Set in northern Vermont in 1930, On Kingdom Mountain is the story of Miss Jane Hubbell Kinneson. She is a renowned local bookwoman, eccentric bird ...
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Sep 24, 2008
Jami
rated it: 
Ugh. This book was just okay. I kind of forced myself to finish it just to find out how the "mystery" of the story ended. The frustrating thing about the book was that after introducing the so-called mystery, absolutely nothing happens for about 200 pages.
Also, all the weird names really bugged me. I know it's supposed to be 1930 Appalachia, but come on --Freethinker, Pilgrim, Seth, Pharoah's Daughter?? (Okay, so "Seth" isn't that weird. Just shows the autho More...
Also, all the weird names really bugged me. I know it's supposed to be 1930 Appalachia, but come on --Freethinker, Pilgrim, Seth, Pharoah's Daughter?? (Okay, so "Seth" isn't that weird. Just shows the autho More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Karen
rated it: 
A wonderful and quirky novel set in Northern Vermont in 1930 featuring a fascinating 50 year old woman with all her interesting characteristics. This is a novel packed with entertaining personages and generations of weird behavior. Thoughtful yet lots of fun.
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Jan 21, 2010
Tony
rated it: 
Set in northern Vermont in 1930, On Kingdom Mountain recounts the life and times of Miss Jane Hubbell Kinneson. A renowned local bookwoman and bird carver, she is the sole proprietor and last resident of a remote and wild mountain situated on the U.S.–Canadian border, now threatened by the “Connector,” a proposed new highway over her mountain. Abounding with Howard Frank Mosher’s trademark action scenes, from daring bank robberies to outrageous comedy to a passionate and surprising love affair,
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Mar 29, 2009
Cydnie
rated it:
I found it interesting to read the reviews of this book on Goodreads. People either really liked, or didn't. I find myself in the second category. I bought this book at the library because the synopsis sounded interesting. My 14-year-old even thought he might be interested. WRONG!!
I kept reading just to see if it got any better. The climax was even anti-climatic! All of a sudden the mystery was solved!
Jane is a 50-year-old woman who has lived her entire life on Kingd More...
I kept reading just to see if it got any better. The climax was even anti-climatic! All of a sudden the mystery was solved!
Jane is a 50-year-old woman who has lived her entire life on Kingd More...
Aug 16, 2008
Rachel
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 21, 2011
Beverly
rated it:
This was quite different but I really liked it. An independent strong woman and it was also quite funny in places. Particularly the sections about her revisions of the Bible in her own Kingdom Mountain bible - "In my Kingdom Moutain Bible I tacked on a few womanly sentiments that no man could be expected to think of. Whatever else he was, Jesus, you know was very much a man's man. The Bible needs a woman's touch here and there. page 142. I wanted to read it because it is written by a V
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Jul 13, 2011
Kiersten
rated it:
I really loved this book. I can't argue with those that say the ending was anti-climactic, because it was, but that didn't really bother me. I liked the ending. I just loved the quirkiness of it, the mystery of the treasure and of Kingdom Mountain itself, and the feel that there is just a little bit of magic at work in the book. It reminded me slightly of Leif Enger in that way. I really, really enjoyed this.
Mar 13, 2011
Judy
rated it: 
Midway through the book, I got a little impatient for some action but as the story wound down I felt rewarded. The setting was Northern Vermont in the 1930s. There were family arguments over land and development, a love affair, the mystery of a buried treasure, bird carving, and the struggles of Miss Jane Hubbell Kinneson as the last remaining resident of the mountain.
Aug 04, 2011
Betsy
rated it:
On Kingdom Mountain is an affectionate homage to the vanishing way of life in villages in the almost-Canada Northeast. This book is peopled with quirky, thoughtful, realistic characters, and I recommend this author for fans of Leif Enger, Tony Earley, and Wendell Berry who have run out of books to read. I will certainly read more.
Dec 17, 2009
Babs
rated it:
Quite the quirky tale indeed. Miss Jane Hubbell Kinneson is a wild woolley woman as eccentric as they come. Jane is a former school teacher in a small Vermont town, lives by her own rules, on her own mountain. In her so called retirement, before 50 years of age, Jane runs her own library and various ventures and adventures. The Duchess of Kingdom Mountain is a great character.
