Sent to SqueakyChu as RABCK for her daughter.

Thank you so very much for this book. My daughter must read it before she begins college at the end of this month. When she's finished with the book, I hope to read it and then move it along to someone else. Perhaps someone else has a child who needs to read it for school?! ;-) If so, just let me know!

Edit 08/03/04: Well, she read part of it and didn't like it. I'm keeping it now so that I can read it later.

Edit 10/29/12:: My daughter confirmed that she only read *one page* of this book when she decided not to read any more of it!

Soooooo.....

Now I've decided to read this book for a TIOLI challenge (Challenge # 9 for October, 2012) to read a book about survival. More information about this and other TIOLI challenges on LibraryThing can be found here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/142687#t

I'll never finish this book in October so I'm moving it to the November TIOLI challlenge (LibraryThing.com - 75 Books Challenge in 2012 group) to read a book with a culinary fruit in it. The fruit is a blackberry. The challenge is listed here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/143952#3661153

The good news is that I like this book much better than I thought I would...so, thanks again, jamesmum!

My review:

I was rather hesitant to begin this book as I heard that it was "slow" reading. Surprisingly, I found a lot to like about this story of two individuals during the time of American Civil War. It is in North Carolina where young Ada's father dies and she inherits his land. Inman is the Confederate solider who deserts his battalion in Frederickburg, Virginia, and begins his walk home to Ada, whom he believes he loves. His journey is long, but his trek is broken up by the colorful and unique characters he meets along the way. His interactions with these individuals in a background of native plants and animals provide the kind of action needed by this otherwise quietly told story.

My only complaint is about the very ending which I felt was too sudden and harsh. It seemed out of character with the otherwise meandering tone of the story and left me with too many unanswered questions. Despite the jarring effect of the story's conclusion, this was a very solid read about hard life at the time of the Civil War.

I'm releasing this book at the 2012 Annual BC in DC Holiday party book buffet. Thanks, authorauthor, for hosting at your home in Alexandria, Virginia!

I brought this book home from the BC in DC holiday party at authorauthor's house.

I'm releasing this book at the Kensington International Day of the Book Festival in Kensington, Maryland, USA.

This afternoon street festival celebrates the International Day of the Book with live music, author readings, open microphone, activities for children and adults, storytellers, ...and books, books, books! Local authors, book artists, publishers, booksellers, and literary groups line Howard Ave in Historic Old Town Kensington to show, sell, and discuss their works. All activities are free, rain or shine.

Caught at Kensington Maryland Day of the book fest (Sunday April 21, 2013).

Have heard about the book, so time to read it.

When done, already have a friend who wants to read so it will be a controlled release. Thereafter, who knows?

Thanks for sharing & releasing into the world.