The Hollow Kind

The Hollow Kind follows Nellie Gardner and her son Max as they flee an abusive marriage to take possession of a Georgia turpentine farm she's inherited from her grandfather. The property holds dark secrets spanning generations, dating back to 1917 when her ancestor Augustus Reeves made a deal that would shape the farm's destiny. Two timelines run parallel through the novel - Nellie's present-day struggle to build a new life at Reeves Farm, and Augustus's early days establishing his turpentine empire in the pine forests of rural Georgia. Strange occurrences begin to plague both mother and son as they uncover the true nature of their inheritance. The novel combines Southern Gothic atmosphere with cosmic horror, building tension through the isolation of the farm setting and the gradual revelation of supernatural elements. The story draws heavily on the history of Georgia's turpentine industry and the brutal labor practices of the early 20th century. At its core, The Hollow Kind examines generational trauma, the price of ambition, and humanity's relationship with the natural world. The novel questions what we owe to family legacy and whether the sins of the past can ever truly be escaped.

Readers highlight the book's atmospheric Southern Gothic horror and intricate dual timeline narrative. Many note the rich descriptions of the turpentine farming setting and praise Davidson's ability to build tension through environmental details. Positives: - Strong character development - Unique historical backdrop - Effective blend of cosmic and folk horror - Vivid sensory descriptions Negatives: - Slow pacing in the first third - Some readers found the ending unsatisfying - Multiple timeline shifts created confusion - Several reviewers mention graphic violence that felt excessive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (2,300+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (290+ ratings) Reader quote: "The atmosphere is thick enough to cut with a knife. Davidson makes you feel the sticky heat and pine sap." - Goodreads reviewer Critical quote: "Takes too long to get going. The payoff is worth it but requires patience." - Amazon reviewer

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🌲 The novel weaves together two timelines: 1989 and 1939, both centered around a mysterious turpentine farm in Georgia known as Redfern Hill. 🌵 Author Andy Davidson drew inspiration from the real-life history of turpentine camps in the American South, where workers would extract resin from pine trees in often brutal conditions. 👻 The book combines elements of Southern Gothic literature with cosmic horror, following in the tradition of writers like Flannery O'Connor and H.P. Lovecraft. 🏆 Davidson's previous novel, The Boatman's Daughter, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award and named one of the best books of 2020 by the Library Journal. 🌳 The turpentine industry, central to the novel's plot, was once known as "liquid gold" and was a crucial part of the Southern economy until its decline in the mid-20th century.