Jeremy Lukens

Charles Frazier's second novel is much more than the story of a white man growing up with the Cherokee, falling in and out of love,fighting for survival and trying to make sense of a changing world. In the book, the mountains of western North Carolina are just as much of a character as Will Cooper, Claire, or Bear. Frazier's poetic prose and his depiction of the intertwining and competing cultures is a splendid read.

A powerful and heartbreaking tale of two women struggling to survive and find happiness during the most tumultuous periods of Afghanistan. With war raging outside, Mariam and Laila faced an even more brutal existence within their own homes. The novel serves not only as a tale of caution, but also as a testament of the ability to persevere in horrifying circumstances.