Ron Rash - Serena

Review by Corinna Christopher on show 2/9/10
SERENA by RON RASH
Ron Rash is a novelist and poet, author of 8 previous books in the U.SA.- this the first in the U.K. He lives in the Appalachian Mountains and the idea for this book came when he visited an area of forests where timber had been used to make various items of furniture. The story would be about a timber baron and although set in the past, he wished it to resonate with the concerns of the 21st century about the environment and our endangered natural world.

The year is 1929 and the setting North Carolina. George and Serena Pemberton are newly wed and about to start their life in the timberlands and forests of this beautiful land where George has a business felling trees. They arrive by train and waiting on the station platform is a young pregnant woman carrying the child of George Pemberton. This is Rachel and we follow her story throughout the book since her wellbeing is very much related to the Pembertons,

Serena is not like most women, tall, strikingly attractive and strong-willed with a charismatic personality. She oversees the timber crews and is much involved with the business. She tames a wild eagle to kill the rattlesnakes who cause many deaths and also saves her husband’s life in the wilderness.

Serena loses a child in childbirth and can have no more children, this fact has a bearing on all those around her. Their passionate marriage begins to deteriorate with an astonishing climax.

There are several other interesting characters in the book and the history of land development in this wild part of America with local entrepreneurs wishing to establish National Parks and thus alienate the local businesses is well-told. We are made aware that as the loggers progress from place to place they lay bare a desolate landscape.

Ultimately, Serena is a novel about the intertwined lives of 3 characters: Serena who is ruthless in wielding power inspiring both devotion and fear: her husband George a man who realises he is no match for his wife but wants a part of him to continue after his death, and Rachel a young woman whose love of her child makes her a person most capable of thwarting Serena’ will.

This is a good dramatic tale with confident language and plenty of tension, satisfying and captivating.
review by Corinna