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News of the World


A brilliant work of historical fiction that explores the boundaries of family, ...
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How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

Created: 07/26/17

Replies: 21

Posted Jul. 26, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?


Posted Jul. 30, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
renem

Join Date: 12/01/16

Posts: 292

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

After reading a little Texas history from the Handbook of Texas Online, I found that she was pretty spot-on.


Posted Jul. 30, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Marcia S

Join Date: 02/08/16

Posts: 505

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I found it easy to relate to the turmoil that was Texas at that time. The author acknowledged the Native Americans, the Hispanics, the bandits, lawlessness, politics, and other agitating forces in that time period. I was easily transported into that world.


Posted Jul. 30, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I knew from my university history classes that Jiles had done her research, and some of the towns and cities she mentioned still have some areas that seem far removed from modern civilization. At first I was bothered by her lack of punctuation - as Cormac McCarthy writes, without punctuation marks and describing the dialogue rather than trying to make it seem to come from the character his or her self. But as with some of McCarthy's books, I eventually got ast that and got "into" the story.


Posted Jul. 30, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Cynthia

Join Date: 06/07/17

Posts: 76

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

To be honest, I'd never been particularly interested in Texas history until this book opened my eyes and piqued my interest in the Lone Star State and conditions of the United States as they were during this time. Jiles successfully propelled me back to those days, that era with it's complexities of mixed cultures, politics, economic growth, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I could easily see myself reading more about the western frontier and the New South during this time.


Posted Jul. 31, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carolf

Join Date: 07/10/14

Posts: 72

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I found her descriptions very realistic and thorough. Having just returned from a trip to Texas Hill Country her description of that area brought me right back. The writing enables you to picture the scenery, the conflicts and the hardships during that time without having to be a history buff.


Posted Jul. 31, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Sooz

Join Date: 07/29/14

Posts: 62

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

Most of it was quite new to me as I had not been exposed to this particular time period in Texas history before reading this book. I found it all to be very interesting-quite an eye opener actually-and I'm convinced of its accuracy based on many of the former comments on Jiles' research.


Posted Aug. 02, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
labbelee

Join Date: 04/29/11

Posts: 26

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

Complete surprise! I have never read a thourough description of life in the southern states after the war, only stories of how some negroes coped. The lawlessness was unimaginable and the Captain, aware of this, is doubly commended for taking on this task.


Posted Aug. 02, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
annl

Join Date: 04/03/17

Posts: 40

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

From my travels in Texas, and exposure to the folks, history continues today. In an evolutionary positive modern way. And the way Jiles describes life, it is quite believable. I especially like how Kidd goes back to family at the end.


Posted Aug. 02, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ColoradoGirl

Join Date: 05/16/16

Posts: 149

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I agree that you could tell Jiles did her homework. What a difficult political time. It seemed dangerous to have any public gathering. Throw in some gunslingers and life was dangerous! Makes for a rich atmosphere to set a book.


Posted Aug. 03, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
JLPen77

Join Date: 02/05/16

Posts: 362

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I too confess to knowing little (and caring less) about Texas history until I read this novel, which transported me there with the author 's descriptions of landscape woven so gracefully into the action, and through the plot bringing together so many elements that were part of the volatile mix in this place and time. I think she chose her setting for its parallels with America today. At least she highlighted many of them as important parts of the story.


Posted Aug. 03, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beac

Join Date: 08/23/11

Posts: 73

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I thought it was great. I spend winters in Texas and have been to many of those little towns in the Texas Hill Country and I could picture just where she was talking about. I think she was very authentic in depicting how life was then.


Posted Aug. 03, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
M-E Thompson

Join Date: 08/03/17

Posts: 6

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

As a relatively new citizen of the state of Texas, I thought the historical aspect of the book was really interesting. I certainly wouldn't say I have a definite grasp of Texans and their history but I've been told many things that were right in line with the author's depiction of the time. As someone who was also never previously interested in Texas history, I might actually want to look some things up and find out more info after reading this book!


Posted Aug. 04, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
KateB

Join Date: 02/11/16

Posts: 60

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I have never been to Texas. I don't like Westerns. I was surprised by just how lawless it was. But it was fascinating. Only a hundred and fifty years ago, but it says in the novel that "there was anarchy" and that "every man did what was right in his own eyes."

I love being able to learn about some new place or time while reading a novel where I'm engaged by the plot and rooting for the characters. This really hit the spot for me.


Posted Aug. 05, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianaps

Join Date: 05/29/15

Posts: 460

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

Being a 5th generation Texan it was right on!!


Posted Aug. 06, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Tired Bookreader

Join Date: 08/19/11

Posts: 209

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

Having never traveled to Texas, with no plans to in the future, Paulette made it sound magnificent and breathtaking. All states have their beauty, except for Nebraska. I'm glad she didn't place this story in Nebraska!!


Posted Aug. 07, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
viquig

Join Date: 06/25/14

Posts: 82

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

Jiles' brilliant writing and vivid descriptions placed me right in Texas with Captain Kidd and Johanna! I loved imagining the wild Texan landscape with raging flooding rivers, rugged mountains and dry scrub grass. The isolated towns that they traveled through in 1870 were fascinating as well, populated with both kind gentle people but also with many rough and dangerous men. Any novel that can place me in the midst of its story is a winner!


Posted Aug. 10, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ABeman

Join Date: 01/14/15

Posts: 78

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I enjoyed how she wove historical details into the novel -- not just Texas history, but how that history overlay the backdrop of world news. The book's title could not have been more significant.


Posted Aug. 12, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I knew nothing about Texas as it was in the time after the Civil War. This book was a real eye-opener for me and I really enjoyed finding out about the conflicts that were taking place.


Posted Aug. 13, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ScribblingScribe

Join Date: 02/29/16

Posts: 189

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I loved the insight into that time frame. She clearly did her research and knew the struggles of the people in that place at that time. It was fascinating.


Posted Aug. 31, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beac

Join Date: 08/23/11

Posts: 73

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

I though she was very realistic. I really was interested in the fact that people wanted to stay with the Indian way of life even though they had been held as captives for a short time. I read "The Captives", which was mentioned at the end of her book, and it was really interesting and intriguing. I have been through the hill country of Texas and can just picture the things that happened in her book.


Posted Sep. 02, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
taking.mytime's Gravatar
taking.mytime

Join Date: 03/29/16

Posts: 364

RE: How did you respond to Jiles' depiction of life in Texas in the 1870s?

Been many years since I was last in Texas. However I have a friend who also read this book and was from the area that was mentioned and she was very happy with Jile's descriptions.


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