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Above the Waterfall
Above the Waterfall: A Novel | Ron Rash
17 posts | 24 read | 17 to read
In this poetic and haunting tale set in contemporary Appalachia, New York Times bestselling author Ron Rash illuminates lives shaped by violence and a powerful connection to the land. Les, a long-time sheriff just three-weeks from retirement, contends with the ravages of crystal meth and his own duplicity in his small Appalachian town. Becky, a park ranger with a harrowing past, finds solace amid the lyrical beauty of this patch of North Carolina. Enduring the mistakes and tragedies that have indelibly marked them, they are drawn together by a reverence for the natural world. When an irascible elderly local is accused of poisoning a trout stream, Les and Becky are plunged into deep and dangerous waters, forced to navigate currents of disillusionment and betrayal that will force them to question themselves and test their tentative bondand threaten to carry them over the edge. Echoing the heartbreaking beauty of William Faulkner and the spiritual isolation of Carson McCullers, Above the Waterfall demonstrates once again the prodigious talent of a gorgeous, brutal writer (Richard Price) hailed as one of the great American authors at work today (Janet Maslin, New York Times).
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Jas16
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Pickpick

I want to delve into more of Rash‘s backlist since his latest book was one of my favorite reads of 2023. A sheriff on the verge of retirement becomes ensnared in one last case that complicates relationships important to him. This is my third book of his and the one I have liked the least but I am still so enamored with the way he writes. His characters were vivid as was the sense of place, I was just underwhelmed by the mystery at its center.

BarbaraBB I am going to read this author too because of you and @Megabooks reviews. I have The Caretaker on my shelves ! 9mo
Lauredhel A shame the mystery was disappointing, but I'm glad the rest was enjoyable. 9mo
Jas16 @BarbaraBB I really loved that book and hope that you do too. 9mo
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plemmdog
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Pickpick

This novel contains one of the most harrowing scenes in a meth house I‘ve read in fiction. And there‘s plenty of lyrical prose and an homage to Gerald Manley Hopkins. And that‘s why I read most everything Ron Rash authors.

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CaitZ
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Pickpick

This was grittier and at the same time more poetic than any book I've read. Set in North Carolina, during the last days before the sheriff retires it deals with drugs, corruption, loyalty, and greed. I'll definitely read more from this author.
#AppalachianNoir #Booked2021 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Cinfhen Glad you found a new series/author to discover 🥳 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I definitely want to read some Rash. Thanks for the review! 3y
TheSpineView I love Rash's book. Be sure to read before you see the movie. 3y
CaitZ @TheSpineView Serena sounds interesting. I'll make it the next one of his I read. 3y
32 likes4 comments
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Singout
Pickpick

Not a book or genre that I would‘ve picked if it wasn‘t for the challenge, but this was quite good. I liked how the writer interwove the personal struggles, including flashbacks to past traumas, of the main character retiring rural cop, the eco-activist, and the aging farmer, with the two crime threads of meth dealing and resort sabotage. The two voices, one gritty male and one poetic female, worked well in audio.
#Booked2021 #AppalachianNoir

Cinfhen So glad you enjoyed your choice 💚 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Sounds good!! 3y
Singout @Cinfhen That‘s one of the fun things about this! 3y
9 likes3 comments
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TheSpineView
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Eggs Perfection 💙💦🌲 3y
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TheSpineView
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻📚 ⛰ 3y
Eggs Beautiful 💙📚🤩 3y
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Halechr
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Pickpick

Very good, fast read! Perfect amount of mystery to keep you on your toes. I will be checking out more of Ron Rash‘s work that is for sure. I couldn‘t have been more pleased for a nice quick read before bed.

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Halechr
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For sure judged this book by the cover, can‘t wait to start reading and see what it‘s all about 😊

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JacintaMCarter
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Cinfhen I see I've previously stacked this book...it sounds promising 💖 7y
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Eyejaybee
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Pickpick

An utterly beautiful book. Rash writes with a clarity and elegance that are almost hypnotic. Read my goodreads review at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/28014642

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Eyejaybee
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A quite extraordinary novel, combining a poetic resonance from the landscape with a story of gritty crime in America's rural heartland.

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Qemorio
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Bookclub!

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Qemorio
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Panpan

I don't normally "pan" a book but this one was bad. The sheriff was ok but everyone else were cookie cutter cartoon characters and the woman's voice was condescending and phoned in, nothing more than a vehicle for pretty poetry. I did not believe the motivation of anyone. The meth bust was the best scene in the book but even then the build up to the microwave baby fell flat.

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Leelee08
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#bookshelfporn 📚📚📚

beaniebankbeth 😍😍😍🤓🤓🤓😲😲😲 That is all. 8y
See All 8 Comments
valeriegeary I want to go to there. 8y
Leelee08 @valeriegeary Meeeee too.🤓 8y
Jess_Read_This Omigosh, this is positively dreamy. So much library envy going on now....💕 8y
Faibka Love it!!!!! 🙀😍😍😍 8y
Gissy A dream come true 8y
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shawnmooney
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SharonGoforth Love Ron Rash! 8y
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SharonGoforth
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Picked these up at the bookstore this morning for vacation. I will be visiting my daughter and her family in North Carolina next week. Whenever I go there, I like to read Ron Rash, since NC is the setting for all of his books.

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meaghanecurry
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