Nightwoods by Charles Frazier

Nightwoods is by the author of Cold Mountain, which I didn't read but saw as the movie, so wanted to read this book.

Luce is a recluse, living away from town in a ramshackle, now unused, forest holiday home in North Carolina a decade after World War II. We learn, slowly, about her family background, drip fed to us as the story unfolds and as each piece becomes important to our understanding of who Luce is and why she lives the way she does.

She 'inherits' 2 silent children and other characters join the cast as the tale progresses. Stubblefield, Bud and Lit - of them, too, we learn gradually and as the back story gathers pace. The children disappear as winter arrives, turning the forest into a place of ice and snow. They have a fascination with fire, but all they have with them is an old pony and some food. Pursuing them is a man bent on their destruction.

Charles Frazier is a master of delicate prose. He gives his characters voices in an unusual way, which enhances a feeling of slightly unworldliness his novel creates, perfectly in tune with the era and place. Beautifully written, Charles Frazier is a master of atmosphere and delicate balance. Recommended.