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Rednecks
Rednecks: A Novel | Taylor Brown
4 posts | 6 read
A historical drama based on the Battle of Blair Mountain, pitting a multi-ethnic army of 10,000 coal miners against mine owners, state militia, and the United States government in the largest labor uprising in American history. Rednecks is a tour de force, big canvas historical novel that dramatizes the 1920 to 1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Warsfrom the Matewan Massacre through the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War, when some one million rounds were fired, bombs were dropped on Appalachia, and the term redneck would come to have an unexpected origin story. Brimming with the high stakes drama of Americas buried history, Rednecks tells a powerful story of rebellion against oppression. In a land where the coal companies use violence and intimidation to keep miners from organizing, Doc Moo" Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor (inspired by the authors own great-grandfather), toils amid the blood and injustice of the mining camps. When Frank Hugham, a Black World War One veteran and coal miner, takes dramatic steps to lead a miners' revolt with a band of fellow veterans, Doc Moo risks his life and career to treat sick and wounded miners, while Frank's grandmother, Beulah, fights her own battle to save her home and grandson. Real-life historical figures burn bright among the hills: the fiery Mother Jones, an Irish-born labor organizer once known as "The Most Dangerous Woman in America," struggles to maintain the ear of the miners ("her boys") amid the tide of rebellion, while the sharp-shooting police chief "Smilin" Sid Hatfield dares to stand up to the "gun thugs" of the coal companies, becoming a folk hero of the mine wars. Award-winning novelist Taylor Brown brings to life one of the most compelling events in 20th century American history, reminding us of the hard-won origins of today's unions. Rednecks is a propulsive, character-driven tale thats both a century old and blisteringly contemporary: a story of unexpected friendship, heroism in the face of injustice, and the power of love and community against all odds.
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review
Cathyloves2read
Rednecks: A Novel | Taylor Brown
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Mehso-so

Another book club read. It just wasn‘t for me. Maybe because I did it as an audio book? Maybe because I wasn‘t interested in the topic? Maybe I wasn‘t able to fully comprehend it due to current events? Either way, it was very well written and narrated. I did learn a thing or 2 about the unionization of coal mining. Just too many old western type shoot outs for me.

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Mpcacher
Rednecks: A Novel | Taylor Brown
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Pickpick

This historical fiction is set in 1920/21 & chronicles the real Battle of Blair Mountain, which was between the coal mines and the miners who were trying to improve the horrible conditions & unionize. The author has included real people & others inspired by real people. It is a very educational read but suffers a little due to keeping true to the real story and the number of characters. It is, however, a fascinating, albeit violent, story. 3.75/5

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TorieStorieS
Rednecks: A Novel | Taylor Brown
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Bailedbailed

Welp… my first bailed book of 2024… I hate to give up on a book, but this one just isn‘t for me! The description sounded so promising but the author‘s rather flowery prose didn‘t match the immediate violence throughout. And while I usually can stomach some grisly scenes, I need to care about the characters which didn‘t happen with the size of cast. They felt at a remove and the research bordered too closely to info-dumping to capture my interest.

dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 6mo
KadaGul There's no shame in bailing out. Love 😍 @dabbe # #Hailthebail🤣🤣 6mo
dabbe @KadaGul I see it as letting go of something that's holding you back and embracing all the other books that are waiting for you! #noshameindeed! 🤩😀😘 6mo
TorieStorieS @dabbe @KadaGul Thanks for the support to alleviate my guilt in bailing!! #HailTheBail is just fantastic!! 💗💗💗 6mo
dabbe @TorieStorieS 💙🩵💙 6mo
58 likes5 comments
review
Reecaspieces
Rednecks: A Novel | Taylor Brown
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Mehso-so
34 likes1 stack add