I won this thru Firstreads and appreciate the opportunity to review it.

I would have probably given this one closer to 2.5 stars but since we can't give half stars I was generous and rounded up instead of down. This is a story set in Kentucky during the time of the Civil War. Its written in journal fashion from the point of view of a 41yr old Frenchman thats there serving as a journalist. He spends most of his time drinking whiskey and talking about politics with Hugh Graham (who is an elderly hillbilly that just happens to have traveled Europe) as well as some of the other locals. He also takes up with a young woman that eventually becomes pregnant. Somewhere around the middle of the book he comes in contact with another elderly hillbilly that spent some time in a Tibetan monastery and stole a box that made rocks that provide a person with an invisible shield. This box was apparently supplied by extra terrestrials at some point in the past.

If you are looking for a book that draws you in immediately, this isn't it. Its very slow to start out and the timeline in the begining isn't very clear. There are days that he is referring to a day in the past but you have to figure that out on your own. And then there are the discussions on politics. Politics, politics, politics, with a little morality thrown in. If you enjoy that type of debate then this is the book for you. Most of his time is spent in conversation with the hillbilly Graham, not that I don't agree with Graham's point of view, but I get a little sick of the constant talk of politics. And as much as I hate to introduce a spoiler, if you prefer a happy ending, don't look here.