Review: Daughters Of Green Mountain Gap by Teri M. Brown
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Daughters Of Green Mountain Gap is a not-to-be-missed multi-generational family saga! Readers are transported to a different era and location while meeting and getting to know the amazing McCoury women as they grapple with survival in the Appalachians. Amidst internal conflicts and familial discord, they confront various challenges including racism, mysterious illnesses, local traditions, and disputes within the family.
Synopsis Of Daughters Of Green Mountain Gap
The enthralling story of three generations of women from the McCoury family in North Carolina, set around the turn of the 20th century. The story focuses on Maggie McCoury, a healer who draws her knowledge from family customs and Cherokee insights. Her daughter, Carrie Ann, however, puts her faith in her academic education, causing tensions as they debate over natural remedies versus modern medicine. Amidst this, Josie Mae, caught in the middle, struggles to choose a path. The plot thickens when neither traditional wisdom nor scientific methods can rescue their dearest ones.
This novel delves deep into the lives of Maggie, Carrie Ann, and Josie Mae, exploring themes of racial prejudice, resistance to change, the fading of long-held customs, and complex family relationships. Teri M. Brown masterfully portrays the challenges and dilemmas they face, highlighting that some dilemmas are not as straightforward as they may seem.
My Review – Daughters Of Green Mountain Gap
This poignant tale unfolds across generations, focusing on the lives of three women in rural North Carolina as the nineteenth century draws to a close.
Maggie McCoury, revered as a Granny Woman, is renowned throughout Green Mountain Gap for her extensive knowledge of plants and herbal remedies. Much of her healing wisdom is acquired from a local Cherokee medicine man. Despite the townspeople’s wary attitude towards the Cherokee, they value Maggie’s healing prowess.
Her daughter, Carrie Ann, however, harbors skepticism towards her mother’s methods, secretly blaming her for her father’s death. Carrie Ann, trained as a nurse, is driven to introduce scientific medicine to Green Mountain Gap.
Contrasting her mother’s stance, Josie Mae, Carrie Ann’s daughter, admires her grandmother’s abilities and aspires to emulate her. The story navigates the delicate interplay of their relationships amidst the ever-present threats of illness and death, highlighting the tension between traditional beliefs and emerging scientific understanding.
The characters: I loved the strong female characters of the McCoury family. I thought they were engaging and authentic.
The setting: The setting of rural North Carolina provided an interesting backdrop for the story that unfolded with the McCoury women.
Daughters of Green Mountain Gap was an interesting and compelling read, with its exploration of a pivotal era in history, eloquently illustrating the profound divide between science and deep-seated faith in aiding others. Authored by the talented Teri M. Brown, the book is a seamless blend of engaging storytelling and vivid descriptions, transporting readers into the heart of an Appalachian mountain community and a Cherokee village where Maggie continues her learning journey.
What truly brings this novel to life, however, are the compelling characters of the McCoury family. Each woman in the family, with her unwavering convictions, contributes to a portrayal of family dynamics that resonate with authenticity. The narrative skillfully reveals that beneath their conflicts over personal beliefs, there exists a deep, underlying bond of love. The richly crafted characters engage the reader’s empathy and curiosity, making their stories and convictions deeply meaningful and relatable.
Read, Reread, Or Reconsider?
My three Rs of book reviews. Should you read, reread, or completely reconsider reading Daughters of Green Mountain Gap by Teri M. Brown?
A definite read!
Final Thoughts About Daughters Of Green Mountain Gap
This book masterfully captures the intricate family relationships spanning three generations of women, with every aspect of it penned impeccably. Daughters of Green Mountain Gap is a must-read for anyone, deserving a prime spot on the reading list of anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
If you haven’t yet read author Teri M. Brown‘s previous outstanding books, you might want to have a look at those as well. Here are my previous reviews of her earlier books:
