Fallen Land: A Novel by Taylor Brown (Epub)

Description

Fallen Land is Taylor Brown’s debut novel set in the final year of the Civil War, as a young couple on horseback flees a dangerous band of marauders who seek a bounty reward. Callum, a seasoned horse thief at fifteen years old, came to America from his native Ireland as an orphan. Ava, her father and brother lost to the war, hides in her crumbling home until Callum determines to rescue her from the bands of hungry soldiers pillaging the land, leaving destruction in their wake. Ava and Callum have only each other in the world and their remarkable horse, Reiver, who carries them through the destruction that is the South. Pursued relentlessly by a murderous slave hunter, tracking dogs, and ruthless ex-partisan rangers, the couple race through a beautiful but ruined land, surviving on food they glean from abandoned farms and the occasional kindness of strangers. In the end, as they intersect with the scorching destruction of Sherman’s March, the couple seek a safe haven where they can make a home and begin to rebuild their lives. Dramatic and thrillingly written with an uncanny eye for glimpses of beauty in a ravaged landscape, Fallen Land is a love story at its core, and an unusually assured first novel by award-winning young author Taylor Brown.

User’s Reviews

Review “Like McCarthy’s Border Trilogy or Frazier’s Cold Mountain, this is American literature at its best, full of art and beauty and the exploration of all that is good and bad in the human spirit.” –Kirkus, starred review”This is a masterpiece that deserves a full serving of accolades.” –Booklist, starred review”Brown’s expressive language captures the harsh realities of the South at the time. A nail-biting journey from first page to last.” –Library Journal, starred review“A story of love and loyalty set within the madness and chaos of war, Fallen Land is also a thrilling fugue, in both senses: of flight, and intricate composition. It is also the story of a revenge quest, the horrors of Sherman’s March, a noble horse named Reiver, of sacrifice, endurance, and redemption. No one who reads Fallen Land will ever forget it. In this first novel Taylor Brown proves himself a fresh, authentic, and eloquent new voice in American fiction.” ―Robert Morgan, author of Gap Creek, Boone, and The Road from Gap Creek“A shattering debut that puts one strongly in mind of the young Cormac McCarthy, and the best historical fiction I’ve read in ages.” ―Pinckney Benedict, author of Town Smokes, The Wrecking Yard, and Dogs of God“It is rare thing for a writer to have the talent and scope to exhibit both the worst and best of humanity in one book, much less in one scene, but that’s what Brown does here: He literally floods the page with violent beauty and devastating grace. Well-known and oft-praised writers will look back on long and storied careers only to wish they had written a debut novel as flawless as Fallen Land.” ―Wiley Cash, author of A Land More Kind Than Home“Taylor Brown has given us the wonderful tale of Callum, who will make his way through his own private Civil War. His is not so much a war of grand battles and armies, but a real war of personal survival. Powerfully written, wonderfully told, Fallen Land needs to be part of every collection of great storytelling of the American Civil War.” ―Robert Hicks, author of The Widow of the South and A Separate Country”Harrowing and haunting, Brown’s novel travels through the brutality of the Civil War, the desperate yearning of young love, and the glint of hope that can illuminate tragedy. Thanks to Brown’s genius, you don’t just read this book–you inhabit it.” –Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Is This Tomorrow and Pictures of You

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ I’m no literary critic but I know what holds my interest and makes me want to keep reading to find how the story unfolds. Ever hear the phrase “turgid prose” ? I never really understood that until this book. You feel like you are wading through thick mud. Every concept is expressed in a “backwards” way to make it more descriptive, I guess. Whew, just tires the reader out. Every sentence – It never ends! I assume that is to convey the feeling of how difficult the characters plight is but, sheesh! Enough already. I couldn’t connect with the two young main characters at all either. I can’t even finish reading it. This book is a mash up of Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier and the Hardest Ride by Gordon Rottman. Spend your time more wisely reading those two far more wonderful, exciting books with their deeply developed characters and crisp but so incisive phrasing. Each book different but such great reads for Civil War, noble horse, really,really bad guys, young love in desperate situations, old folks as saviors and firearm enthusiasts.

