Customer Reviews

Foggy Mountain Breakdown [With Earbuds] (Playaway Adult Fiction)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I know that my heading isn't exactly distinctive, but "excellent" is really the best word to describe this collection of short stories. As a dedicated reader of the Eliz McPherson series, I loved the story about her early days. I also thought "The Monster of Glamis" was intriguing, although a bit fanciful. Anyone who has read her novel Paying the Piper will recognize elements of Cameron and Elizabeth's relationship in the story about the relationship between the American and the Scot. McCrumb's stories about Appalachia are also moving and sincere.Definitely a wonderful book from a great author whose works I will continue to await anxiously.

Having previously only sampled 'Highland Laddie Gone' I picked up this book by chance whilst travelling in New Hampshire. Being from the UK the stories which were specifically set within the Smokey Mountians and Apalacians which McCrumb so dearly loves I imagined would have less of a pull than some of the other more 'general' stories. I could not have been more wrong. These tales had a lyrical quality and even the saddest stories held a quite beautiful mysticism. I eagerly await reading more of the Sheriff Arrowood stories.

It is hard to pick out a favourite, but if I have to make the choice I would chose 'Old Rattler' as the best of the bunch. It was one of those stories - a missing girl, distraut mother, wise old man and a sheriff prepared to take a slightly unorthadox route to the solution - which could have been crass, derivative and trodden a well worn path. Instead, I found myself wishing that the tale were longer, I wanted to know more about all involved, I was actually disappointed to reach the end. I hope the other Arrowood books have the same effect.

Unfortunately, there has to be a bad apple in the barrel - there were two actually, but one 'The Monster of Glamis' was just plain silly, the other 'A Predatory Woman' I found disturbing for quite the wrong reasons. This is a very thinly disguised story of a notorious British child murderer, as they say, only the names have changed. I live in the hills not two miles from where this vile woman and her partner did their terrible deeds and the area still bares a significant mental scar. Virtually no-one from this area, or indeed the UK itself would have any problems in identifying the protagonist of this tale. One day she could be released and the ending, whilst it may be the fervent wish of most who know of these crimes, was a cop-out and I felt trivialised one of the most dispicable and memorable acts in recent British history.

From the remainder of my review one can appreciate that I regard Sharyn McCrumb highly. I will certainly read as much of her work as is available in the UK. I truly feel that she has a gift of great storytelling with narrative that is often near perfect. It is perhaps the subject matter she should give a little more attention to.

Usually I love Sharon McCrumb. This book of short stories, however, is a major disappointment. The short story is not is not McCrumb's forte. Short stories should involve the reader quickly and tell a story completely. These have little plot, no character development and end abruptly. They are more like college writing exercises, but because McCrumb is a popular writer the publisher is trying to foist this off on the reader as a collection of polished works. Don't be fooled. There are a lot of McCrumb books out there worth buying, don't waste your money on this one.

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN is a short story collection of some of the best works by Sharyn McCrumb. Most of the collection has been published elsewhere, but never in one book. The stories vary as they include suspense, relationship dramas, and deep characterizations that portray the people and land of the Southern Appalachian chain.

All the stories are quite good, especially the who-done-its. The relationship tales are also quite excellent. Tales like the honeymoon couple returning to his mountain roots ("Telling the Bees") or the marriage between a wannabe and a death row inmate ("Not All Brides Are Beautiful") are entirely different stories that share two things in common (along with some of the other stories): They are both extremely interesting and fun to read. This is a very diverse short story anthology from one of the best regional novelists today and is well worth reading.

Harriet Klausner

The books in Sharyn McCrumb's Appalachian Series are among my favorites, so I couldn't resist her collection of short stories. All are extremely well written. The stories are so varied that it's hard to believe the same person wrote them all. When I got to the end, I wanted to go back to the beginning and start all over again. The book fits my criterion for Superb; that is, I wish I could have written the stories. Even if you don't ordinarily like short stories, give this book a try.

A long time ago, my parents and I went to hear McCrumb give a reading at a local college and we were hooked by her storytelling. She shared quite a few of these short stories with us that night and when I re-discovered them in my parents' bookcases over Thanksgiving, I made sure I brought this one home. I love every single one of these stories. They are fun, interesting and reminds me that she is a wonderful storyteller. Sometimes, I feel as if story-telling is becoming a lost art especially since I don't like short stories. They're usually drab, unsatisfying and short. Not McCrumb's. These are wonderful.

Here are a few samples: "Telling the Bees" where a young groom takes his bride to his grandparents' home in the mountains, only to leave the next day to accomodate his very spoiled bride. You could feel her disdain for the ramshackled (but clean) cabin and her poutiness at breaking the heel of her expensive designer boot. You could feel his sadness at time passing and his disappointment that she wouldn't share in some of his fondest memories of growing up at his grandparents' place.

Then there's "Gentle Reader" where an author corresponds with a fan who absolutely loves every single one of her books. There is a twist in the story as she reveals more of her problems to this "gentle reader" and how he helped her out.

These are just two of my favorites ~~ there are stories of a funeral and different memories of the deceased from different members of the family, there are stories of murder, rage, love, passion and leaving or returning back to the homestead. These are just reflections of life everywhere, not just in the mountains. And they are wonderful short stories ~~ real and true to people. They are not drab. They are short (and there were some I wish was longer ...) but they're definitely not like modern short stories where they write to be artistic, not realistic.

McCrumb has already gotten my heart with her other stories and this one cinches the deal even more. It's a great introduction to her writings and it's definitely a keeper in any serious bookworm's library.

1-1-07

This is the first book of Ms. McCrumbs I have ever read. I found it highly entertaining. Every story was about a different subject!!! I know I will have to read more of her books in the future!

For anyone who has read her novels, this is Sharyn McCrumb at her best. For anyone who hasn't, it's a fine introduction to her work. Highly recommended.

The stories span a great part of the author's life and so some spin the tale better than others. Still, many display a wonderful gift of humor that is rarely found in the novels.

Quite by chance I picked up the audio version of Foggy Mountain Breakdown by Sharyn McCrumb and I was thoroughly delighted. Her characters seemed so alive and Sharon Gless's reading made it more so.