Some closing words to live by from the book...
"The walls we erect to protect ourselves from early More...
Some closing words to live by from the book...
"The walls we erect to protect ourselves from early More...
Aug 02, 2011
Carol
rated it:
The characters should have been developed more in order for the unbelievable to be more believable. Want to go to the Northeast Kingdom however.
Aug 10, 2010
Bruce
rated it:
Another great book by one of our finest writers. For my Associated Press review, follow this URL:
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/mar/07/m...
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/mar/07/m...
Jul 25, 2010
Annie
rated it:
People in Vermont are a weird combination of strange and dull. Since this book is written by a Vermonter about Vermont, it follows that pattern. I liked the treasure hunt story, because the characters themselves are not enough to hold up the book.
Jul 26, 2009
Donna
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Miss Jane Kinneson is such an interesting character! I loved her! There were times when I laughed out loud at her audacity and gumption.
Jun 15, 2009
Joe
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Howard Frank Mosher is one of my favorite authors and an award winning author(New England Book Award for fiction).
His characters are colorful, intriguing, independent, and reflective of that part for Vermont that still, to this day, maintains a "purity" and "nostalgia" that makes one proud to live in this state. The story is exciting and interesting, but the characters is what Frank Mosher is all about. Miss Jane is "one-of-a-kind" and you can just feel her pa More...
His characters are colorful, intriguing, independent, and reflective of that part for Vermont that still, to this day, maintains a "purity" and "nostalgia" that makes one proud to live in this state. The story is exciting and interesting, but the characters is what Frank Mosher is all about. Miss Jane is "one-of-a-kind" and you can just feel her pa More...
Jan 06, 2009
Karen
rated it:
I guess I'm on a Vermont author/Vermont subject jag this fall. Great story, though the main character can be a little annoying sometimes.
Jan 29, 2010
Aprocuniar
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This was a throughly enjoyable book with great characters, a fun plot and an old fashioned style. I loved it.
May 07, 2010
Rachel
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This book was whimsical and fun to read, but I didn't agree with ending and was unsatisfied.
Aug 16, 2009
Tamara
rated it:
It is a quirky tale, just entertainment. A Readers Choice at the library
Apr 23, 2010
Anne
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This was a wonderful story. I loved the language and phrasing of these characters. Made me laugh out loud. It's a quick read, but not one to miss!
Feb 22, 2011
Amy
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This book was beautifully written and really had it all, mystery, romance, adventure, scandal, drama, and humor.
Jun 16, 2009
Deb
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I enjoyed the characters and the "feel" of the mountain and the surrounding area that the authors portrays very vividly. It wasn't a real page turner but it was an enjoyable read.
Apr 19, 2008
Melissa
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Jane Kinneson doesn't want a highway crossing her Vermont mountain. She lives there with rare fish, memories and a collection of wooden statues of her ancestors. One wintry day a pilot drops out of the sky, with a tale of hidden Civil War gold and turns Miss Jane's life upside down. A quirky but very enjoyable read, and not a rubber-stamp taciturn New Englander among the characters.
Jul 17, 2011
Kathy
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I really liked this book for the quirkiness of its characters and the description of the New England countryside. I also liked the neat ending where everything is accounted for.
Aug 29, 2008
Cynthia
rated it:
From the description on the jacket I thought I would really like this book. Jane seemed like a zany backwoods character that would be fun to get to know, but she wasn't. The mystery of the treasure was just too "out there" and I didn't like Henry at all. I just couldn't get into the story and it seemed to take a long time to finish. A disappointment.
Sep 01, 2008
Faye
rated it:
Having grown up in Vermont I always enjoy Howard Frank Mosher's stories about the Northeast Kingdom. I don't have a hard time finding the characters believable even when events of epic proportions occur regularly. I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone but to those with a feeling for historical New England landscapes and people it is a good bet.
Feb 16, 2009
Karen
rated it:
This was a great book. I think that if I was born in another time and situation I would like to be sort of like this lady. She's so sure of who she is, but this book is about a time in her life when she sort of let herself be vulnerable...but she just laughs it off. I love the writing style, the characters...it's great.
