The Camerons

It has been 27 years since I first read this book and it has always stood out in my mind as being one of my favorite works of fiction. From the first sentence to the last you will be captivated. It is such a shame that this book is out of print and is so hard to find at the libraries because it is a true treasure. I still have my original copy and believe me I'm afraid to lend it out. This book should be considered a classic!

There isn't a year that goes by without some pause to reflect on favorite past books read - The Camerons was decidedly a gem for me! It captures another time and place so vividly; it's a book of character with many enduring and fine passages for young or old to read well into the midnight hours!

I read the condesnsed version a couple of years ago from a Reader's digest book from 1971, and have been looking for a copy of the full length version ever since. Written in such vivid detail, I was able to picture every scene clearly. The condensed version was great; I'd love to get a copy of the paperback.

The descriptions of mining life, the company store, the housing, the pit are so well written. It gave me such a sense of the trap the people were in--there was always that debt at the company store, there was no way to get ahead. I read it years ago--probably in the 70's and it has disappeared in my moves. It's one of those books that was better each time I read it.I'm glad to hear of someone else who has read it and enjoyed it. If you ever find any copies, please let me know.

The book haunts me. It has been weeded out of my library, and I can't find it anywhere. It seems to be such a true thing. Gillan and Meggie, so far apart in nature, are equally compelling characters, and each of their children's personalities have been developed well. Remembering my Great Uncle's accent, I was moved by even the language and syntax. In my childhood in Southern Illinois, we lived in a coal town. Classmate's fathers died in the mines sometimes, bazarr crafts involved shining chips of black coal. We burned it in the basement furnace for fuel, and I pulled many a glowing klinker from the flames to drop into a washtub until they cooled and were used to augment the sparse gravel in our driveway. So the story interested me greatly. Since reading it, we have moved twice, and amidst the laughter of my family, I made sure we had a dark and handsome man as our "first-footer", for good luck. And I cannot read MacBeth without remembering the line where Gillan,reading it for the 3rd time underground, suddenly found Shakespeare to be beautiful.... I want this book again, to read again and to pass on to my boys.