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447th out of 726 books
—
1,236 voters
Raising Holy Hell: A Novel
by
Bruce Olds
On October 16, 1859, John Brown led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, leaving fifteen people dead. Viewed in the North as a saint of freedom and in the South as the devil incarnate, Brown was a visionary who not only foretold but made inevitable the bloody apocalypse of the Civil War. An intricate mosaic of alternating narrative voices, Raising Holy Hell is...more
Paperback, 333 pages
Published
August 3rd 2002
by Picador
(first published 1995)
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First of all, I loved the collage-like style of the narrative. It moved me, engaged me, and gave me a stronger feeling of accord with the subject's era than a more conventional history book. I do not think that this should be the definitive style for popular history, but I can't deny that I am more likely to become engaged in the time and personalities if they are approached artfully and evocatively. This book does that.
I have been to Harpers Ferry on several occasions, and each time I go, I am...more
I have been to Harpers Ferry on several occasions, and each time I go, I am...more
Published in 1995, Bruce Old's Raising Holy Hell is a revisionist take on the life of radical abolitionist, John Brown. The style of the book is unique. Olds writes in short bursts of prose and from different perspectives: first person, third person, quotes from actual historical documents, and what appears to be an interview with Brown from beyond the grave. The stylization almost makes the novel the equivalent of a cheesy Arts and Entertainment crime documentary. Yet it works beautifully as it...more
I absolutely hated reading this book. If it were not onethat had been selected by my Springfield Book Club, I would have cheerfully tossed it in the "reurn to Library" bag. I am grateful I did not purchase it! Holy Hell is rated as a 5 star read here -- so jump to another reader. I obviously did not "get" the book.
Things that make me dislike the book: Historical novel: A negative right off. The writer must do all the research of a biographer, but must also have an opinion on the historical time...more
Things that make me dislike the book: Historical novel: A negative right off. The writer must do all the research of a biographer, but must also have an opinion on the historical time...more
Can't get enough of John Brown. Who can? Olds blows out of the chute as wild as God's Vengeance on bloody Kansas. First scene: JB trudging out to the barn in the dead of winter to lash the sins out of himself. This is historical fiction in multiple genres: political quotes, court transcripts, poems, narrative, lists, and JB's God-possessed consciousness. The pages fly, even when Olds tries too hard to out-McCarthy Mccarthy with the archaic language.
This was the first book I ever read that was considered historical fiction and it truly stuck with me. I blindly chose it in college from a list of reading choices based soley on the cover. I love the narration and finished it in a weekend because I was so engrossed. I would recommend Bruce Olds to anyone even slightly intrigued by the topics of his books!
What an ambitious, surreal, furious, spellbinding novel. Does it read, on occasion, like too much of a Cormac McCarthy or (more often) Ron Hansen (Olds's habit of making verbs of nouns -- not to mention the tone he strikes in inventorying the mythic tics and quirks of his protagonist -- is a page right out of Hansen's repertoire) knock-off? Perhaps. But a more accurate assessment would be that Raising Holy Hell reads like a novel written by the child of McCarthy and Hansen while in the midst of...more
This is my favorite historical fiction book about John Brown. If I still taught American Lit, I'd include this one on the list. I love the structure of this book!
Fascinating perspective on the life of John Brown and his role in shaping our history. The book is literate and sometimes in-your-face.
Dark and depressing, I finally decided to not keep reading and move onto something else.
Very powerful stuff. This is my favorite book.
Initially I had a difficult time following the story as Olds chose to write it, but I quickly got over it and enjoyed it the more for it. The only place where I again found myself having a difficult time follow what was happening was on the raid of Harper's Ferry itself. A map of the grounds or some sort of time frame would have been nice. That aside, it was a well written story that provided many angles and views of John Brown as well as the mood of the nation at that time.
This is about John Brown, the man best known for his failed attempt to raid the armory at Harper's Ferry. While I admire his single-mindedness about ending slavery in America,I am also challenged by it. He was a religious fanatic. This book gave me a clear picture of a very intense person, someone who I admire but am troubled by.
Damn your eyes...
I try not to give up on a book, but this just wasn't my thing. I think I made it to page fifty before I gave up.
The writing style gave this book a wonderful texture that was great to read and the more prose-style sections were filled with gorgeous language.
Insightful historical novel about the often misunderstood John Brown.
Hell yes.
May 20, 2013
Rachel
marked it as to-read
Apr 13, 2013
Ashley
marked it as to-read
Mar 23, 2013
Nicholaus
marked it as to-read
Feb 06, 2013
Edward Sullivan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adult-fiction
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May 24, 2009 09:03am