⭐ Set in the last year of the Civil War, Taylor Brown’s “Fallen Land” begins with Callum. As the story unfolds, Callum is sent out with orders from the “Colonel” to their troop of horse thieves to find food for their men. While searching the closest home, he comes upon a young girl, Ava, and attempts to save her from the fate he foresees happening to her if she doesn’t hide.Together Callum, his horse Reiver, and Ava make their way, sometimes on horseback, sometimes on foot, from her family home in Virginia. They slowly make their way through the carnage and destruction brought by the war.Despite their fears, despite a changing landscape and the dangers from man, animal and nature everywhere, with each day and each night its own new horror show, there is an ease to both Callum and Ava that allows their trust to grow as the miles and days go by. Slowly, naturally, sweetly they grow to be a team by choice.Brown’s prose through “Fallen Land” is gorgeous, raw, perfection for the setting and the era. “Fallen Land” is a stunning debut novel.

⭐ Lyrical is the one word that comes to mind. The brutality of war becomes imagery of sight and sound and layer upon layer builds the characters.I usually underline sentences that strike a note. This was impossible in this novel for so many sentences resonated and juxtaposed the scenes of destruction with the growth of the main characters. When the protagonists find the seer to learn their fate, he is a run down southern gentleman in a burned shell of his home. His skin is parchment as though the prophecies of old inform his touch as the moonshine liquor opens his eyes to the future. Every detail merits attention the spare way of a lyric poem.

⭐ A really well-written book about a teenage boy riding with Confederate raiders in the Civil War. He rescues a girl about his age who was violated by the leader of his band. The Colonel is shot and killed by Union forces as he chased after the boy, who was blamed for the death. A bounty put on his head by the Colonels’ brother, who is an expert tracker and uses bloodhounds to find his quarry. This scenario ensures an exciting chase and a series of near-misses as the boy and girl ride to his relatives farm and safe haven. A seamless plot, historical and societal accuracy, and an inventive believable finish make this a great read.

⭐ The story takes place in 1864, with the American Civil War as the backdrop. Callum is a boy of about 15 years old that is running with a Confederate guerrilla gang. He breaks with the gang to save a girl, Ava, a little older than he is, but they are pursued by the gang. Callum and Ava witness Sherman’s march to the sea. The writing is ok, but there are too many miraculous occurrences in the story. 3 out of 5 stars.

⭐ Excellent character development. The novel traces the trials and adventures of a young couple, Ava and Callum. Highly recommended! The tale includes rape, a faithful horse, starvation, fear, evil, a bounty hunter, murder, destruction and ruin, love, fear, the burning of Atlanta, a hanging, and more. This novel is well written and fast paced. It definitely will keep your attention. The novel deserves an A++++++

⭐ I LOVED THIS BOOK!! It is so refreshing to read a book by an author who uses imagination to develop a story rather than work from the same “cookie cutter” pattern as most current authors do. Additionally, this book is a great insight into the most significant conflict of American history – the Civil War. I have now read all Taylor Brown books and can’t wait for the next one! If he keeps going he will be as great as Ken Follett (my all time favorite!).

⭐ This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I was little disappointed with both. Both stories revolved around the main character and a villain heading for a big showdown or confrontation. The problem is both the confrontations were very underwhelming. Kind of a dud both times.

⭐ Such a good, yet raw account of regular life during the Civil war. Not much has been written about people caught up in the massive influx of soldiers and outlaws that roamed the area. His writing is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy and straddles a thin line of descriptive beauty and horrific crimes committed. A surprising great read.

⭐ A poetic and lyrical weaving of survival, young love, and the wretchedness of war. Brown counterbalances the emotion and color of the landscape with the brutal reality of the dark underbelly of war – outside the battlefield. A telling that draws out a portrait of war left out of history class. Beautifully written.

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