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The Coal Tattoo Hardcover – September 24, 2004

by Silas House (Author)

4.5 267 ratings

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Two sisters can't stand to live together, but can't bear to be apart. One worships the flashy world of Nashville, the other is a devout Pentecostal. One falls into the lap of any man, the other is afraid to even date. One gets pregnant in a flash, the other desperately wants to have child.

This is what's at the heart of Silas House's third, masterful novel, which tells the story of Easter and Anneth, tragically left parentles as children, who must raise themselves and each other in their small coal-mining town. Easter is deeply religious, keeps a good home, believes in tradition, and is intent on rearing her wild younger sister properly. Anneth is untamable, full of passion, determined to live hard and fast. It's only a matter of time before their predilections split their paths and nearly undo their bond. How these two women learn to overcome their past, sacrifice deeply for each other, and live together again in the only place that matters is the story of The Coal Tattoo.

Silas House's work has been described as compelling, seamless, breathtaking, heartbreaking, eloquent, stunningly beautiful, and exquisite. In The Coal Tattoo, he raises the bar once again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Evocative prose and unforgettable characters mark this haunting novel from House, a Kentucky writer who mines the storytelling tradition of Appalachia. Set in the 1960s, the novel functions as a prequel of sorts to House's award-winning book Clay's Quilt, offering two sisters who are as different as night and day. Anneth—who will become Clay's mother—is a wild-blooded manic depressive determined to suck joy from life, while her older sister Easter, a deeply religious Pentecostal woman with the gift of foresight, has "decided to walk through life like a whisper." House paints both characters lovingly and unsentimentally, charting how each remains devoted to the other through tragedy and a battle to hold on to the one constant that unites them in a turbulent world: their land. As they fight to protect their mountain from the mining company that wants to clear the earth and strip it bare, the sisters make sacrifices for one another that will grip the reader. House has a gift for understanding the cadences of mountain folk religion and the way that music sustains people's spirits. The titular image of the coal tattoo—a bluish tinge that seeps under a miner's skin and leaves a permanent stain—is a perfect metaphor for the novel's depiction of the indelible imprint the land leaves on the human soul.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The talented House continues his long love letter to Kentucky in this starkly beautiful, overtly literary third novel, following Clay's Quilt (2000) and A Parchment of Leaves (2002). Restless 16-year-old Anneth is running wild, drawn to nightclubs, liquor, and music, while her steadfast sister, Easter, is a devout Pentecostal. Despite their differences, the two sisters have an unbreakable bond, forged in the aftermath of their father's death in a coal-mining accident and their mother's suicide. Anneth elopes with a musician to the big city of Nashville, where she becomes so homesick for the water and greenery of her Appalachian hometown of Free Creek, Kentucky, she comes racing back. Easter faces the pain of a miscarriage, which severely tests her faith. Whether describing the sight of dozens of redbirds or the taste of moonshine, House does so in prose that is both lovely and cadenced. Rural Kentucky is so vividly rendered, it's no surprise native son House has been showered with regional awards. In addition, his work on National Public Radio should garner extra attention for this title. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Evocative prose and unforgettable characters mark this haunting novel....The coal tattoo—a bluish tinge that seeps under a miner's skin and leaves a permanent stain—is a perfect metaphor for the novel's depiction of the indelible imprint the land leaves on the human soul."
—Publisher's Weekly

From the Inside Flap

Two sisters can't stand to live together, but can't bear to be apart. One worships the flashy world of Nashville, the other is a devout Pentecostal. One falls into the lap of any man, the other is afraid to even date. One gets pregnant in a flash, the other desperately wants to have child.

This is what's at the heart of Silas House's third, masterful novel, which tells the story of Easter and Anneth, tragically left parentles as children, who must raise themselves and each other in their small coal-mining town. Easter is deeply religious, keeps a good home, believes in tradition, and is intent on rearing her wild younger sister properly. Anneth is untamable, full of passion, determined to live hard and fast. It's only a matter of time before their predilections split their paths and nearly undo their bond. How these two women learn to overcome their past, sacrifice deeply for each other, and live together again in the only place that matters is the story of The Coal Tattoo.

Silas House's work has been described as compelling, seamless, breathtaking, heartbreaking, eloquent, stunningly beautiful, and exquisite. In The Coal Tattoo, he raises the bar once again.

From the Back Cover

Two sisters can't stand to live together, but can't bear to be apart. One worships the flashy world of Nashville, the other is a devout Pentecostal. One falls into the lap of any man, the other is afraid to even date. One gets pregnant in a flash, the other desperately wants to have child.

This is what's at the heart of Silas House's third, masterful novel, which tells the story of Easter and Anneth, tragically left parentles as children, who must raise themselves and each other in their small coal-mining town. Easter is deeply religious, keeps a good home, believes in tradition, and is intent on rearing her wild younger sister properly. Anneth is untamable, full of passion, determined to live hard and fast. It's only a matter of time before their predilections split their paths and nearly undo their bond. How these two women learn to overcome their past, sacrifice deeply for each other, and live together again in the only place that matters is the story of The Coal Tattoo.

Silas House's work has been described as compelling, seamless, breathtaking, heartbreaking, eloquent, stunningly beautiful, and exquisite. In The Coal Tattoo, he raises the bar once again.

