3 Stars
Since closing the last page of Cold Mountain I’ve been considering quietly forgetting this book, leaving a small gap and then swiftly moving onto the next. Charles Frazier’s novel was highly recommended to me, both by fellow bloggers and by friends. The problem I had wasn’t obvious at first, but then it was clear, vivid and eventually spoilt my enjoyment of the book.
My problem was Cormac McCarthy. Just when I decide to leave the author alone for a while I pick up another writer who is so clearly influenced by him that it hurts. What stopped me from enjoying Cold Mountain was the realisation that – take McCarthy out of the equation – and you have no book. In fact never before have I found one writer to be so heavily influenced by another. Frazier copies McCarthy’s unique writing style to the letter, the landscape, the detailed descriptions of chance encounters, characters careful preparations of food (where every meal could be their last), despicable individuals you can’t help liking (Veasey) – and the senseless deaths. And the style of dialogue – the ironic humour – the characters asking themselves what they aim to do – is all McCarthy.
Sorry to be like this. There is a great novel in there somewhere, but reading Cold Mountain was like listening to an Oasis album. Okay, but it’s been done before – and better. Cold Mountain is the best novel Cormac McCarthy never wrote – and I can guarantee someone’s already said that before.
Indeed – as quoted on cormacmccarthy.com
itself – quoting the New York Times Book Review of June 2002:
“Charles Frazier, whose best-selling Civil War novel of 1997, Cold Mountain, is a masterly act of ventriloquism, the best McCarthy novel McCarthy never wrote.”
JackP Wednesday February 6, 2008
That is interesting. I read Cold Mountain about 8 years ago, before any experience with McCarthy so would never have noticed the echo.
verbivore Wednesday February 6, 2008
Interesting review. I read “Cold Mountain” last year and didn’t pick up on the McCarthy echoes. All I saw was a retelling of “The Odyssey.” In any case, I’m just glad I’m not the only one who didn’t really like the book. I agree with you, Frazier is over-rated and “Cold Mountain” is disappointing. It had its moments, but it was pretty dull.
Brandon Thursday February 7, 2008
Jack: expert googling!
Verbivore: I guess you can trace many authors back to their influences – they just shouldn’t make it so easy.
Brandon: The Odyssey theme annoyed me slightly too! Frazier could be a goood writer, but he needs to mature. His next novel took him nine years to produce – maybe he’s now broken away from his master’s shackles.
Stephen Thursday February 7, 2008
Stephen your reviews are always really helpful. having read this post I think I’ll stick to the real thing and read some more McCarthy.
simon Thursday February 7, 2008
Simon: And I think you might be ahead of me anyway with The Border Trilogy…
Stephen Thursday February 7, 2008
I’m sorry, I cannot stop laughing: You’ve hit the proverbial dead doornail on the head! Vive Cormac McCarthy! Down with imposters!
LK Tuesday February 12, 2008
Oh no! I’m one of the bloggers who recommended Frazier to you!
I’ll admit to only having read one novel by McCarthy (All the Pretty Horses) so I might not be picking up the influences. I also really didn’t like what I read of McCarthy, which might be ironic given what you are saying!
Weren’t you just a little bit caught up in Cold Mountain? Come on, give me some hope here…
jess Tuesday February 12, 2008
All the Pretty Horses was the one I was thinking of…
I was caught up in CM – I did find many of the characterisations memorable – ultimately it was deliberate choice of style that got to me.
This won’t put me off any of your other recommendations :-)
Stephen Tuesday February 12, 2008
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