The Songcatcher (edition 2002)

It's been a while, so I might be wrong here. The way I remember it, there was stuff going in the book that never did make sense to me. ( )

Not a traditional mystery, more of a suspense story involving history, family dynamics, folk music and a touch of the supernatural, all set in east Tennessee and western North Carolina. Hard to put down. ( )

This was the first book in the Ballad series that I ever read - actually the first Sharyn McCrumb book in general that I've read and I just finished re-reading it for my bid to read the entire series in order from start to the end.

This book made me fall in love with Sharyn McCrumb. While it doesn't match the beauty of She Walks These Hills or The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, (I'm beginning to think that none can) it's still a wonderful work. I love how McCrumb takes one historical story and several contemporary plot threads and shows the same themes throughout otherwise unrelated threads. In this case, it's the concept of "home", or perhaps "you can't go home again".

While you can read each of these as a stand alone, reading this as part of a series helps you appreciate some of the plot threads better - especially that of the two deputies and Nora. IT was even better on the re-read with already knowing the background for some of these characters than when I read it the first time.

McCrumb does get a bit more preachy in this book than is her usual; there's a debate on the proper pronunciation of "Appalachian" and the types of people who don't conform to the local pronunciation, and several ideas like ballad collecting (and then copyrighting) being akin to strip mining. It's noticeable, but thankfully not very intrusive and rather thought provoking. ( )

This novel begins with a ballad, but does not tell the story behind the ballad. While we may not know at first how it fits into each of the multiple story threads, the chorus phrase keeps appearing as meaningful in the various character's lives,, along with another family phrase. McCrumb does a fantastic job of keeping us interested in the different characters in different times and locations, and tying them all together. The first McCourry to immigrate had a prophecy given him by the midwife using a magic stone--take note! the ballad mentions a stone, but that is not the storyline developed here (tho I'd be curious to hear about Nora's background)--and is conscious of its effects throughout his long life. Judge John Walker (born to a McCourry mother) & his housekeeper, Becky, may not be folks you'd have as best friends, but you can see why they act as they do, based on their life experiences. Folk singer Lark McCourry's experiences are linked to a Patsy Cline-like character, leaving us wondering at the outcome of her situation. Even the dead are characters in this book. Baird Christopher brings a humorous side story on the new rich coming to Appalachia, which also ties in well with Zeb's 1882 experiences with rich vacationers.
Real history is tied in to this story, which passes through both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, history that is much more meaningful when we see it's effects on individual's lives.

There are 1 or 2 times where a good editor might have eliminated duplicating background information, but all in all, very well written. I appreciated the cliffhanger at chapter end with LeDonne trapped alone in the wilderness and hearing a voice behind him. Then we must wait through the next chapters on Malcolm's life before we find out what happens. ( )

The author weaves a genealogical tale around songs that were handed down from generation to generation. Makes for interesting reading - and be sure to read the afterword. ( )