Katherine is 17, living alone in the beautiful, desolate landscape of southern Arizona. Her mother is feckless, her father busy with his new family...
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reviews
Feb 22, 2011
switterbug (Betsey)
rated it: 
Dozens of books have promised the sentiment "for lovers of Cormac McCarthy" and left me sorely disappointed. But, in this claim, Froderberg is truly McCarthy's literary offspring, echoing his hot, haunting brand of southwest essence, desert landscape, and gothic narrative elixir, if not yet fully capturing his linguistic sublimity and lethal, graveyard humor. In this ambitious debut novel, the author explores desperate and broken souls living through a drought in southern Arizona--a la
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Nov 30, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it: 
Old Border Road has exceptional descriptions of characters, situations, and Arizona scenery. The characters are unique, and the storyline is appealing.
The main character, Katherine, lives with her in-laws in southern Arizona and must work with them in their everyday routine of keeping up their ranch while her husband is habitually absent at night. Katherine has to work hard, deal with unhappiness, deal with loneliness, and with THE KNOWING. As time goes on, could her second though More...
The main character, Katherine, lives with her in-laws in southern Arizona and must work with them in their everyday routine of keeping up their ranch while her husband is habitually absent at night. Katherine has to work hard, deal with unhappiness, deal with loneliness, and with THE KNOWING. As time goes on, could her second though More...
Feb 08, 2011
Denise
rated it: 
In Old Border Road young Katherine grows up poor and neglected in rural, drought ridden Arizona. When she falls in love with Son, the only child of a local rancher, marrying him seems the way out of her desolate life. Though his parents accept her as part of the family, it is soon clear that Son himself is beaten down by the drought and other circumstances and has no will or motivation to help her create a better life. As the drought worsens their marriage falls apart.
This book was jus More...
This book was jus More...
Jul 07, 2011
Amy
rated it: 
7/3/11:
Although I am only two chapters into this book, I'm struggling with the writing style. The author has been sprinkling each page with words that I have to stop and look up because there are so many in such close proximity that I have no way to use context to suss out the meaning. This is such an unusual reading experience for me that I find myself impatient and frustrated with the book and the author.
For the second time today I have set the book aside and gone off to fi More...
Although I am only two chapters into this book, I'm struggling with the writing style. The author has been sprinkling each page with words that I have to stop and look up because there are so many in such close proximity that I have no way to use context to suss out the meaning. This is such an unusual reading experience for me that I find myself impatient and frustrated with the book and the author.
For the second time today I have set the book aside and gone off to fi More...
Dec 19, 2010
April
rated it: 
OLD BORDER ROAD by Susan Froderberg is a contemporary romance set in Arizona. This is a story of girl meets boy. Yes, Girl is her name and boy's name is Son. It has teenage marriage, martial conflict,and life changes.Son is the son of a weathy rancher.Girl marries young only seventeen. Son is a gambler, a cheat, a drinker and cheats on his young bride. A drought hits Arizona causing families to have to struggle. After Son's father commits sucide, Girl decides to leave her cheating, drinking husb
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Oct 18, 2010
Cassandra
rated it:
Old Border Road by Susan Froderberg was a hard read for me. The story is about a young woman named Katherine who married young to a man named Son. Katherine moves with Son and begins to think she can have the happy family with her handsome new husband. Although Katherine soon finds out after her honeymoon that Son is a philander with little regard to how she feels. Son stays out almost every night drinking and cheating with a string of women. Katherine finds the only solace with his parents, whi
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Jul 25, 2011
Hope
rated it:
I was shocked to learn that this was Susan Froderberg's firt novel! A thoroughly enjoyable read. Not exactly a page-turner, but I kept going back for more. I felt so close to the main character, Katherine, that at times it felt like I was reading a story about myself.
The story line is not the main force working in this novel, it is the setting. Katherine and her husband are living in what must be one of the most beautiful places, and one of the harshest places on earth. Katherin More...
The story line is not the main force working in this novel, it is the setting. Katherine and her husband are living in what must be one of the most beautiful places, and one of the harshest places on earth. Katherin More...
Jan 22, 2011
Jennyreadsexcessively
rated it:
In a dry ranching community of modern southern Arizona, seventeen year old Katherine marries Son and moves in with his family. Katherine quickly realizes her mistake as she loses her identity (no one will call her by her name), and as she discovers her husband’s true nature.
This is Froderberg’s first novel and it is a good one. The writing took some getting used to. The language is stark and often obscure and there is little dialogue. So much is left unsaid-- I really had to co More...
This is Froderberg’s first novel and it is a good one. The writing took some getting used to. The language is stark and often obscure and there is little dialogue. So much is left unsaid-- I really had to co More...
Aug 06, 2011
Ann
rated it:
I did not like this book. The author seemed to be more in love with the words than the story. One good thing that I got out of the book was again looking at my banjo clock after reading her description of the house. My clock has not run for over a year, but when I adjusted the pendulum, it began running and hasn't stopped yet.
Jan 15, 2011
Jeff
rated it:
I have read, for the second time, Old Border Road. What a great book!
Susan Froderberg's novel is written with powerful and beautifully poetic language that takes one to a timeless place--dry and desolate-- filled with characters that are strange and compelling.
Susan Froderberg's novel is written with powerful and beautifully poetic language that takes one to a timeless place--dry and desolate-- filled with characters that are strange and compelling.
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Jan 10, 2012
Suzanne
rated it:
Loved the way the words were put into sentences. So magical and yet telling us with no indecision just what Susan Froderberg intended. This isn’t a happy story, but one with human truths.
Jul 25, 2011
Trinette
rated it:
Think there is a story here, but I am struggling with this author's writing style. I currently don't have time to spend on this, so I am abandoning the book, but keeping it on my "to read" list.
Jan 30, 2011
Suki
rated it:
Sublime language, enthralling characters, magnificent setting! Looking forward to Froderberg's next book!
Jan 01, 2011
Linda
rated it:
Very different. Basically about a girl who marries too young, and how her choices affect her life. Don't think I would recommend this one.
Jan 25, 2011
Garbled, Pretentious, Characters with no redeeming values.
No stars by choice.
No stars by choice.
Sep 18, 2011
Mike
rated it:
A temporal and thematic successor to The Border Trilogy--John Grady Cole constricted and restricted as a young woman.
Feb 24, 2011
Suki
rated it:
Sublime language, enthralling characters, magnificent setting! Looking forward to Froderberg's next book!
Jan 15, 2011
Mary Beth
rated it:
Couldn't get into this. The overly poetic and ornate language impeded the story for me.
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Mar 24, 2011
Lee Ann
rated it:
The writing was poetic, but the voice did not match the character and they were, at best, one dimensional and tedious. Such miserable souls, didn't really care what happens. This is one of those that I wished that I could not finish a book, it is just not in my nature.
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Jun 15, 2011
Can't remember where I heard of this one. Probably the newspaper review.
Feb 16, 2012
Feb 09, 2012
Jan 29, 2012
