Coal Black Horse

Story: Robey Childs is fourteen years old in 1863, and his mother, with a clairvoyant feeling, sends him to find his father, a soldier, "before July." Robey first stops at the local village store and the owner lends him a magnificent coal black horse to aid him in his travels. Robey leaves those mountains a boy, but returns a man in emotion and worldview. He encounters all manner of evil and destruction, but he, with the horse's help, fulfills his obligation.My thoughts: At first, I thought the writing was (consciously) too literary, but the author's descriptive writing is quite good, and after Robey encounters evil for the first time, I could not put the book down.

Robey is 14 years old. The Civil War is raging. His mother learns that Stonewall Jackson has been killed, therefore in her opinion, the South now has no chance in winning. She then decides to send the boy out to the battlefields to find his father and bring him home.This is a very dark story that goes far beyond the loss of innocence. When you experience the worst the world can throw at you, there are consequences. When a child is introduced to the gates of hell, will he fight against it or join it?This is a dark tale with a dark message about the true cost of war.

The fine book created so many diverse emotions in me--all of them powerful. This book works incredbily well on so many levels it's hard for me to even find words to describe how moved I was by the end. It is the story of a young man searching for his father, who is a combatant in the War Between The States; yes it is that. It is a graphic description of one of the most deadly battles of that war; yes it is that. It is a strange love story; yes it is that. The whole of it written so beautifully, graphically, humorously, horrifyingly--lyrical. This is a beautiful book that is breathtaking in it's language, in its depiction of what that war was...that part is horrifying, yes it is, but compelling. In a time when we are at war but so far removed from it, I think it inmperitive we are reminded of the real horror of war. I read it straight through, for I could not put it down. It is a stunningly wonderful book. I will read more by this talented author.

I have had horses like this—supernatural real-life companions who seemed to be part of my own soul. A mountain boy follows his mother’s orders and premonitions to try to find his dead father during the Civil War—and becomes a greatly-changed man. Readers who love books by authors Paulette Jiles and Sharyn McCrumb should love this one, too.

A powerful story. A story that contains in words a world so real that you are indeed there. This is about a boy becoming a man perhaps before he should. When reading this book put yourself in that time period. Fourteen year old boys today are not the same as fourteen year old boys during the civil war. I have read some reviews which say the story is too graphic, too depressing, to descriptive. I don't understand anyone thinking that. Since it is a story of war, it wouldn't be fair to the reader, to the history , to the truth to simplify it, make it "nicer" . There are in this world hard things, things that change a person forever. This author's command of words is fabulous. He uses them to sculpt.I cannot wait for his next book

Olmstead's latest, COAL BLACK HORSE is a great read that will stay with you long after you finish the last sentence. This is my first book by Mr. Olmstead and it won't be my last. Only question I had after reading this book, is why I had not heard of Mr. Olmstead before? Everybody needs to be reading this guy, especially COAL BLACK HORSE. Buy it, read it, then read it again, it's that good. Seriously.Too, on another note, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Olmstead at a book festival and we spoke for a good while, he's a very neat and generous man. It was a pleasure to speak with him as he openly talked about his new book and the writing process. I urge anybody who's debating on buying this book to just buy it. You won't be disappointed. The prose and language alone are good enough to carry this book through till the end, but, luckily for us it doesn't have too, because the plot is strong also.

My review of this amazing book is posted at VA BOOK festival site, url listed below, and was published in August in The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, VA. Someday, someday soon, Coal Black Horse will be required reading at high schools everywhere. It should win more than one prize. While Olmstead's prose is spine-tinglingly beautiful, his earlier books are darker and have less credible resolution than this one, and less likeable characters. Not that they aren't worth reading, but this one is so close to perfect; this from a fellow author, albeit at the beginning of my career, without Olmstead's other credits. It's almost as if Olmstead's been struggling to get it right and finally did. I said it on the website and in the newspaper and I tell it to book clubs and readers wherever I speak about my novel White Lies. Coal Black Horse is brilliant. My full review: [...]

from this author.The novel is a strong and vivid one, depicting the coming of age of a young boy in search of his father during the American Civil War and his growing up process during that horror ridden journey.The writing is not, imho, an excellent one, as well as the concatenation of the youth's thought process, and the depiction of his mental growth. The idea is there, but the writer's eagerness to make it palpable fails in the complexity by which it is conveyed.Last, but not least, one senses Cormack Mc Carthy all the way through the novel ( the book even has, for me, a certain "The Road" feeling ) but, albeit being an enjoyable read, this book ( and probably this Author ) has no place in the shelf where the Mc Carthys and the McMurtry's belong.

Robey Childs (a small boy) gets sent off to the front line of the American Civil War to find his father, because she has a premonition that he will die unless she sends his son to get him. He sets off on a farm horse but along the way is given the Coal Black Horse of the title. The horse, as we are told, has a great deal of self-possession, and makes his rider feel inadequate, so noble an animal is he. What follows is Robey's adventures (along with the horse generally saving him from his own impulses) and occasionally failing to save him too. The horse is the best character in the book, I have to say and is the kind of hero that every reader dreams about (he is the true hero, although Robey develops quite nicely too). There is some shocking imagery in the novel - wartime crimes and other crimes too - the author (in his reading guide notes at the end) seems to indicate that he has purposefully juxtaposed the very beautiful with the dreadfully ugly. That said, it makes a great adventure story - beautifully written and with some wonderful description contained within it. What didn't make sense to me was why any mother would send her son out to a warzone, whether her husband was in danger or not (clearly he's in danger - he's in a warzone - you don't need to be psychic to predict that!) Still, if you can suspend disbelief on this point, it's a great read.

I've become addicted to American Civil war writing since seeing the film "Lincoln" and reading the book on which it was based, "The Team of Rivals". Coal Black Horse was recommended at the end of one my kindle reads and I was not disappointed. I couldn't put it down. This is a lyrical and evocative book about a young boy who goes off to find his father who is fighting in the Civil War. Along the way he meets an interesting collection of people and the reader is introduced to the American landscape and the traumas of war at first hand.

About as good as a book can be. This author deserves the highest praise and recognition. I always thought Steinbeck's descriptions where unbeatable but not anymore. Truly magnificent. Inspiring and honest. A book that will leave a lasting impression, like 'Far Bright Star'. A great writer and one I'd love to emulate one day.

Gripping story.

A story which will stay in my being for a long time. I intend to read more by this author.