Customer Reviews

Blackwater

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Blackwater" is a novel of the Literary Fiction genre written by Cassandra Blizzard. Ms. Blizzard has an impressive number of writings to her credit including several novels that cross literary genre. In addition to being an accomplished author, Cassandra Blizzard is also a renowned psychic medium. As a Florida native, Ms. Blizzard has intimate knowledge of life in areas of Central Florida around the Saint Johns River and has used it as a backdrop in her novels; particularly in "Blackwater".

The novel is written in the first person by the main protagonist with other character dialog interlaced in the narration and attributable to the person speaking. The writing is straight forward and uses some colloquial strains of the language to denote the lilt of southern speech and common banter of the times.

The story begins with the decision by his mother Peg, to allow Michael "Mikey", her son, to stay the summer with her brother "Cotton"Lemme and his wife Ruthie. The year was 1965, Mikey was ten years old. As Mikey's mother drove away, Uncle Cotton looked at the young boy and proclaimed "Your mama's coddled yuh, son. Almost gotcha turned into a pretty sissy boy. But we gonna change that." And so began a young boy's adventure in three months of summer; like nothing he could ever imagine then or ever again. Uncle Cotton and his friend Jimbo would take Mikey under wing and deliver him into a world of sights and sounds the likes of which he only imagined existed. Now many years later, Michael finds himself attending Cotton's funeral and reminiscing about those three months in 1965 and the secret he and Jimbo kept all those years and how it had changed his life forever.

This was a terrific book to read. It was engaging from beginning to end. The characters were mesmerizing; Jimbo, Mikey and Cotton. One could only imagine the scenes as they played out for a ten year old boy. Cotton's life, of living on the edge was as real as some people I actually knew in my life time. The ruthless intensity of the person was captured perfectly as was the fierce friendship born of a gentler man like Jimbo; and of course the humble love of Ruthie.

I highly recommend this novel and rate it "Memorable".

I give Blackwater 5 stars. Blizzard doesn't just hook you in, she grabs you by the throat and won't let go. Seeing things from Mikey's childhood view strikes a cord in you heart. The characters like uncle Cotton are great and Blizzard makes you feel like you really know them. This book takes you on a great ride. I have started on another book from her (Profile) and I see I will be buying more by her. Very entertaining.

I've been an avid reader all my life. Instead of watching television, I prefer to read. At 70 years old, I can't tell you how many books I've read in my lifetime, but it's a bunch. Blackwater is truly a book like no other. This is my all-time favorite book ever. I keep one copy with me, and I have a copy to pass around to friends. I have passed this book through so many doctor's offices over the past few years. This book flows so smoothly, the characters draw you in like no other characters I've ever read. You are literally, instantly in every scene with Mikey and Cotton. If you want the feel of Florida in the 60s, pick up this book. Every little nuance of Florida is in there, but written into the storyline in such a way as to just blend in and meld together, nothing intrusive. Just pure experience. What a gifted writer! This really is a wild ride you will never forget.

When I read this book, I didn't know what to think. It's written in the voice of the main character, the boy, Mikey. Which is very Southern. I instantly fell in love with Mikey and Cotton, and I was totally caught up the story. The mastery of this book just amazes me. Ms. Blizzard is a true artist when it comes to writing. She has a range that is absolutely staggering. This story delighted me and...well...I don't want to give anything away. But you will be shocked.

This is my first review of a Kindle book since getting mine for Christmas. What a fantastic book! I really, really enjoyed it. Sad, funny,action - all the emotions were in this story. I could not put it down until I finished it, then I hated that I had finished it. I gave it 5 stars.

I totally don't understand the reviewer that skimmed this book to get to the action parts. Blackwater is literary fiction. Literary fiction is not action-driven. It is character based. The unflattering review is like saying they skimmed Steel Magnolias looking for the action parts. What??? I can only assume that the skimmer reviewer grabbed this book in a freebie campaign, even though it was outside their genre of preference. I think it's unfair to the author to write a review on a book that is outside your favored genre just because you don't understand literary fiction.

When it comes to character and nuance, this author nails it to a tee. In this book the author pushes the reader into running the full range of human emotions. As soon as I started reading, I could not stop. I laughed, I cried, I was totally appalled. C. D. Blizzard writes with total honesty and perfectly portrays the Florida cracker. It is a coming of age, character driven, adventure, drama, punch in the head. There is no way to really describe this book. But it is well written, the characters are well drawn. Easy to read despite the Southern slang. C. D. Blizzard was very brave in her portrayal of the southern climate of the day. I've read it 14 times. That says a lot because I never re-read a book. I'd give this book ten stars if I could, just for the sheer magic of capturing characters so brilliantly. C. D. Blizzard proves her ability as a writer.

Didn't take long for 10-year old Mikey to get the redneck in him after being with Uncle Cotton for a very short time. There was more in store for him than the camping trip Cotton just told the sheriff he , his friend Jimbo, and Mikey were about to embark on. Mikey had no idea what poachin' was and he didn't dare ask and risk looking stupid. Although the sheriff and game wardens were having a tough time catching Cotton in the act, they knew he was pretty much always up to something.

Young Mikey idolized the infamous Cotton and found himself emulating him. The way he talked and the way he stood, etc. He considered himself a man at his preadolescent age and almost always looked forward to hanging out with Cotton and Cotton's friend Jimbo.

Hanging out with Cotton, and Mikey is introduced to things no boy should have to witness or be part of. Poaching deer and fish, and drinking hard liquor, to name a few. The horror witnessed and subsequent guilt thrust upon a 10-year old is a burden no one should have to carry.

I'm sure the author captures the redneck slang accurately, however, the double negatives, the misuse of the word "weren't" in place of wasn't, and such tend to be annoying shortly into the story. Even Mikey's thoughts are hick-speak.

While this was a well-written story, it was rather slow-moving in parts where it was pretty much just daily life happening. I would probably rate this as a 3.5 stars.