Plot Summary

Refuge

Dot Jackson
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Refuge

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

Book Brief

Dot Jackson

Refuge

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009
Book Details
Pages

356

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Appalachian Mountains • 1920s

Theme
Publication Year

2009

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Refuge by Dot Jackson is a Southern Gothic novel set in the early 20th century, following Mary Seneca Steele's escape from an abusive marriage and genteel city life to the rugged Appalachian community of her childhood. Alongside her children, she embraces the harsh yet fulfilling mountain life, navigating physical and emotional challenges while seeking solace and connection. Features instances of domestic abuse and financial ruin.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Nostalgic

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.3

9,297 ratings

84%

Loved it

11%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Refuge by Dot Jackson resonates with readers for its atmospheric portrayal of Southern Appalachia and rich, lyrical prose. Praised for its deep character development and evocative language, some found its pacing uneven and narrative occasionally meandering. Overall, it captivates with its portrayal of personal and cultural transformation.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Refuge?

Readers who appreciate rich, Southern storytelling with deep emotional and cultural threads, like in The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd or Big Fish by Daniel Wallace, will enjoy Refuge by Dot Jackson. This novel offers a poignant exploration of personal and social complexities in a rural Southern setting.

4.3

9,297 ratings

84%

Loved it

11%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

356

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Appalachian Mountains • 1920s

Theme
Publication Year

2009

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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