About the Author

Silas House is the author of five novels. His book for middle-grade readers, Same Sun Here, was a finalist for the E. B. White Read-Aloud award. A frequent contributor to the New York Times and a former commentator for NPR’s All Things Considered, House is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers and is the winner of the Nautilus Award, the Appalachian Writers Association's Book of the Year, and other honors.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Algonquin Books; First Edition (September 24, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1565123689
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1565123687
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,290,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #56,065 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 267 ratings

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Silas House

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Silas House is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels and one book of creative nonfiction. His latest book is Southernmost (June 2018), which has been long listed for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and was a top ten Southern bestseller and in July 2020 his first three books were reissued with new supplemental material, including new forewords, author notes, and a family tree.

A former commentator for NPR's "All Things Considered", House's writing often appears in The New York Times and he has been published in The Atlantic, Time, The Advocate, Ecotone, Newsday, Garden and Gun, Oxford American, and many other major publications. House is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. His awards include an EB White Award, the Storylines Prize from the NY Public Library/NAV Foundation, the Nautilus Award, the Appalachian Novel of the Year, the Hobson Medal for Literature, and many others.

House is also a music writer who often writes publicity campaigns. His clients have included Jason Isbell, Lucinda Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Lee Ann Womack, and many others. He also hosts a popular podcast called "On the Porch with Silas House" where he has been in conversation with people like bell hooks, Ashley Judd, Allison Moorer, Barbara Kingsolver, and others.

House serves as the NEH Chair at Berea College and on the fiction faculty of the Spalding School of Creative and Professional Writing. Visit him at www.silas-house.com.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

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JJ

Silas House is a gifted storyteller; gorgeous use of words and language.

Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2020

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I don't quite understand how Silas House isn't a household name by now. It's like he's sort of pigeonholed into the role of regional writer or something like that - someone who's popular among readers who have ties to KY or Appalachia. I only recently discovered him when I ran across a comment he made on Jason Isbell's Instagram, and have just finished reading the trilogy, A Parchment of Leaves (beautiful beginning to the whole story), Coal Tattoo and Clay's Quilt. Point is, these books are beautifully written, the story line is engaging and meaningful, and the characters are so real I feel as if I've known them. The way the author depicts the relationship between two sisters, Anneth and Easter, in The Coal Tattoo, literally makes my heart break longing for the old days with my own sister. It is so spot on, and told in a way only a sibling who is also a soul mate could tell it. I would put the book down and cry sometimes.

The prevailing theme over the course of the trilogy is how a deep love for home and family gives these characters the strength and courage to overcome seemingly insurmountable adversity. At different points in the trilogy, this presents as racism, threats to home and property and sometimes just downright survival. This is a boring review but I don't want to give so much detail; you should read the books. I did read Clay's Quilt before Coal Tattoo, but was still able to easily follow. I'm off to read his latest book now, Southernmost. Can't wait...

4 people found this helpful

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Glenn Stokes

Coal Tatto

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2023

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This book is written so vey well! It’s beautiful and moving! Loved it ! Wished I’d have read them in order !

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2020

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The Coal Tattoo is a powerful and moving tale of people whose lives are shaped by the tragedy of coal mining.

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A Rochester

House is a wonderful writer

Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018

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This is a beautiful book. House writes with feeling and develops his characters to perfection. This is the story of two sisters and their love for each other. Easter willingly sacrifices meaningful things in her life to care for her younger sister Anneth. The girls were orphaned early in life and have drawn close to each other. They were brought up in a small town with extended family. This extended family loves and supports each other --and they love their land. Anneth is a wild free spirit and Easter has her feet firmly on the ground. Easter is unable to save her sister from the pain caused by her impulsive decisions. She is adored by all men because she is beautiful and loving-- that is she is loving for a short while.
Anneth quickly recognizes the mistakes she makes in choosing her men, and soon moves on. This is a story with feeling, but it stays with reality and in character. There are many people in the book besides Anneth and Easter, yet each is carefully and skillfully drawn. The plot is not dramatic, it is everyday life in Kentucky with the usual ups and downs. The way House uses words, is to paint pictures with language.

One person found this helpful

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carolyn cobb jones

The Coal Tattoo

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2013

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After having read "Aparchment of Leaves", in which the characters and the story developed naturally
, I found "The Coal Tattoo" to be hurried and the story and characters to be shallow. I felt that
the quick summarization of former characters, such as Vine, to be hurried as well. I guess I was spoiled by the depth and almost musicality of the beautiful "A Parchment of Leaves".

One person found this helpful

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CEB

Just hated when I had to put it down!

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2023

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Being from southeastern Ky, I loved the way this book was written. Although fictional, I found myself right there with the characters. I could relate to the verbiage used and the quotes from the character. I did giggle a little when I imagined someone that wasn’t from Appalachian mountains trying to decipher this beautiful, yet unique way of speaking. We still talk that way today. It was so delightful how this book brought the characters from “Clay’s Quilt” and “A Parchment of Leaves” together. When I had to put the book (any of the 3) down for something I felt as if I were watching a great movie and had it on pause. Fantastic.

2 people found this helpful

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jeanne-scott

Exquisite and powerful author!!!!!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2004

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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.

16 people found this helpful

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melinda russell

Great read

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2023

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The normal thing you do with a book, I devoured it.

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