Bloodroot
by Amy Greene
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Book Reviews of Bloodroot
Book Review: Beautiful debut novel, but not always easy to read.
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The bloodroot is a flower that has the capacity to both heal and poison. The same could be said of one of the story's most memorable characters, Myra. Myra lives on Bloodroot Mountain, and it is clear that the mountain also lives IN her, as she never rests easy when she is away from it. Myra and other women in her family tree are said to have mystical powers. In her family and on the mountain in general, these powers have been used for good. But, when it comes to the men in her life, something about Myra not only mesmerizes them but destroys them.
This story, told by several characters and about several generations of families on and around Bloodroot Mountain, is incredibly rich and detailed. I had no problem at all being pulled into the story or staying interested in it. It is, however, not a happy story. There are moments of happiness, but they are far outweighed by sadness, violence, poverty and madness. It reminded me at times of the books I read during the first year of Oprah's Book Club; books that were well written and impactful but weighed me down with sadness during and after reading them.
Because the story is told by multiple characters in different generations, events weren't always happening in the same timeline; as a result, I sometimes had trouble keeping clear about the order in which various events happened. This is one of the main reasons I'm giving the book 4 stars instead of 5.
This book reminded me somewhat of The Help by Kathryn Stockett, my favorite fiction of 2009. They both take place in the past and are written from multiple perspectives. Both authors live in the area about which they are writing, so they know not only the landmarks but the lingo and the personality of the area. Both stories contain sadness and violence. I don't know that Bloodroot will be my favorite fiction of 2010, but I do believe it will be toward the top of that list.
Book Review: Tragic Family, Brilliant Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't be surprised if you see Amy Greene's Bloodroot make its way onto several of the literary prize short lists this year. It's that good; a wonderfully engrossing story told by a debut novelist who writes with clarity, emotion, authenticity and beauty.
Bloodroot is a plant that has the power both to cure or kill, and the central symbol throughout a novel rich with dichotomy (love and hate, life and death). Bloodrood is also the name of the mountain in dirt-poor East Tennessee where the novel takes place. Much like the Mississippi River in Mark Twain's works, Bloodroot Mountain stands as both the setting for the story and a "thing" with which the novel's characters have a real, tangible relationship. The mountain itself is a character.
These tragic characters, all with an inseparable connection to Blooroot, take turns telling this story about the importance of family heritage and the dangers of fate. Blue-eyed, beautiful Myra Lamb is the central character. She is her family's hope for breaking a century-old curse. But Myra herself seems also to be cursed, and marries an abusive jerk who does everything he can to sever her roots and destroy her sense of self. Her only saving grace is her hope of one day returning home to Bloodroot. "You might leave one day," Myra says, "but your blood will whisper to you."
Bursting with symbolism and Biblical allusions, but maintaining a wonderful sense of "country mysticism" and superstition, this novel is about as literary as literary gets. That's not to say the book is difficult -- it's actually one of the most brilliant types of literary novels: Even if you don't get all of it, you're still totally engaged in the story and the writing, because the story stands strongly on its own merit and the writing is so fantastic. Taking time to think through and understand the "literary adornments" only adds to the enjoyment of the novel.
I'm not in a book club, but if you are, this would be a fantastic novel. It's one that begs to be discussed, and therefore, savored.
Book Review: I really wanted to like this more but ultimately I didn't
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The thumbnail sketch of the story sounds wonderful and I'm always up for a tale with plenty of atmosphere and descriptive language. I found myself pulled into the story at first, with all the wise woman ways of Byrdie's people and the lovely and haunting beauty of Appalachia, but unfortunately for me, the spell just didn't hold beyond the beginning of the novel. I wanted more of that magic and less of the abuse, violence and neglect that came afterward.
Amy Greene is a writer who is skilled with narrative and turn of phrase. The language is lovely and brings the scenery and setting vividly to mind. I do agree, though, with another reviewer that mentioned the overuse of evocative language like "orn't", etc. That sort of constant use by some characters goes beyond setting the scene and becomes tiresome for the reader.
As a reader, I had a hard time connecting with Myra and the plight of her children really bothered me. I would guess that was intended to some degree but for me, it placed a barrier between me and the story, again pulling me from the world that Greene spends such time to develop. The book wasn't one that called out for me to read it. I found myself putting it down, time after time, rather than plunging on to the next page. Perhaps the back and forth nature of the first person narrative between various members of the family added to that problem. For me, it made too many hiccups in the flow of the story.
Ultimately, this story wasn't for me. I know there are folks who really love it and found the story moving, and I take nothing away from that perception. But for me, I wanted a bit more of the mystery and wonder of the setting, less jumping from character to character, and a story that held onto me from the very beginning.
Book Review: Loved this book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Bloodroot is a beautifully written, compelling novel set in the Appalachian mountains. The tale centers particularly around one family and pivots mostly on Myra and the people who love her. The book is told in three parts, the first being told through the voice of Byrdie, Myra's grandmother and Doug, a childhood friend. It sets the tone for the story to come and captures the readers interest in the curse that supposedly is placed on this family, only to be broken when a baby is born with "haint blue eyes." Myra was that baby but her life is fraught with hardships and missteps leaving one to wonder if the curse doesn't still live on. The second part of this novel is told by Johnny and Laura and is heartbreaking as they travel from foster homes to orphanages and finally enter the world on their own. They are separated during their time in faster care and finally come together when Laura most needs her brother. At which point they decide it is time to seek out their mother. Finally, the last portion is Myra's story. Many questions are answered at this point about what really happened in a mean little house by the railroad tracks where Myra lived with her husband John.
I greatly looked forward to reading this book based on the description and I was not disappointed. The book pulled me in and placed me in the mountains and among these characters. I could imagine the feel of the mountain breeze as I climbed the mountain with Myra, taste the cornbread and homemade ice cream and feel the cold, hard dirt under the house. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I will not soon forget these characters created by Amy Greene. I look forward to reading any future works written by Greene.
Book Review: A Book As Uneven As A Mountain Trail
Summary: 3 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
While reading the new novel BLOODROOT I couldn't make up my mind if I had a great piece of literature in my hands or one of the sillier examples of melodrama I have recently read. Like so many recent books the story is told by several different voices and BLOODROOT has six different narrators. Author Amy Greene does do a good job in making each voice distinct and authentic. Greene's use of descriptive detail is also to be admired and helps keep the reader interested and turning the pages. The author obviously has some great story ideas and themes she wants to convey in her writing. Unfortunately the execution of these ideas falls well short of what might have been.
I saw a review or advertisement that describes BLOODROOT as an Appalachian WUTHERING HEIGHTS. I can see some parallels to Emily Bronte's famous classic but BLOODROOT is in no way an exact copy of that masterpiece or even seemingly particularly inspired by it. Briefly stated BLOODROOT involves a Tennessee mountain family over several generations. Family members seem to have certain psychic qualities giving them supernatural abilities. Healers, empaths, charm makers, channelers and prophets, among others all populate the family tree. Madness, murder, and other tragedies are also prominent pieces of the family legacy. There are a few plot details that seem out of place in the book and are seemingly placed to shock the reader. This is a diverting book and I admit it kept me wholly engaged recently during a long day of holiday plane travel. And granted the book even has moments of brilliance. However BLOODROOT is not polished enough for me to give it more than three stars.