Book Reviews
"Overview"
By utilizing a sophisticated text analysis program
created by a social neuroscience postdoctoral scholar named Mark Allen
Thornton, there was a system discovered which accurately interprets a writer's
style by sorting through each and every layer of their work. When comparing “In
the Hills of Tennessee” to the works of seven-hundred and twenty prolific
authors, this program revealed a great deal about Rick Revel's meticulous
approach. According to the analysis, Revel's flow in storytelling is an
impressive comparative mixture to that of Mark Twain and Stephen Crane. Skilled
with the flair of satisfying the readers' thirst for ample storytelling, he
consumes them in an era for which they romanticize and express longing to
visit. He also gives D. H. Lawrence a run for his money in terms of story
structure and colloquial language, as well as having a penchant for being
incredibly detailed. After entering various sections of the book into the
program eight separate times, then finally the entire first book, Crane was
unveiled to be the prominent comparison. Being that as it may, if John Marshall
and Bertrand Russell were still here today, having been two of historical
writings' beloved authors, they could also read "In the Hills of
Tennessee" and draw strong correlations to Revel's methodology.
"The Top Ten Comparisons"
1. Stephen Crane wrote “The Red Badge of Courage” and several other books about the Civil War.
2. John Marshall wrote the five-volume series, “The Life of George Washington”.
3. Bertrand Russell wrote “Why Men Fight” and other books of historical fiction.
4. D. H. Lawrence is famous for his quotes and novels such as “Sons and Lovers”.
5. G. K. Chesterton wrote “The Man Who Knew Too Much”.
6. Rudyard Kipling wrote “The Jungle Book”.
7. Phillip K. Dick wrote the alternative historic fiction novel “The Man in the High Castle”.
8. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the Sherlock Holmes series.
9. Washington Irving wrote “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”.
10. Mark Twain wrote “Tom Sawyer”
Mark Allen Thornton is a social neuroscience postdoc at Princeton University. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard.
"In the Hills of Tennessee: The Uncivil War"
Book Review by Brett Moffatt
Rick Revel has given us an exciting story of war-torn Tennessee. It is a story of family, friends, and community in the best agrarian tradition. The story takes place, for the most part, in 1862. The last sentence does not neatly tie up the story, but leaves a hint of more to come. The Chronicles of Captain Jack Hinson appears at the top of the cover, as if denoting a series. Hopefully a sequel is in the works.
The story is loosely based on Hinson, his family, their Bubbling Springs Plantation and their Stewart County neighbors. Dover was the center of the community, and is a well-drawn word picture in many scenes of the book. Historical figures, such as Nathan Bedford Forrest, Senator John Bell, U.S. Grant and Gideon Pillow make appearances, and interact with characters in the book, but their actions and conversations are fictional. Though fictional, they were in the area and some of their historical actions are described.
The characters are well developed, and easy to like, or hate. The sense that people are part of the community, and live their lives as integral parts of that community, is felt as the story develops. The story catches your attention, and keeps the reader turning page after page to see what comes next, up to the final scenes. It is a hard book to put down.
The details of everyday life are well researched and add to the sense the reader is experiencing life in antebellum Tennessee. The traditions, some of which can still be found in those living close to the land, take us back to a time when conversation and music enriched lives before electronic media. And by music, I mean the fiddle, guitar, banjo and singing, not the latest downloaded noise. Young people of the period seem to mature and take on responsibilities at a much younger age than the young people of our age. Survival, and the everyday actions which insured it, was of much more import than what we encounter in our times.
Some of the language and situations might not be appropriate for younger readers. This is a time of war, destruction, and an occupying Yankee army (read rape, pillage and plunder). The realities of such times of terror seem remote from us, but the records, diaries and letters of so many Southern families attest to what happened in that dark period of our history. This book is a treat for readers, and hopefully the first of many from this author.
Author: Rick Revel Publisher: Bellum Historia Publishing/Premium Press America www.rickrevel.com Hardback $35.00
Reviewed by Brett Moffatt, Confederate Veteran Magazine, September/October 2019
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