapes. I think it is truly brilliant the way Frazier juxtaposes the gritty, harsh, and at times gruesome, realities of a nation torn by war with a picturesque, almost postcard-like landscape. Nature and nature cycles play a key role, both symbolically and literally, in the plight of both Inman and Ada. Nature keeps not only the characters grounded, but the reader as well.

     Okay, so I kind of lied. There are four reasons. The fourth reason is, very simply, writing ability. Cold Mountain is just a really well-written book. Frazier put a lot of thought into this book, and in my opinion, it paid off. I have included a link to an interesting article I found on the similarities between Cold Mountain and Homer’s The Odyssey. Here it is.

I give Charles Frazier's Cold Mountaing a dark blue rating with gold accents. Dark blue for it's depth and sweeping majesty. Gold for its rich literary value and emotional impact.