Review by dtbrannon -- Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the be...
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dtbrannon
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Review by dtbrannon -- Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the be...
[Following is a volunteer review of "Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the beginning" by James E Doucette.]
In Flat Top Mountain Ranch: The Beginning by James E. Doucette, the author makes a statement that I really admire: "In any era, young men fight for their cause out of patriotism. I understate my thoughts about the politicians who send our young people to fight and die, but my admiration for those who fought on both sides is evident. If anyone has a problem with my position–too bad."
The two main characters in our story are Ty Jones and Jack Donaldson, both enlisted soldiers during the Civil War, fighting on opposite sides. Ty is a freeborn black man from Louisiana, while Jack is a white man from the State of New York. Both men endure the horror of war until discharged and allowed to return home.
But home isn’t where the heart is and both men want to see the wild west before it becomes overrun by settlers. Separately, the two men make their way out west, working and learning how to become ranch hands along the way.
Ty and Jack eventually meet at a place called Adobe Flats. Jack invites Ty back to the wagon train that he is part of. The two partners temporarily separate near Santa Fe, NM. Ty goes with trappers to an Indian village, while Jack goes on into Santa Fe with the cattle.
The previous paragraphs provide the background and setting for the remainder of the story. Two men, one white, the other a freeborn black man, seeking peace and prosperity. Both have similar beliefs and values. Both are honest, hard-working, and trustworthy.
The story is told in the third person, from the author's point of view. The author is very skilled at switching dialogue between different characters, even though they may be speaking in Spanish or a Native American tongue, and providing a simplified translation for the reader.
I definitely enjoyed this book, especially in the manner that it presented historical background and references. The reader will feel the plight of both the soldiers during the Civil War, along with the different feelings of Native Americans in the period immediately after the war.
I highly recommend this book to any reader looking for something wholesome and heartwarming. The profanity was very minor, and I noticed only a handful of the mildest words. There was some mild violence mentioned during the fighting between the whites and Native Americans, but even that wasn't of a very graphic nature.
This book would appeal to most any reader, young or old, especially if they enjoy westerns or history.
The unique qualities of the various characters are what I liked most about the book. The qualities of the characters were genuine, believable, and many times heart-warming. The author introduced many of them to the reader as if they were old friends. There was absolutely nothing that I disliked about this book.
The story grabbed and held my attention, and read so smoothly that I was quickly finished in just a few days. The book was professionally edited and I found no errors in spelling or grammar. This book deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars based on its creativity and originality. I foresee a motion picture forthcoming in the not too distant future.
******
Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the beginning
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In Flat Top Mountain Ranch: The Beginning by James E. Doucette, the author makes a statement that I really admire: "In any era, young men fight for their cause out of patriotism. I understate my thoughts about the politicians who send our young people to fight and die, but my admiration for those who fought on both sides is evident. If anyone has a problem with my position–too bad."
The two main characters in our story are Ty Jones and Jack Donaldson, both enlisted soldiers during the Civil War, fighting on opposite sides. Ty is a freeborn black man from Louisiana, while Jack is a white man from the State of New York. Both men endure the horror of war until discharged and allowed to return home.
But home isn’t where the heart is and both men want to see the wild west before it becomes overrun by settlers. Separately, the two men make their way out west, working and learning how to become ranch hands along the way.
Ty and Jack eventually meet at a place called Adobe Flats. Jack invites Ty back to the wagon train that he is part of. The two partners temporarily separate near Santa Fe, NM. Ty goes with trappers to an Indian village, while Jack goes on into Santa Fe with the cattle.
The previous paragraphs provide the background and setting for the remainder of the story. Two men, one white, the other a freeborn black man, seeking peace and prosperity. Both have similar beliefs and values. Both are honest, hard-working, and trustworthy.
The story is told in the third person, from the author's point of view. The author is very skilled at switching dialogue between different characters, even though they may be speaking in Spanish or a Native American tongue, and providing a simplified translation for the reader.
I definitely enjoyed this book, especially in the manner that it presented historical background and references. The reader will feel the plight of both the soldiers during the Civil War, along with the different feelings of Native Americans in the period immediately after the war.
I highly recommend this book to any reader looking for something wholesome and heartwarming. The profanity was very minor, and I noticed only a handful of the mildest words. There was some mild violence mentioned during the fighting between the whites and Native Americans, but even that wasn't of a very graphic nature.
This book would appeal to most any reader, young or old, especially if they enjoy westerns or history.
The unique qualities of the various characters are what I liked most about the book. The qualities of the characters were genuine, believable, and many times heart-warming. The author introduced many of them to the reader as if they were old friends. There was absolutely nothing that I disliked about this book.
The story grabbed and held my attention, and read so smoothly that I was quickly finished in just a few days. The book was professionally edited and I found no errors in spelling or grammar. This book deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars based on its creativity and originality. I foresee a motion picture forthcoming in the not too distant future.
******
Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the beginning
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Riven Calyx by Mark Leon Collins
