The Red Cotton Fields - newly edited edition (The Red Cotton Fields series book one 1)

This book is somewhat different from other civil war stories I have read. What a picture of people and circumstances of the times. One serious drawback however is the need for editing, especially use of the tenses...look at the word lied which is used many times...it means expressing untruth but was never used in that sense in the book.

First off, let me say that most authors in this country would’ve never attempted to write a novel like this one. They wouldn’t have the courage to tell a story where racial epithets are throughout the entire 600 plus page book. The offensive language is true to the time period. These parts of history most people would prefer that they remain unacknowledged, and these same people will resent this author for bringing such matters to light. Readers wishing for a romanticized lament for “the lost cause” will be equally resentful. Neither the Union soldiers, nor Confederates were men of honor who observed the gentlemanly rules of warfare. The soldiers on both sides plunder, kill, and torture their captives. The characters in this novel are taken into a new territory of their very soul, where they find other versions of themselves. Also, “ The Red Cotton Fields,” provides an answer that is neither nihilistic nor sentimental and is sometimes contradicted in the novel itself, but nevertheless is one that I find satisfying and true to the complexity of the human heart.The horror of war is vividly rendered. This is not a book for the fainthearted. Men kill and are killed, and the reader is spared few details. But amid the carnage there are moments of lyrical wonder and beauty and unbounded tenderness. I especially like the timing of the more intimate confrontations between the two main characters, Holly and Bart. The similes are colorful but they fit the characters rural background perfectly. Beauty and wonder yet abide in the novel’s world.Michael Strickland like most of the better artist’s, is an outlier. His quest in, “The Red Cotton Fields,” is to render the world as it was, and not as we wish it to have been. I thought that the pace was perfect, the memorable characters were amazing with the seamless meshing of his imagination. The editing could use some work, but I wouldn’t dare let that stand in the way of a magnificent story. I see complaints about spelling, and they couldn't finish the book, but still gave a review as if they read the book. ROFLMAO! Thank goodness we didn’t have the grammar nazi’s in Mark Twain’s day. I might not have ever picked up a book because of all the criticism. Bravo! Michael Strickland!

I love anything and everything Civil War, the Red Cotton Fields did not disappoint. Relive, yet again, the old south.

Superb story . loved every bit of it . the stories of how the southern girls were raised and the pain and poverty of the slaves wil! Never leave me. What a good book. So glad Bart became rich and stood up for the under dogs. .

Will hardly be able to put down. Love, deceit,death....and a narrow escape from a war torn country. Stirring the imagination of how difficult this season of life was. Excellent writing.

!over the book. As good as Gone With The wind. I love an epic story. Looking forward to the next in the series, starting it right now.

I felt as though I was living in the state of Georgia just before the Civil War. I would recommend this book to anyone to enjoys a story about the South and plantation life.

I've never anyone who knew less about the verbs lie,lay,laid. Who ever said Holly lied down. Or Bart lied him down????

I was greatly disappointed with this book, it failed the story line description with its claims of becoming a classic, a Mills & Boon classic is probably what they meant, but that aside the main issue was the continued racism throughout ; at no point in the book was there any positives about the black slave every one of the black characters were portrayed as being stupid, brainless and totally subservient, yes I understand that's that's how the white's perceived the " Negro" at that time in the South and the author was applying this to the story, but even the main black character failed to have any real acknowledgment as having the same intelligence as his white 'friend' which for me was a massive failure and a missed opportunity to show the black slave, when give the opportunity, is as an equal, unfortunate the author perpetuated the stereotype of the slave to the enth degree, we all no the reason why the black slave didn't put up much outward protests to their situation but this was papered over and this really did spoil my reading of the book

Wow, that was a marathon! Interesting and fascinating book!So much crammed in, a whole Lifetime! The dates and timelines didn't seem to match, but the Story was good, leaving you wanting to know, what happened NEXT.....Reminding me of the never ending bedtime story my Dad used to make-up everynight...... Always left YOU wanting More!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.It was well laid out and easy to read.The story of the characters from each family blended well together and tells of the hardship and heartache of living in the 18 hundreds.

i really enjoyed this book. it is set during the civil war and tells the story of 2 families; the master and the servant family as well as the impact of their actions, as well as that of the civil war, upon the slave families working in the masters red cotton fields. It is far reaching spanning America, UK and Australia and is fast paced enough to keep you reading. It made a nice change.

Well what can I say, this is one of the best book's I have read in a long time. Being a book i had has a free download the length of the book was long but I still could of kept reading more. The way the author described everything I could feel my self standing there with the family's. Make this book one of your must reads, you will not be disappointed. Well done to the author on wonderful book. Xx