When I looked at this book, I immediately knew that it wasn’t going to be easy to finish. The book was enjoyable, but I would not read it again because it was difficult for me to get into and connect with. However, Charles Frazier did a wonderful job of telling the journey of Inman and Ada. Also, it was refreshing to see how he wrote about Civil War without the war being the main subject. I think the reason I didn’t fall in love with this book was because Frazier’s style of writing either bored me or lost me.
Some people might like how he describes every little detail, but it was something I couldn’t get over. I would just think about how small the chapters could’ve been if he didn’t drone on with describing everything. Even right into the beginning of the book I lost focus, and I had to go back to reread things. Nevertheless, I did notice other things above his use of descriptions. His use of symbolism throughout the novel was diligently placed.
Frazier utilized how people interpret the crow and turned it into something different. Normally, the crow represents death, bad luck, or evil. However, for each main character the crow meant something different to them. Inman’s crow comes around in his darkest moments, and they remind him of what can be when he gets to Ada. For Ada, the crows represented Inman, and they helped her change view of the things around her. Lastly, Ruby viewed crows as independence, and they were like a role model to her because she never had her father in her life much. The crow played such an important role in the story, and it helped incorporate themes of Native American stories.
I noticed that crossing and forked roads appear in Inman’s journey. He has to choose what road to take, and he has to make decisions. For example, he had to decide whether to leave Veasey by himself or not. In addition to detail, the colors black and white played a role in both Inman’s and Ada’s journey. The color black symbolized life, and the color white represented death. Ada saw a figure in the well that was black, and that figure represented Inman’s life and return. Inman’s last moment was spent dying, and he saw black crows in a white oak tree.
The strength Inman had to travel back home was admirable. Even though he would run into bad people, there was always someone he met that pushed him through and helped him. His journey was truly the American Odyssey. I can see why people do praise this book, and why it’s one of their favorites. Although I don’t particularly like the book, I would consider it to be a classic. My mom watched the movie, and said she enjoyed it. I don’t think I’m going to watch the movie because I don’t want to watch the same things that I’ve read and didn’t really enjoy. The thing that grinned my gears the most was his death.
How can you put a man through that much stuff, and then have him die in the end. On top of that, the guy had a kid, and doesn’t even get to hold her because freaking Charles Frazier kills him before he gets the chance. Inman literally survived a neck wound when everyone thought he would die. Probably another reason why I didn’t like the book that much. I know it’s normal for the main character to be killed off, but to even put so much effort into that character and decide to cut him, is so crazy. I commend Frazier for being brave enough to do that. I bet it wasn’t easy to do that to Inman. I just can’t get over it because it’s not pointless to do it, but I feel that it’s like a taboo thing to do to a main character. Many authors do things drastic like killing off the lead, but it doesn’t sit well with me. A little excited to meet him, so that I can maybe find out why he decided to kill off Inman. Maybe Frazier should have chose the other side of the forked road.