itsmarkyall's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a tough read. It's long, well written, and has one of the most boring characters in all of literature. If I ever go back and reread this book I'll skip his chapters altogether. But when the book is good it's very good. It's made me a fan of Philipp Meyer. That alone is worth the four stars.
sjj169's review against another edition
2.0
The Son by Philipp Meyer I have lusted for this book since I saw the first ad for it. Disappointed I am.
Is this novel that great American novel that it is being advertised as? For me-no. I liked the parts of the book involving "the Son" Eli especially the part where he was a Comanche captive. The research on that part of the book was fascinating and honestly that's the only part of the whole book that kept me from just putting it aside.
The parts that involved his son Peter and granddaughter Jeanette were just filler that did not add to the story for me. I so wanted to like this book.
I loved "Lonesome Dove" and keep hearing this book compared to it. Not even. It doesn't even deserve to be allowed to sit next to that book on a shelf. I am giving 3 stars just because I did like the aforementioned part. Mostly I'm just ticked at myself for spending almost 3 days on this book.
Is this novel that great American novel that it is being advertised as? For me-no. I liked the parts of the book involving "the Son" Eli especially the part where he was a Comanche captive. The research on that part of the book was fascinating and honestly that's the only part of the whole book that kept me from just putting it aside.
The parts that involved his son Peter and granddaughter Jeanette were just filler that did not add to the story for me. I so wanted to like this book.
I loved "Lonesome Dove" and keep hearing this book compared to it. Not even. It doesn't even deserve to be allowed to sit next to that book on a shelf. I am giving 3 stars just because I did like the aforementioned part. Mostly I'm just ticked at myself for spending almost 3 days on this book.
mjsteimle's review against another edition
I don't know that I've ever put aside a book before due to violence. Although interesting and well-written the violence is just too graphic for me to continue. I read about 100 pages in and the various stories had me hooked so I was hesitant to put it aside, but ultimately the scenes of raids and riots were too much for me.
eldiente's review against another edition
4.0
A multi-generational saga, this was similar to Lonesome Dove or Elmer Kelton novels. I enjoyed the story but found some details too graphic and / or violent. Good escape from my modern world, but not a "great" novel.
zb1113's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
Blood Meridian but more sprawling and slightly lighter in tone. Enjoyed Eli's and J.A.'sections more than Peter's.
Betrayal, loss (and how people deal with it differently), the immensity of time, being remembered/being forgotten, sacrificing for others vs. selfishness, freedom vs. prison (physical and societal), violence and theft as inevitable and amoral, how money affects upbringing, East Coast vs. South.
Blood Meridian but more sprawling and slightly lighter in tone. Enjoyed Eli's and J.A.'sections more than Peter's.
Betrayal, loss (and how people deal with it differently), the immensity of time, being remembered/being forgotten, sacrificing for others vs. selfishness, freedom vs. prison (physical and societal), violence and theft as inevitable and amoral, how money affects upbringing, East Coast vs. South.
yasmine_w's review against another edition
3.0
There were times when I really enjoyed this. Then there were times I really wanted it be over. So the basic summary: this book follows three different characters: 1) Eli: the family patriarch, born the same day as Texan independence. We follow him as he's abducted by Comanches, basically becomes an honorary Comanche, and then his abrupt return to "civilized" life. 2) Peter: Eli's son, who is just overall disgusted with his father, his family, and his town. 3) Jeanne: Eli's great-grand daughter who..I don't even know. She didn't really have a story.
I found Eli's time with the Comanches really compelling but then his storyline just breezes by everything else afterwards. He becomes a ranger, wanders around. Maybe joins the Confederate Army at one point? And then becomes obsessed with his farm. Peter was the most sympathetic character but had like zero backbone until Maria showed up. As for Jeanne, as I said, I don't even know what was happening with her story. It was basically pointless until the end.
I found Eli's time with the Comanches really compelling but then his storyline just breezes by everything else afterwards. He becomes a ranger, wanders around. Maybe joins the Confederate Army at one point? And then becomes obsessed with his farm. Peter was the most sympathetic character but had like zero backbone until Maria showed up. As for Jeanne, as I said, I don't even know what was happening with her story. It was basically pointless until the end.
cher_n_books's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars - It was good.
This one started off incredibly strong but I found that my interest tapered off somewhere around the middle. It is told through multiple points of view, and it can be confusing at first to figure out how each character is connected (in the audiobook edition this was very frustrating - the ebook/book has a family tree at the beginning). The novel has a very disjointed feel with all of the jumping around and would have read more smoothly if the author would have told one character's story at a time in a linear style.
Eli's story was captivating, especially his time with the Comanche Indians, and if the book would have been only about him, it could have been a 4-5 star read. The other characters were far less interesting and pulled the book down.
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Favorite Quote: Looking over the grave of the Garcias I did not tell him that 1908 was also when they found the caves at La Chapelle, when they found an apelike man, a Neanderthal fifty thousand years old, who had been carefully buried in a sepulcher, a haunch of meat and several flint knives left to protect him in the afterlife. That is how long we have been hoping for a next world. Since before we were truly men.
First Sentence: It was prophesied I would live to see one hundred and having achieved that age I see no reason to doubt it.
This one started off incredibly strong but I found that my interest tapered off somewhere around the middle. It is told through multiple points of view, and it can be confusing at first to figure out how each character is connected (in the audiobook edition this was very frustrating - the ebook/book has a family tree at the beginning). The novel has a very disjointed feel with all of the jumping around and would have read more smoothly if the author would have told one character's story at a time in a linear style.
Eli's story was captivating, especially his time with the Comanche Indians, and if the book would have been only about him, it could have been a 4-5 star read. The other characters were far less interesting and pulled the book down.
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Favorite Quote: Looking over the grave of the Garcias I did not tell him that 1908 was also when they found the caves at La Chapelle, when they found an apelike man, a Neanderthal fifty thousand years old, who had been carefully buried in a sepulcher, a haunch of meat and several flint knives left to protect him in the afterlife. That is how long we have been hoping for a next world. Since before we were truly men.
First Sentence: It was prophesied I would live to see one hundred and having achieved that age I see no reason to doubt it.
serenityseeker's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Great audiobook!