Cataloochee

“Caldwell writes with lyricism, precision, a hint of the gothic, and a sweet underlying humor that together makes his long story crackle and move. He captures the physical look and the rich language of this breathtaking mountainous country, and puts before us vivid new versions of an American type—hard, stoic, at home in isolation, courageous, pious, and strong—that is still an essential component of how we see ourselves.” —O, The Oprah Magazine

“That the central conflict of the novel—a patricide—does not arise until well near the end speaks to the strength of the rest of this sprawling saga, wherein moments of inspired tenderness abut moments of unspeakable vileness…Throughout, Caldwell’s prose weathers the bountiful yet perilous land with the measured resolve of an old folk balladeer.” —Booklist (starred review)

“A meandering and diverting collection of tangential yarns, Caldwell’s debut will find a spot on many readers’ shelves near Charles Frazier’s Thirteen Moons.” —Publishers Weekly

“Lovely and gently captivating…Caldwell resists the pull of nostalgia and roamnce, too, and he refuses to turn his characters into colorful, country-fried caricatures. They do speak in dialect, but it’s not a gimmick, and Caldwell’s narration is a beautifully modulated echo of their bluntly musical locution. The author also gives his character plenty of room to amble and grow, and they become the kind of people the reader misses when the last page is turned. A wonderful novel, and a first-rate debut.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“[Scott Sowers’] vernacular tone holds fast throughout, and his character portrayals help listeners imagine a place where people are land wise and world ignorant, where they are born and die in a community that imagines it will go on forever.” —AudioFile