Above the Waterfall: A Novel - Brossura

“[T]here’s no denying Rash’s grasp of the North Carolina landscape and its reflection in the oft-tortured souls of its denizens, making this novel one of his most successful ventures into poetic humanism.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Combining suspense with acute observations and flashing insights, Rash tells a seductive and disquieting tale about our intrinsic attachment to and disastrous abuse of the land and our betrayal of our best selves.” (Booklist (starred review))

“Rash, a 2009 PEN/Faulkner Award finalist, is one of our undisputed Appalachian laureates, in company with Robert Morgan, Lee Smith, Fred Chappell, and Mark Powell.” (The Millions)

“Rash is an enormously gifted storyteller... one of the few writers at work today with the insight, the talent and the vision to show us how sometimes, for all our sorry shortcomings, we’re able to achieve a certain redemption through our capacity for kindness and decency.” (Washington Post)

“Rash captures the gritty realities of modern Appalachia with mournful precision...the novel contemplates timeless questions about human frailty, the divinity of nature and the legacies of our native landscapes.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

“[T]hick with atmosphere, lyrical prose, and a visceral sense of place... Rash has crafted the finest prose of his career... another quiet, haunting ode to the natural beauty of the mountains.” (BookPage)

“Ron Rash is one author who gets a lot of recognition regionally but I firmly believe should be regarded as a national treasure.” (Literary Hub)

“Reading Above the Waterfall is like walking a railroad track - the scenery along the way is great, and I’m enjoying the novel’s journey.” (Charlotte Observer)

“Above the Waterfall, with its quiet intensity and natural beauty juxtaposed against human ugliness, is the work of a writer who’s found his way with words.” (Mountain Xpress)

“There’s a harsh reality to Ron Rash’s novels set in the mountains and foothills of the Carolinas. But he writes with a sparseness and grace that belies his beginnings as a poet.” (Clemson World Magazine)