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There are currently 27 member reviews
for Fallen Land
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Elly, New Mexico
Sad Slice of History
Taylor Brown has a winner in this debut novel. He presents a story of two young people in search of a new life in the final years of the Civil War and the unimaginable hardships faced. The character development was very strong, leaving no question as to the "good, bad or ugly." This is a story of love and hate, ruthlessness and sadness, coupled with perseverance and tenacity. Brown's short, but very descriptive sentences painted vivid pictures of the adversities cast upon the land and the people.
I would, without hesitation, recommend "Fallen Land" for book club reading and discussion.
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FannieForrest
Perfect Read
When I review a great book I always regret that I can't write well. All I can say is this is one of the best books ever. It is extremely rare to find a book that you want to read every word because you are afraid you will miss something amazing. I know in my crazing overwhelming world, my time to read is limited. I often find my self speed reading. I did not want to with this book. For example, there is a description of the characters finding a decaying body. Ava wanted every body buried so their souls could be at peace. Callum tried really hard to please her but the limbs of body kept falling off. This sounds gruesome but it was actually a sweet moment. I actually laughed out loud picturing the scene. When I tried to explain to my husband he really thought I had lost it. The tale of the consequences of war is heartbreaking but the good people the couple met during their flight from the Colonel was heartwarming. Thank you BookBrowse for the perfect read. I will share this book with my sister and track this author. Really hope to see more novels from Mr Brown. Never thought I would love a horse thief!
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Diane S. (Batavia, IL)
Fallen Land
Violence amidst great beauty. Two amazing young characters, Callum and Ava, and a wonderful trusty horse named Reiver. On the run from bounty hunters under the mistaken notion that Callum had killed their renegade Colonel. Nearing the end of the Civil War, there is much destruction, woods full of starving men, men who kill and steal for food, there is danger behind and ahead of them. From the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina they hope to make their way to the Georgian Coast, running into the devastation of the burning of Atlanta and the results of Sherman's march to the sea.
The writing, descriptions of the scenery are beautiful, the violence graphically depicted. One feels that they are right there, at that time, ruining from and to an unknown future with Callum and Ava. Survival is key, starvation and death a reality. Yet, amidst the destruction there are a few simple kindnesses from characters who are not in the story long but leave a big impression. I usually hate pat endings, but I so wanted them to have a happy one. Of course, I cannot tell you if they did, wouldn't be fair. This book is suspenseful, chillingly real, evoking strong feelings, a book that will stay with you long after books end.
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Pam L. (Melbourne Beach, FL)
Fallen Land
War is brutal, violent and devastating as Taylor Brown expertly depicts in Fallen Land. And then comes Ava, the gutsy heroine of the novel. Along with Callum, her love, they flee a band of bounty hunters to safety during the final days of the Civil War. Fallen Land is populated with characters you are not soon to forget and landscapes that the author paints with words that are strikingly vivid and real. Taylor Brown's writing is achingly beautiful, sparse, and haunting. His choice of words at times perfect. The land and the steadfast horse, Reiver, that Callum and Ava travel on serve as a striking contrast of ruin and beauty. Fallen Land is a novel reminiscent of Cold Mountain, in it's honesty and brutality with an unforgettable story that follows the journey of young love during a most tragic time in our history.
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Daniel H. (Oak Lawn, IL)
A good coming-of-age novel
There are many ways to develop a coming of age tale. Taylor Brown's Fallen Land takes young Callum on a frightening journey through war-torn southern states in the late War Between the States. We come to recognize him as a lost soul, looking for some normalcy amid chaos. Though not as dark as Cormac McCarthy's The Road, this story is chilling enough. We share Callum's fear; we sense the pursuers hot on his trail; we feel the chill in his bones after another night on the trail. The author is adept at establishing mood, and descriptive passages are quite poetic. I think this book has appeal for the general audience, from mature teens on up. Violence is graphic throughout, and there are some sexual references. This is an easy read, which I enjoyed.
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Tricia Gould, Fort Walton Beach Public Library, FL
Fallen Land by Taylor Brown
It's always gratifying to read a debut novel and feel hopeful for the author's future works. "The Fallen Land" by Taylor Brown is a gritty, bone-chilling saga about a young couple struggling to survive against impossible odds during the wretched, sad last days of the Civil War. Callum and Ava are homeless and on the run from a merciless one-armed bounty hunter. It is, in part, a tender love story, but one that is built on gristle, bone, heartless cold, and bitter revenge. Brown weaves his descriptive prose in a way that keeps the story moving at the steady pace of a war-deployed thoroughbred. The result is writing that fairly crunches like frozen scrub underfoot. The scenes of carnage and cruelty are stark and gory, awash in evil but devoid of the cartoon violence that is often featured in books and movies today. "Fallen Land" has been compared to "Cold Mountain" and the works of Cormac McCarthy. I would throw in a dash of "True Grit" for good measure to describe an exciting debut that promises great things to come.
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Lee M. (Creve Coeur, MO)
Fell
I fell in love with this book. Mr. Brown is gifted with a descriptive sense that makes you feel you're in the book experiencing the ride of your life! He is an eloquent writer and you accept even the most violent parts as necessary to the flow of the story. How can he know and convey so much, when he was not alive during this period. He made me cry and that is not easy to do. A magnificent choice for individuals and Book Clubs.
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