Not Logged in.
Book Jacket

News of the World


A brilliant work of historical fiction that explores the boundaries of family, ...
Summary and Reviews
Excerpt
Reading Guide

Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

Created: 07/25/17

Replies: 25

Posted Jul. 25, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader. What does he bring to his audience, and what does he gain from his work besides financial compensation?


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

Join Date: 09/03/15

Posts: 89

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

He was interested in world events and wanted to be the one who brought the news to all people who had a hunger to know. Also, it was his way to earn his meager living expenses.


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

Join Date: 02/08/16

Posts: 505

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I think I've already answered this in the question about his final line. Again, he was spreading the news by both informing and entertaining the people. He also selected his readings based on the community he was in. He actually afforded his listeners an escape from their daily lives and a window into the wider world. It also provided his financial living.


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

Join Date: 05/14/11

Posts: 119

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

He was doing what he felt he did best, delivering messages. He had tailored it to the changing times, of course, and this time he was not only delivering but tailoring messages to his audience.


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

Join Date: 03/11/15

Posts: 120

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I had never heard of such a thing as a news reader, but it makes perfect sense. What few papers there were only gave very localized news. And many people could probably not afford these newspapers. Many others were illiterate. People could hear news of the world and be entertained at the same time. It was also something that brought the community together. So what Kidd did provided a great service to the small towns of Texas. I imagined his voice as deep and resonant, something like actor Sam Elliott's.


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

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 434

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I thought it was very interesting. I had never heard of such a thing. In his older age it gave him something interesting to do and some income. Many of the people he read to most likely could not read and this was also entertainment for them.


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

Join Date: 07/27/17

Posts: 12

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I was intrigued by his line of work. I love how he was very intent upon remaining neutral in the tension of the political landscape. He just "read the news." But I also love how he did his best to bring a sense of wonder and novelty to the subjects he read. His own intellectual curiosity was apparent through his choice of work, his love of the print shop and his excellent vocabulary. He brought real stories to life in such a way that he made it seem like magical lands to his listeners. Part journalist, part bard.


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

Join Date: 08/28/15

Posts: 15

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I had not read or heard about this before. Very interesting how the world did get news. I liked the information that his last reading was a good story to calm the people down before he ended for the evening, so that they would leave peacefully. Not all nights worked out that way.


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

Join Date: 07/10/14

Posts: 72

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

Because Captain Kidd had a commanding voice and chose his stories carefully his readings were always welcome. He also avoided political stories that could raise tensions in the crowd (although this did happen once) and so people were anxious to hear the sometimes quirky news he presented. I wonder if in today's world if it wouldn't be a welcome respite from checking our electronic devices to simply sit and listen to someone read excerpts from the world's newspapers.


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

Join Date: 05/14/11

Posts: 21

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

What a rich idea Captain Kidd had
. I wonder if he had found other news readers in his travels I love the way he programmed to his audience.


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

Join Date: 02/05/16

Posts: 362

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

He strikes me as a man with a deep sense of personal service to what he believes is right, which impels him into public service in the unique ways available in his place and tine: as a soldier and a newspaper editor in the "backstory," and as a newspaper reader and an escort for Johanna in the main storyline. He is drawn to this work as an extension of his background in the news biz, and both jobs reflect the value he places upon knowledge, truth, an open mind, a sense of humanity and fairness--all essential to creating a just society and the rule of law in a lawless frontier. I think he wants to awaken or encourage people's thirst for knowledge by entertaining them, and he is pragmatic too, knowing that he needs to earn a living and if it isn't entertaining (and safe), his reading won't attract another audience. His energy, intelligence, resourcefulness, and willingness to take risks, take on challenges and work for what he believes in, out of a real humanity-- all make him an unforgettable character for me.


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

Join Date: 08/03/17

Posts: 6

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I had no idea that this type of thing ever existed and I found it very intriguing. It makes absolute sense because of the distance between cities, affordability of newspapers, and literacy of the population. What I most enjoyed about this part of the book was that Captain Kidd viewed the news as a story to tell others--something to inform and transport those people to another time and place. In comparison to today where we are saturated with news 24/7, it was interesting to consider it from the point of view of a population who did not get news every day and would view it as an event to attend when it came their way.


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

Join Date: 05/29/15

Posts: 460

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

What a unique job he created for himself!! Being a lover of printed words and a messenger during the war certainly paid off.


Posted Aug. 06, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sandra54

Join Date: 05/01/13

Posts: 62

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

Captain Jefferson not only enriched people's lives by sharing news but had a great deal of power. He decided what to include and what to omit. This power could be dangerous in the wrong hands.


