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| The Coal Tattoo: A Novel | 
 enlarge | Author: Silas House
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $4.03
You Save: $9.92 (71%)
New (24) Used (19) from $4.03
Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 138111
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 0345480058
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780345480057
ASIN: 0345480058
Publication Date: August 30, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Good Condition: may have light corner bends, scuff marks, wear to dust cover, etc. 100% of your purchase supports Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
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Product Description
Life isn’t easy for twenty-two year old Easter and her teenage sister Anneth, who were left parentless as young children. While Easter, a devout Pentecostal, finds solace in the powerful music of her church, Anneth seeks comfort in the rougher edges of life found in dancing, drinking, and fast living. Easter believes in tradition and is intent on rearing her wild young sister properly, but it’s only a matter of time before a wedge is driven between them–and threatens to undo their bond forever. . . .
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
One of my favorite authors October 16, 2004
30 out of 31 found this review helpful
THE COAL TATTOO by Silas House
October 15,2004
THE COAL TATTOO by Silas House was my second book by this author, and third in his "trilogy" of books that take place in the mountains of Kentucky. The novel features characters that appear in his previous two books, A PARCHMENT OF LEAVES and his first, CLAY'S QUILT. All three are wonderful books that center on life in the Kentucky mountains, families that built their lives around the coalmines in the early to mid-twentieth century.
In THE COAL TATTOO, the two main characters are sisters Anneth and Easter, who are as different as night and day. Anneth is wild and unleashed, while Easter is a born-again Christian. Their story is a tale of two sisters who love each other, but find that their differences tear them apart.
What I love about these books is the depth that Silas House goes to describe his characters. One feels that these characters are part of one's own family, or maybe a reader may want to meet these characters, because House creates characters that are truly real and three-dimensional. I felt at home with his characters from A PARCHMENT OF LEAVES, and I feel the same with THE COAL TATTOO. He also does a good job at describing the lives of these people, and it feels like I am with them, in the bar dancing up a storm, or in church singing with the choir.
These three books are what I call period pieces, and reflect a time long gone. History and technology has changed what this fictional place may have been like half a century ago, but they remain unchanged in these books by Silas House. I highly recommend reading all his books. These are not easy reads, but one will feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction after experiencing these books. THE COAL TATTOO is no exception, and the Ratmammy rates it five stars.
Exquisite and powerful author!!!!!!!!! December 21, 2004
27 out of 28 found this review helpful
Silas House is one of the greatest and most gifted authors of our time!! If I could give this book MORE THAN 5 STARS, I would!! His magic with words and the thoughts and dialogue of the people who live in his stories is absolutely amazing.
This is a beautiful tale of the deep love of two sisters who have endured much together as they enter their adult lives, making decisions and choices that may forver alter their relationship with each other. Their lives have been defined by the coal mining that is the lifeblood of their mountain home, a part of their past and their present but how will it change their future?
As troubled times strike the sisters, Silas House brings us into their hearts and minds, giving depth and soul to each of them. He makes you care deeply about what is happening to them in their lives.
Two sisters, so very different and yet so closely bonded......when they are rocked to their core by life's events, can they save each other from despair and bring hope back or will they have to learn to lead separate lives.
This tale would be the second story in a trilogy, coming after Parchment of Leaves and before Clay's Quilt. Silas House is such an exquisite and powerful author that each novel can easily stand on it's own merits.
House continues to shine with Coal Tattoo September 19, 2004
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
In Coal Tattoo, Silas House fills in the story of the families he gave us in Parchment of Leaves and Clay's Quilt.
House's descriptions of nature are poetic. He nails the speech patterns of Eastern Kentuckians without being cruel or condescending. He describes authentic faith in God respectfully; he does not stoop to easy generalizations or caricatures. As a native of Eastern Kentucky, realistic portrayals of its people and land are important to me, and House does not disappoint.
Although set firmly in Eastern Kentucky, the stories are universal. Coal Tattoo is a family story, a sister story, a land story, and a Kentucky story. If you're new to his work, I would suggest starting with Parchment, then Coal Tattoo and then Clay's Quilt.
Stunning! September 5, 2005
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
If you've read Clay's Quilt you'll identify The Coal Tattoo as a prequel. If you haven't read Clay's Quilt do so. It will only add to your enjoyment of this book.
Anneth, 17, and Easter, 21, are sisters. And they are as different as two women can be. Anneth is a 'wild child' who simply loves life and aims to party her way through it. Easter is the stable, deeply religious woman who doesn't hold with her sister's wild ways. The trouble is Easter is raising her younger sibling since their parents' deaths -- and it's definitely not an easy job.
Easter marries El and become pregnant. She loses her baby with the coal tattoo and her faith falters. Anneth marries several times, but it's Bradley who gives Anneth her greatest gift. It's the gift she shares with the woman who loves her most in the world, and with whom she experiences her greatest heartbreaks and tragedy, almost losing each other on the journey.
Anneth and Easter choose different roads to travel but their land binds them together. And they fight hard to keep it from a mining company.
Silas House is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. He draws full-bodied and flawed characters that you find yourself liking immensely. You just want to visit with them, to listen in on their thoughts and observe their actions. House's descriptions are vivid, his prose lyrical and filled with the nuances of the people and places he writes about.
Armchair Interviews says: The Coal Tattoo is brilliant and is meant to be read slowly and savored.
The Coal Tatoo October 2, 2004
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
House continues to produce exquisite stories and fine writing. His writing is clean and fresh and his subjects are as familiar as one's own hand. House is comfortable with his characters and his environment; he owns his stories and loves his place. A fine book and hopefully, one of many more.
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