Rated of 5
by Kristen H. (Baltimore, MD) Into the woods
I had high expectations for the book based on the preliminary reviews I'd read, so perhaps it isn't surprising that I was disappointed, although I was glad to have read it in the end.
The story was weirdly Shakespearean, and there were enough references to old English that it was clear that this was intentional. Think one of the bloodier stories - Hamlet or Macbeth, maybe, without any of the wry humour that underlies those tragedies. It also had a touch of the Ancient Greek plays (especially with the use of the chorus) - Medea, maybe - without the character development.
The characters were unconvincing and un-nuanced, and many of the plot points felt forced or contrived. What made the story worthwhile, however, was the sub-story of the development of the National Park System, which is timely with the upcoming Ken Burns film on the subject, as well as the approaching NPS centennial in 2016. The presentation of the logging communities and the rape of the forests is in sharp contrast with the maneuvering land-grab that protected the lands into one of the most cherished parks in the system.
Flawed, but worthwhile.
Rated of 5
by Fred S. (san diego, CA) Serena
I enjoyed this book,and I'm looking forward to getting another of Mr.Rash's books.
Rated of 5
by Gail L. (Cypress, TX) Serena - A Fabulous Read
This book has all the elements that I enjoy in a work of fiction. It is a unique, colorful, story that is believably set in the mountains surrounding Ashville, North Carolina during the Great Depression. It is filled with interesting, well-developed characters and page-turning suspense.
The ending is brilliantly executed.
I heartily recommend this book for book clubs and lovers of well-written, literary historical fiction.
Rated of 5
by Rosemary T. (San Antonio, TX) Serena Serena is a riveting, albeit very dark, novel about one couple's goal to rule the lumber industry at any cost. Set during the depression the reader gets a glimpse of the degree men were willing to go to have a job. Even though the novel centers around Serena, she is the one character I felt I never really got to know. There are so many unanswered questions that still haunt me. Even though I was disturbed by many scenes in the book, I could not put it down. This was definitely a love-hate read for me.
Rated of 5
by Kimberly H. (Stamford, CT) Serena
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Beautifully written, a story of murderous greed set against a backdrop of timber farms in the Smoky Mountains, in what is now a national park. I highly recommend ths novel- it was hard to put down.
Rated of 5
by Marjorie H. (Bedford, TX) Dark and Light
Few authors have the ability to put evil on paper but Ron Rash has accomplished just that. This taut, dark story puts faces on evil in the persons of husband and wife, Serena and Pemberton. In this compelling read you are reluctantly, yet curiously, pulled into their aura. With great skill, Ron Rash writes of the forces of good and evil - light and dark and keeps forcing the reader to recognize the destructive forces at work. And not just human destruction, but the destruction of acres and acres of timberland that serves as a backdrop to further the ambitious desires of these two people. To them, life is disposable at any cost and lumber more valuable than gold. Serena is capable of murder without a blink of an eye - as long as it serves her malicious need. This book is sometimes hard to read - but I always came back to it - and so will you. Brilliantly done!
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Judge rules unused Borders gift cards to be worthless(May 23 2013) Borders owes nothing to holders of roughly $210.5 million of gift cards that had not been used by the time the bookstore chain shut down, a Manhattan federal...
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of 5
by Kristen H. (Baltimore, MD) 
of 5
by Fred S. (san diego, CA) 
of 5
by Gail L. (Cypress, TX) 