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

Join Date: 10/16/16

Posts: 40

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I found this part of the story so interesting. In this day and age of instant 24-hour news access, that people paid a dime to come and listen to news being read to them from "old" newspapers is fascinating. I was also reminded during this book that not everyone could read during that era - which I don't think about in this era although I know it is true. To hear the news read was an education about what was going on in the world, it was social and it was a way to connect to the rest of the world. A fascinating job that Captain Kidd created for himself.


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

Join Date: 12/03/11

Posts: 276

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I was fascinated to read about this. I liked the description of the Captain choosing which stories to read, to give his audience a flavor of the exotic, mixed with the more mundane stories of the day. He read from papers from far-away, and about things with which the listeners might be unfamiliar, such as the story about the storm in London that sent the chimney pots sailing (his side comments was something about how the listeners would wonder what chimney pots were). He read the news to them as entertainment and a way to bring the people of the towns he visited together. His job was somewhat reminiscent of the character in the play "Ana in the Tropics," who is paid to read to the factory workers while they're working. I've seen that play performed in both English and Spanish, and it impressed me, as does Captain Kidd's work, with how important and comforting as well as informative it can be to have someone read to you.


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

Join Date: 09/14/11

Posts: 94

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I thought it was an interesting job! He brought the news from other parts of the country and even the world to those who might not have time to read about it. Perhaps some of the townspeople could not read so this was a way for them to get the news. It was also a time for them to get together, hear the news and socialize with each other. I think he enjoyed his job and also the control he had over which news stories to include and which not to include.


Posted Aug. 08, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Carol Rainer

Join Date: 09/03/15

Posts: 89

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

Being that he had been a printer and had always enjoyed knowing what was happening in this big world, it seemed a natural extension to me to take the next step into bringing the news to people who couldn't read. Also, it was a way for him to earn the small amount that he needed for his paltry existence.


Posted Aug. 08, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
debrals

Join Date: 11/28/11

Posts: 39

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

His work was interesting! I had never heard of this before. It gave him purpose and money which was important at that point in his life. People showed up to hear the news so that they knew what was happening around them and to expand their world. It also helped with their travels to hear where the Captain had been.


Posted Aug. 08, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ColoradoGirl

Join Date: 05/16/16

Posts: 149

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

This was one of my favorite parts of this book. I wish I could time travel into this book and hear him read the news. A very interesting glimpse into this time period when many were captivated by what was going on in the wider world and didn't have an easy way to get that news. Fascinating!


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

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

I think he provided a valuable service to the people of the towns he visited. He was both a bringer of news and a provider of entertainment. His choice to give the people romantic and exotic news to think about took them out of their workaday lives.


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

Join Date: 02/29/16

Posts: 189

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

He delivered news of the world to people who had no access. It was a continuation of the happiest time in his life when he was a runner during the war carrying messages from camp to camp. When he lost his presses where he would print messages he returned to what he knew--delivery. This was just another means to do it. He saw a need that matched his own desire to share news and committed to it, despite its difficulties and hardships for a man his age. I think it telling that he was so successful and recognized where he went. This was his nature.


Posted Aug. 14, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

Captain Kidd struck me as an educated man whose worldview were shaped by his experiences and interactions with others throughout his life. Not everyone is able to experience the things he did firsthand. In my opinion, his reading of the news was an attempt to open the hearts and minds of others during a particularly contentious and wild time in Texas. He looked for stories that intrigued, inspired, and connected all people, regardless of their political views or location. He provided moments of calm and wonder in an often hostile environment. I also believe this job was his "calling", delivering messages, as he even asked to be buried with his runner's badge.


Posted Aug. 15, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
allinea

Join Date: 12/15/16

Posts: 2

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

This was my favorite part of the book - what an inventive, creative and useful way to make a living! I've often thought about how very fortunate I am to have learned to read early, and to have been encouraged to read and read and read. What would life be like without instant, constant deluge of information? This book also makes me think about the evolution of communication - how news travels. As others above have already commented, it is such a drastic difference from our 24/7 multi-media inundation of "news." I loved how eager many people of the Captain's audience were, not only for information but for entertainment. What must it have felt like to hear about far-flung places and events that were completely new? In these days where (practically) every inch of the Earth has been explored and photographed and written about and studied, I miss that opportunity for a great sense of wonder. And the Captain's use of different stories to have some control over the audiences was also fascinating - humans haven't really changed much, and the Captain's intuition seemed to have saved his life numerous times.


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

Join Date: 08/23/11

Posts: 73

RE: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

He no longer had a job to do in the service and he no longer needed to take care of a family. I think this gave him the chance to provide a service to other people and travel around at the same time. I don't think the money was that important to him, but it provided a challenge to thrive in the outdoor environment and provide for himself.


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: Discuss Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd's work as a newspaper reader

First, I think Kidd was always interested in news and the printing world and he preferred to remain a part of that. Secondly, I think he enjoyed all the traveling. He appeared to be a curious person and both of those facts fit him well.


Reply

Please login to post a response.