Seasonal

This book offers a fascinating insight into the work of an ethnomusicologist. A young man spends a summer in the wilds of Appalachia, promoting and preserving folklore. He becomes fascinated by the story of a local character who killed a man and then retreated into the woods, hiding out from the law in caves until he is eventually cornered. The story reminds me a little of the saga of Eric Rudolph who bombed the Atlanta Olympics and then spent years evading the FBI in the mountains of North Carolina. The folklore is fascinating, the plot interesting -- the characters are not so well done. They lack depth and are rarely convincing. There is a love story but it's not tremendously stirring. Still I can recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about our nation's wonderful heritage of folk culture. For more about me and The Nazi Hunter: A Novel go to www.alanelsner.com

Belanus's book is a great text for anyone wanting an overview of what a public sector folklorist actually does, and how he does it. For those who think folklore is jsut old stories your grandparents tell, or odd home remedies, this is the book that will help open your eyes to the very interesting world of folklore. Reading Seasonal is like joining a folklorist for a job shadowing experience. Readers are taken along as he questions locals, learns about their customs, crafts, and uncovers a mystery about a local legend. The protagonist, Rob Anderson, conducts interviews, gathers information and practices ethical considerations that would even make journalists proud. This is a fine fictional book that can operate as a textbook in just about any classroom dealing with cultural studies. And besides that, it's a fine read for those who are just looking for a good story!

Just wonderful. Not only is it a fun story complete with love,murder, mystery, it is also a great introduction to what a folklorist does! It's full of local color, tone and accents. What a riot some of the folk are. I just loved the book and am looking forward to the sequel.