Thirteen Moons: A Novel

Thirteen Moons is a most extraordinary story, set before, during, and after the Civil War (War Between the States, for you Southerners). The action takes place mostly on the frontier of the day, in the Smokey Mountains and environs. The plot is excellent, combining a tale of survival, with history and discovery. There are few books that include the Cherokee point of view, as well invading immigrants' activities. It had me completely absorbed, and resenting intrusions, like eating, etc.

THIRTEEN MOONS is a delicious read--one to slowly savor and enjoy, like letting dark chocolate melt on your tongue. Charles Frazier is a masterful writer. If you're looking for historical fiction of most excellent quality written in beautiful language, this book will not disappoint.

The story was so well written with excellent character development, interesting historical information and an unusual plot. Sometimes the tragic parts of the story, particularly the plight of the Indians, dragged me down but that's the way it was. Thank you, Mr. Frazier!!!

highest level of language skills. insight into exceptional chapters of the American/Indian encounters in the East. You can weep with passion feeling the loss of lives and indigenous culture; you can enjoy the strength of character, the wit, the tragedies in the main characters.

Frazier's characters are so real in their actions and intentions that you feel you know them like your own relatives once you finish the book.
The story, which seems a little less important than the person telling it, winds around the characters as they travel along their individual paths and the paths can only be understood in the light of the intentions and failings of the characters.
This is superb literature

After Cold Mountain I was sure that Thirteen Moons would be my read of the year. Unfortunately, it fell extremely short of being even a good read. I couldn't wait for it to be finished. I think the author attempted to be too sophisticated and svelte to really convey what should have been a heart-tugging and compassionate telling of the plight of the Indian Nation of the Smokey Mountains, especially the Cherokee. I felt he was writing more for an R Rated Hollywood script potential than for a much anticipated follow-on to Cold Mountain, an outstanding book by the way. Could have been another Cold Mountain but ended up, for me, a cold turkey.

After Cold Mountain I was sure that Thirteen Moons would be my read of the year. Unfortunately, it fell extremely short of being even a good read. I couldn't wait for it to be finished. I think the author attempted to be too sophisticated and svelte to really convey what should have been a heart-tugging and compassionate telling of the plight of the Indian Nation of the Smokey Mountains, especially the Cherokee. I felt he was writing more for an R Rated Hollywood script potential than for a much anticipated follow-on to Cold Mountain, an outstanding book by the way. Could have been another Cold Mountain but ended up, for me, a cold turkey.

I had read Cold Mountain and when Frazier did another book I had to get it. Like Cold Mountain, it is sad. I suppose that what happened to the Indians being routed out of their homes and moved west was just a story until you read this heart breaking tale of what happened. Frazier makes all the details come alive. Certainly worth reading.

Since Cold Mountain is one of my favorite books in recent memory, I was expecting the same long, descriptive and provacative passages in Thirteen Moons. I was sadly disappointed to the point I almost didn't finish the book. It did not hold my interest. The story jumped around a lot and I thought the character development was weak. I did not get the feeling of time and place when reading this novel. Maybe it's not fair to compare his sophomore effort with Cold Mountain, but it seemed like some one other than Frazier wrote Thirteen Moons.

I truly like Charles Fraizer's books. I have read his other books and always waiting for another one to come out. It is very discriptive and if you try you can feel like you are right there in the book. I personnally like the CD to listen to on a long trip, makes the trip seem like it is going faster. I have never been disappointed with his books.

The early reviews knocking Thirteen Moons were off the mark. I think the reviewers did not understand the culture of the times and simply missed many of the subtle points Frazier makes. Sort of like a non-golfer reviewing a golf book and missing the point of "chunking a shot".

I snapped this book up because I loved Cold Mountain, but this book just isn't of that caliber. One of the notes on the back cover supplies the adjectives "heart-stopping" and "spellbinding", but I didn't find that to be true in my reading experience. It has a couple of good moments, but overall I would describe it instead as "wandering" and "a bit dull."