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Liked It “An engaging and rewarding novel covering the lingering impact on a rural Pennsylvania community of a coal mining disaster and the pathways to recovery that people take. Ivan Z. lost his Ukrainian immigrant father in the mine explosion which killed nearly 100 others. His success as a football...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “back roads is one of my favorite books, so i expected so much in this one. coal run has the familiar elements of back roads (coal-mining community, sibling relationship, domestic violence), but it just wasn't believable, especially in regard to the male protagonist voice. imagine that you're a...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“An engaging and rewarding novel covering the lingering impact on a rural Pennsylvania community of a coal mining disaster and the pathways to recovery that people take. Ivan Z. lost his Ukrainian immigrant father in the mine explosion which killed nearly 100 others. His success as a football hero in school and college was cut short by an accident that damaged his leg, and now, after a 15 year interlude in Florida, he returns to the town of Coal Run where he takes a position as a deputy sheriff. The narrative explores his efforts to achieve balance in his life though his relationships with his big-hearted sister, who has three children from different fathers, a mentor from youth who lost a leg in Vietnam, and a doctor who knows all the dark family secrets of the town . Ivan’s positive efforts to be a good uncle to his nephews, to help with his friend’s domestic violence issues, and to initiate a new relationship with a woman doctor are undermined by his own dark secret from his youth and his hidden plans to deal with the impending release of a man whose abuse put his wife into a coma. O’Dell manages these themes with great compassion, humor, and life affirming character development. The book is a strong follow up to her excellent “Back Roads”. ”
Michael E wrote this review Saturday, March 10, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“4 STARS A great follow up novel! Set in a small coal mining town about it's dysfunctional people.”
Kris wrote this review Wednesday, November 9, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Wow - the kind of book you want to call in sick for, in order to curl up under the covers on a rainy day and finish every last word of. Awesome characters - terrific plot and descriptions of a PA coal mining town past its glory.”
Val B wrote this review Tuesday, September 27, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“So bummed! This story didn't move me like Back Roads did. From the start, the protagonist spoke to me as a female instead of as the male football player he was suppose to be. Yet, the story was interesting and I wanted to read to the end. I don't think she embraced the coal mines and western PA like should could have. They were dropped in here and there when they actually could could have been a character as well. I wont recommend it like I did her first first novel.”
Sandy B Groovy wrote this review Saturday, September 3, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I loved Back Roads, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on more of Tawni O'Dell's novels. I really enjoyed this book and stayed up very late finishing it. I wish it had been longer so more of the plot points could have been resolved or come to some sort of closure, but I really enjoyed her book. On to the next!”
Amy wrote this review Thursday, April 7, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“back roads is one of my favorite books, so i expected so much in this one. coal run has the familiar elements of back roads (coal-mining community, sibling relationship, domestic violence), but it just wasn't believable, especially in regard to the male protagonist voice. imagine that you're a guy who slept with a virgin, and thinking afterwards that you had just "destroyed" her. that's just female thinking, imo. and i find that the male protagonist isn't really sympathetic.”
katherine s wrote this review Monday, January 3, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was a story that could have gone on longer. There was not enough closure on the storyline. I couldn't figure out the main character.”
Rhonda S wrote this review Monday, October 4, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Good read about a small town with such flavor and interesting characters Wow! Enjoyed this book immensely. ”
robin s wrote this review Saturday, September 18, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I like O'dell's Back Roads; I enjoyed this one too.”
Lisa S.T. wrote this review Monday, August 2, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This one caught me from the first sentence. I couldn't put it down. The story only takes place over the span of one week and is set in rural central PA. I'm always amazed when a writer of the opposite sex can get so inside of another gender in such a convincing and realistic manner.”
K A W wrote this review Monday, July 12, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
