The narration moves back and forth between three characters. How does this affect your experience of the story? How does this affect your knowledge of that time in history?

The narration moves back and forth between three characters --- Anne, Libbie and Custer. How does this affect your experience of the story? How does this affect your knowledge of that time in history?

I think Anne’s story wasn’t really necessary to the novel although I certainly sympathized with her more than Custer and Libby. Anne’s story wasn’t really anything new; there have been may more stories written about white women captured by Native Americans. I was much more interested in Custer and Libby’s story and would have liked a deeper exploration of their relationship

I was riveted by Anne's story, mostly because she survived at all--kidnapping, molestation, beatings, the emaciation of malnourishment, forced labor, shunning, and during most of her capture, she was COLD, wearing filthy, threadbare clothing in freezing weather without protection. She lived in a perpetual state of vulnerability but was too depleted to even feel the anxiety a more present person would feel. She lost two families in one lifetime. Except for her children, nothing good happens to Anne once she is captured. She views her life a horrible, temporary (until her anticipated rescue) life-changing experience, when really, her life is a permanent and abject tragedy. The ending was heart-wrenching. I didn't realize the full extent of cruelty inflicted during this time. That her experience was realistic, did not make it easier for me to read.

Anne's story kept me reading The Removes. She is the only fully fleshed character of the three - odd since she is the only fictional one! While her story is indeed a compilation of "real" capture stories, she comes alive. The Custers are less here than in any available "real" biography - less background, less internal musings, less real action - yet they could have been so much more.

I appreciated all three characters and their experiences. The technique of moving back and fourth between the characters was very effective. But the viewpoints were all those of white people. The Indians' point of view came from just a few minor characters and from passages nestled between the chapters.

Anne's story could very well be a free standing story. It a real captive story, her flight to find her children makes the story come alive. She was the only character that was fictional but so alive and real. Both Custers were definitely self involved.

I think it was vital to provide a more rounded picture of the events and the characters. I was grateful that the author did so. It provided me a much clearer view to this story and, therefore, made my experience all the richer.

I loved Anne's point of view & found myself looking forward to her chapters. I felt like her character was more much layered than the others. I didn't particularly care for Libbie that much. I empathized with her being alone while Custer was sent out West but I didn't feel like she developed much or matured throughout the story.

I think having the 3 different characters depicted gave the narrative a certain nonstop momentum. I enjoyed reading about each one and what they were experiencing in each specific time period. Each experienced in their own way a predestined catastrophe in the relentless pursuit of America’s Manifest Destiny. Each of their worlds imploded!

I think it would have been less interesting if only told fron one POV. Although there were only the three main characters, brother Tom amd Golden Buffalo, another fictitious character, added in a further perspectives.

Anne's story was the most engaging. The narration was fine - it was easy to follow.

Moving from one person's view to another allows more in depth point of view from the person speaking. It's not confusing if done well.

I always enjoy novels that utilize different characters to tell a story. Each one comes with a different perspective and adds depth to the narrative.

The narration was excellently done by the author. Getting inside the mind of all three allowed me to experience their different lives at that point in time. As for history, we only know the outsider's perspective after the fact. I can now look more objectively on the events.

I enjoy this style of writing that presents differing points of view and differing narratives. This was one of the reasons that I selected this book. When well done, it can be moving and effective.
Our author was a skillful writer.

Most people chose Anne as the most interesting of the three perspectives, and I agree. I was shocked at what the women were put through and couldn't wait to return to her story throughout the book.

I really didn't have a favorite character; all were well drawn. I did have to reorient myself sometimes to the historical timeline; i.e. especially after Anne's sections.