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Reply To: Ending?

Megan James — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 14:46:31 +0000

I also agree with both of you, I thought there was no way that things would have wrapped up so neatly. Hazard Flint would not have had such a major change of heart, anyone who could watch so many men get hurt or die can’t have much of a heart to begin with. But being able to let small children work in such dangerous conditions, watching them get maimed, killed, ground into machinery is a whole different level of heartlessness and greed.

Reply To: Ending?

Kelley O — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:19:15 +0000

I agree with Anne Goff, the change of heart at the end was completely unrealistic, as was the whole Clayton being the inheritor of the mine.

Reply To: Ending?

Anne Goff — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 22:30:45 +0000

The way everything came together at the end seemed not at all realistic to me. I didn’t really like the book, but the ending completely ruined it for me. I don’t think Hazard Flint would have turned everything over so easily. Then to find out the good looking, kind, near perfect mine worker actually inherited everything. Oh come on.

Ending?

Megan James — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:59:55 +0000

What did you think of the end of the book? Did it seem realistic that the owner would have such a change of heart after losing his son?

Reply To: Surprises

Megan James — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:57:51 +0000

I feel like with the other stuff going on towards the end of the book I wasn’t even really trying to figure out who was spying. I wasn’t totally surprised when they did reveal who the spy was or why he was hired though, it fit with with what the men in control were up to

Reply To: Surprises

Anne Goff — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 15:01:28 +0000

I hadn’t completely figured out who the spy was, but once revealed I wasn’t completely surprised. Once revealed I wasn’t surprised at who hired him either. That sort of subterfuge to discredit unions did happen.

Surprises

Courtney — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:42:15 +0000

I enjoyed the book and although I’d heard about the atrocities often inflicted upon the miners, Coal River certainly brought the lesson home.

I was not surprised to discover who the spy was but I had not determined who hired him. That was a surprise! Did that catch anyone else off guard?

Reply To: Should this book stay on the list?

Book Girls’ Guide — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:56:57 +0000

Thanks for that suggestion! Based on all this feedback, we’ll definitely replace Coal River, and I’ll add a Kathleen Shoop book to the list as a possible replacement!

Reply To: Should this book stay on the list?

Sandy Carowick — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 11:38:47 +0000

No, I didn’t feel this book was a good read. In fact, I didn’t finish it. There was just not enough story to it. I would suggest “After the Fog”, by Kathleen Shoop or one of her other novels set in PA.

Reply To: Should this book stay on the list?

Anne Goff — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:38:11 +0000

I concur with both Anita’s and Megan’s comments. I won’t report their issues with the book. It fits the challenge in terms of being set in Pennsylvania. It does give a rough idea of the horrors of early mining practices. But it is not a good book.