Helpful Score: 2
I was pleasantly surprised this author, who I know to have written science fiction/philosophical books, was able to pull off a decent historical fiction. She focuses much on finding the humanity inside the notorious character of Doc Holliday. I especially enjoyed her full descriptions of the Earps as well as the women in their lives. If you've watched "Deadwood" the TV series, then you know women had it really, really, really hard back then.
The book moves at a decent pace but manages to cover the salient points in John "Doc" Holliday's life. Russell presents a lot of his life as "chance" pondering what might have happened if... that was actually an annoyance but luckily she doesnt write too much pathos such as "what if Doc became a concert pianist instead????" She does insist that Doc Holliday was not a cold-hearted killer and how he was defending or standing up to his friends the Earps. I dont know enough about the stories of Doc Holliday to make any conclusions but he seemed like a decent person to me. Anyone who is able to quote passages in Greek or Latin can't be that bad, right? (joke)
If you can't tell by the sepia-toned cover, thsi book has a wistful, melancholy tone to it, most likely because Doc was doomed to die young due to his TB. I thought the book kept out of the "wah wah" stuff until the end with one scene where Doc is playing Beethoven's Emperor Concerto on the piano. That was a bit too much. Though there is still more to the book after that.
worth a read if you like Russell's work, or if you want to read more about the days of western expansion.
The book moves at a decent pace but manages to cover the salient points in John "Doc" Holliday's life. Russell presents a lot of his life as "chance" pondering what might have happened if... that was actually an annoyance but luckily she doesnt write too much pathos such as "what if Doc became a concert pianist instead????" She does insist that Doc Holliday was not a cold-hearted killer and how he was defending or standing up to his friends the Earps. I dont know enough about the stories of Doc Holliday to make any conclusions but he seemed like a decent person to me. Anyone who is able to quote passages in Greek or Latin can't be that bad, right? (joke)
If you can't tell by the sepia-toned cover, thsi book has a wistful, melancholy tone to it, most likely because Doc was doomed to die young due to his TB. I thought the book kept out of the "wah wah" stuff until the end with one scene where Doc is playing Beethoven's Emperor Concerto on the piano. That was a bit too much. Though there is still more to the book after that.
worth a read if you like Russell's work, or if you want to read more about the days of western expansion.
Helpful Score: 2
Oh my! I loved "The Sparrow," but this new book by Russell really bored me to death. It felt like reading nonfiction. Russell writes well, and she set the stage well, but I never connected with the characters or the story. It took me weeks to read the book, and I ended up skimming the last bit. I wouldn't have finished this if it weren't for a bookclub discussion. I can't wait to get to a book I actually like, now!
Helpful Score: 2
(Audio version) - LOVED this book. Russell brings Doc Holliday and Dodge City in the 1870s to life with her brilliant writing, vivid descriptions, historical details, and an enthralling story. She seamlessly blends fictional characters with a fine cast of historical figures -- in addition to Doc, we get to know his companion Kate, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, Bat Masterson, and some other minor figures. Surprisingly, there is little gunslinging but a whole lot of heart and wit. The reader of the audio version, Mark Bramhall, is perfect. Did I mention that I LOVED this book?
