Redemption Mountain: A Novel
David and Goliath battle on the ugly field of Appalachian mountain-removal coal mining in this grim yet realistic, richly detailed first novel. Natty Oakes is a rural young wife and mother in Red Bone, West Virginia, who salves her wounded soul with daily runs in the beautiful landscape, escaping her abusive husband, her family’s land troubles, and the despair of a depressed region. Rich energy executive Charlie Burden is experiencing a crisis of self. He seems to have it all: perfect wife, sumptuous home, stupendous income, and ascending career trajectory. Yet it all lacks substance, and he finds himself traveling on business to Red Bone to rediscover himself. Natty and Charlie’s incongruous traits seem stacked against them, but each can offer something authentic to the other, right up to the unexpected ending. A diverse cast of characters adds plenty of color and subplots that enrich the overall theme. Recommended for readers who enjoy regional-interest as well as surprisingly character-driven stories in what is meant to be a thematic indictment of current environmental issues that have an all-too-human cost. --Julie Trevelyan