Member: scribblegirl

Hello, Hilary. Just wanted you to know that my daughter, a third-grade teacher in western South Carolina, began "Mudbound" on Saturday, two days before the beginning of a new school year. I spoke with her last night, eager to hear how her first day was. Her opening comment was, "Mom, before we talk about school I have to tell you - I cannot put "Mudbound" down! I've got to finish it before my work really kicks in or I'm going to be in trouble..."

I enjoyed the book as well and send you many congrats on a spectacular debut. Hope you're busy working on your second novel. Best, Book Bully

posted by BookBully at 1:30 pm (EST) on Aug 18, 2009

Hi Hilary -- I just wanted to thank you for your engaging company in the dinner sponsored by Odyssey Bookshop last night. I got an emergency call in between the dinner and the reading, so I had to leave unexpectedly and never had the opportunity to say my proper goodbyes and wish you well on your next book.

In any event, I really enjoyed meeting you and as you know I'm a huge fan of "Mudbound". Check out the reviews for "Mudbound" on LT and you'll notice that I am not alone!

http://www.librarything.com/work/4061753...

Here's a few books I mentioned to you last night that you may want to check out:

"Feather Crowns" -- Bobby Ann Mason (superb Southern voice)
"A Chain of Voices" -- Andre Brink -- (one of my top novels of all time!)

And when you are in the mood to dip back into Flannery O'Connor for a wicked little piece of short fiction, read "Good Country People"

When you are able to tackle another Cormac McCarthy book after "The Road", definitely read "The Crossing" -- not as dark as his other stuff in some ways and a stand-alone piece of great American literature.

On the futuristic semi post-apocalyptic front, my "Books & Beer Club" selection this month is "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson, which I am only 50 pages into but is very fast-paced & entertaining and seems to have a cult following.

Again, kudos for writing an excellent first novel and for the good fortune that so many people have happened upon it and love it as much as I do! If you have any extra ARC's on hand when the new novel comes out, I would be honored to read it.

Maybe we'll see you again the next time you are at Odyssey!

Ciao!

Stan Prager AKA Garp83

posted by Garp83 at 8:18 am (EST) on Apr 17, 2009

Hi Hilary -- I had planned to attend the reading at Odyssey anyway, but coincidentally I am one of the ten who won the chance to join you for dinner, as well, so I'll see you then!

rgds,

Stan AKA Garp83

posted by Garp83 at 7:49 pm (EST) on Apr 13, 2009

Hi,

I have just this minute finished Mudbound and wanted to write and congratulate you on the book.

I found myself reading faster as the book went on, carried along by the tension as the inevitable came closer. I found the book even more compelling because you used multiple narrators, and so it felt like everything was being corroborated and that there was space for a reader to form opinions based on the events.

Thank you for a wonderful read.

Tracey

posted by Traceygilbert at 3:10 am (EST) on Apr 1, 2009

Hi Hilary -- It's great to find you are LibraryThing!

I am a member of the Signed First Edition Book Club at Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley MA and as you probably know "Mudbound" was a recent selection that found its way into my home.

I just wanted to drop a note and let you know that I really enjoyed your book. So few contemporary fiction books today are both well-written and compelling reading. You know, if the story isn't interesting, who cares? I loved Faulkner (especially Sound & the Fury + Absalom, Absalom!) & Styron(especially Confessions of Nat Turner + Lie Down in Darkness), but I never could understand why anyone rated Henry James so high. Anyway, you wrote a great novel and I hope to read more of your work going forward.

I notice that two books that we share in our libraries are "The Handmaid's Tale" and "The Left Hand of Darkness" -- both among my top sci-fi/fiction books of all time, although I think LeGuin's "Lathe of Heaven" outranks even these.

If you ever in Western Mass again, please do let me know.

posted by Garp83 at 11:02 pm (EST) on Jan 22, 2009

Hi Hillary,

Just wanted to say a quick note of thanks for Mudbound. I thought this book was fantastic, very moving, and was a compelling read. A real gem.

