Sumary of story by Doug Johnstone (Independent)
The Cove is set in the most remote part of Madison County in 1917, where Laurel and her brother Hank struggle to survive on a hardscrabble farmstead in a cove that barely seems to see the light of day. Hank has returned from the First World War missing a hand, while Laurel's port-wine stain birthmark sees her ostracised by locals who still cling to old folksy superstitions and think her a witch.
One morning, Laurel discovers a man in the woods near the farm, almost stung to death by a swarm of wasps. As she nurses him back to health, she discovers that the man – Walter – is mute and can't read or write, but can play the flute like an angel. When Walter recovers, he stays on the farm to help Hank with the chores, and Laurel begins to fall in love with him.
All this is set against a backdrop of small-town paranoia and hysteria. Members of the local town, whipped up by anti-German propaganda, seek to persecute anyone they suspect of spying for the enemy, and ludicrously pick on a local German-American professor at a nearby college.
Verdict: While some may love the poetic prose in parts of this book, the story itself is quite slow and uneventful until the last two chapters and it is unlikely to hold the attention of a class of second level students. The backdrop of WW1 and the suspicion surrounding anyone of German heritage living in America at the time, is secondary to the main story of the unfolding love between Laurel and the mystery man. The story is not written in a way which would grab or hold the interest of many students unless they already have a love of poetic prose.
I read Ron Rash's The Cove recently and I initially found it so hard to get into. It is very drawn-out and although the author excels (in parts) at writing nice descriptions of nature etc, I found it a struggle to keep going past the first few chapters. The story just isn't interesting enough. I can't see my students enjoying a book like this -it's not pitched for young people anyway. More a book for adult female readers I would think.....
Kathy C., Teacher Co. limerick
My 17yr old son picked this up to read (He is an avid, advanced reader) and didn't bother to finish it. I don't think this book is suitable or interesting enough for teens. The only 'exciting' part is at the very end of the book when all the action happens, but you have to wade through the rest of the book first......
Karen L, Co. Wexford
The characters in Ron Rash's The Cove, are not developed enough for us to feel huge sympathy for them. There are not enough themes in this book to merit study at school. Some parents might not feel happy about the sex scenes although they are not too graphic.
James M. parent & teacher