Under the Radar Books #1: Cold Mountain, Mariana, Marriage

 

As readers, we are constantly bombarded with new releases - don’t get me wrong, even though I mainly read classics, I see new releases all the time that pique my interest and I do add some of these to my collection. And I’ll be frank, my posts would get more “likes” if I only posted the books that are currently “in.” This can also apply to certain classic novels - there are some books that will always increase traction. I don’t want to do that - sure if there’s a popular recent release that really fascinates me and I genuinely want to read it, then I’ll do so, but I read what I want to read, when I want to read it, even if the book isn’t popular, is no longer “trending,” or if it won’t increase my engagement. 

I decided to start a series of posts that will feature novels that have flown under the radar, or that were once raved about and now it seems like no one really talks about them anymore. 

“All you can do is go on or not. But if you go on or not, it’s knowing you carry your scars with you.”

Cold Mountain by, Charles Frazier won the National Book Award in 1997, and rightly so - this is a stunning piece of fiction. It also resulted in a movie of the same name (the movie is not that great…). So yes, this book had it’s heyday and is still loved, yet I don’t see many people talking about this book. Greek mythology retellings are all the rage right now and what many may not realize, is that this can be considered a loose retelling of The Odyssey. Inman is a Confederate solider during the American Civil War. He deserts the army and walks back home to the woman he loves. He meets a cast of strange characters along the way, while always remaining paranoid of being caught as a deserter. This novel is gorgeously written, etherial and lucid. It’s the perfect novel to cozy up with as we head into fall and winter. This novel will linger with you and I always want to reread it.

“Mary sat down on the grass and chewed a clover leaf. It seemed a long time since she had been in the country, and she lolled on her elbow, reveling in the summer haze that hung over the scented garden, and the bubbling song of a lark high over her head. She wondered, as always, why anyone lived in towns.” 

Mariana by, Monica Dickens is a quaint coming-of-age story. Monica Dickens seems to have inherited her great-grandfathers ability to tell a story. Monica realistically captures the essence of growing up, making decisions and  navigating relationships. This isn’t a complicated novel, but I found it very endearing. I first read it in May of 2019 and I think its the perfect story to read in the spring and the summer - it’s light and quick but still has substance. And the ending was exceptional; I was not expecting it to be that tense and emotional. If you like female narrative that take place leading up to WWII, then you may enjoy Mariana. 

“What have you to do with a heart? What has anyone to do with a heart when their establishment of life is at stake? Keep your heart for your romances, child, and don’t bring such nonsense into real life - heart indeed!” 

Marriage by, Susan Ferrier is such a delight! Ferrier was a female Scottish author, who was also a contemporary of Jane Austen and outsold Austen at the time. However, over the years, she’s faded into obscurity. I will not say that Marriage is an easy novel to read - there is so much colloquial Scottish highland dialect that, unless you are familiar with it, a lot of the dialogue will bog you down. The highland dialect is one of my favorites in the English language and I really enjoyed this element of the book and I think it’s worth the patience. In Marriage, we follow the lives of three women - Lady Juliana, who decided to marry for love. She then has twin daughters and the narrative shows us how the marital choices that each one makes impacts their lives. Some may find this novel to be slow moving and boring, but if you like novels about the social and domestic lives of Regency women, then you may enjoy this. The male characters in Marriage are quite static, whereas the women, are a bit more dynamic. I think Ferrier did this on purpose because this really isn’t about the men at all. 

Have you read any of these novels?

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