Ruth

posted by Book_Junkie at 9:45 am (EST) on Nov 23, 2008

After I read your book, I recommended it to our book group. Presently, we read softcovers so we will have it on our list in 2009. I look forward to the opportunity to re-read it.

After living in the South from 1982-1998, I felt I knew some of the characters in your book; unfortunately, they still exist.

Thank you for writing an exquisite book that still lingers in my mind. I also wrote to Algonquin Books asking for a paperback release date so that I could recommend your book for Saratoga Reads 2010. I also learned about Algonquin books from the South, and not a one has been a disappointment.

Anxiously awaiting your next book!!

All the very best,
Irene

posted by saratoga99 at 2:17 pm (EST) on Nov 2, 2008

You're very welcome Hillary - I truly enjoyed reading your book!

Take Care,
Lisa

posted by Lamos_FL at 7:55 pm (EST) on Oct 12, 2008

Here's a link to my review of MUDBOUND. Thank you for such a wonderful book! Can't wait to see what's next!

http://southerngal-lisa.blogspot.com/200...

All Best,
Lisa
Books and Cooks

posted by Lamos_FL at 9:17 am (EST) on Sep 15, 2008

Thank you for writing Mudbound. It was one of the best books I've read and I highly recommended it to all my reading friends. I passed my copy to my son who is a high school history teacher. He was as enthralled with it as I was. The writing was fantastic and flowed beautifully, like watching an excellent play.

Again, thank you! Rebecca

posted by readingrebecca at 12:56 am (EST) on Sep 15, 2008

I started reading Mudbound a few days ago and I can't put it down! I am completely engrossed in the story and absolutely LOVE the way you write. You are a wonderful storyteller! The book is amazing. I'm so glad I gook my friends recommendation here on LT. I'm anxious to see what you come out with next.
All Best,
Lisa

posted by Lamos_FL at 7:56 pm (EST) on Sep 10, 2008

I just stumbled on your profile page, hadn't realized you were an LT author. I read Mudbound last month and thought it was fabulous! It will probably make my top books of the year. Thanks for sharing that story with the world. What's next?

posted by teelgee at 1:21 am (EST) on Jul 25, 2008

What a wonderful surprise to discover you were on Library Thing! I was lucky enough to be an early reviewer for Harper Collins Canada. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Review posted on Library Thing and all major online bookseller.

Looking forward to whatever you write next....

http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.c...

Luanne

posted by Twink at 7:53 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2008

Thank you for Mudbound. It was riveting and difficult to put down once begun. Please keep on writing! I have recommended it to all my friends, which is not something I do lightly...or often.

posted by pdebolt at 11:58 pm (EST) on Jun 22, 2008

Mudbound is one of the best novels I've read recently. I plan to recommend it to all my friends. Congratulations and thanks.

posted by ghefferon at 11:34 pm (EST) on May 31, 2008

Absolutely LOVED Mudbound! I wrote a booktalk that will appear in five different north Mississippi newspapers. Little local stuff, but I'm getting the word out. To compare your work to TKaM is wrong. I found it more along the vain of Flannery O'Connor's short stories and Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell. Please, write more! :D

posted by maggiereads at 12:28 am (EST) on Apr 18, 2008

I read your book as in Early Reviewer and it was good to hear you on NPR this morning! The book seems to be getting good publicity. Congrats!

posted by zhejw at 1:04 pm (EST) on Mar 14, 2008

Hi,

I thought mudbound was a fantastic book... couldn't stop reading it once i started.. It made me cry a lot!!!!

the part i related to the most was where laura made herself into Henry's girl.. ie, she changed herself to make him happy.. how true it is that we (as women) so often do that..

great job!!!

Jen

posted by elscorcho at 1:51 am (EST) on Dec 23, 2007