Review by Michele Harris -- Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- t...
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Michele H
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Review by Michele Harris -- Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- t...
[Following is a volunteer review of "Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the beginning" by James E Doucette.]
Flat Top Mountain Ranch: The Beginning by James E. Doucette begins with the story of two soldiers in the Civil War. Before Jack and Ty met, they fought on opposite sides of the war. Ty was born a free black man and lived a sheltered life. It seemed only natural for him to fight with the Confederate army even though he was told it was not his war. Both men were forever changed by battle.
Jack and Ty’s paths cross after they are discharged while migrating west to escape the war and the turmoil created by the division of the north and south. Although they fought on opposite sides, they shared the inward scars the war left on their souls. They also shared a dream. As they follow their dream and attempt to escape the past, they find themselves in the middle of the Indian Wars. The Santa Fe Trail leads them to the dangers of cowboy life during westward migration, but will it lead them to their ultimate dream?
Doucette is a descriptive writer who has a talent for creating imagery. He expertly represents the day-to-day life and the complexities of the times following the Civil War in this historical fiction novel. His characters are believable and likable. Curiosity is created early on in the book by separate storylines of the two main characters before they meet. This author boldly takes on prejudice and the impact of war on soldiers. The story is woven with views of both sides of the Civil War, which makes it interesting to read.
This book is written for teen and adult audiences and is expertly edited. The main reason I would not include children in the audience is that the book references scalping indians and violent details of war. I enjoy historic fiction novels, but this era is not of particular interest to me. The target audience for this story would be readers who are interested in the westward migration of the post-Civil War era.
The novel is slow to start and has a disjointed plot at times. This author writes with very little emotion. The storyline felt mechanical and impersonal in the beginning. For these reasons, I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. The thing I enjoyed most about this book is the author’s ability to immerse the reader in the 1860s. If cowboy life in the 1860s is of interest to you, you will no doubt enjoy this read.
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Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the beginning
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Flat Top Mountain Ranch: The Beginning by James E. Doucette begins with the story of two soldiers in the Civil War. Before Jack and Ty met, they fought on opposite sides of the war. Ty was born a free black man and lived a sheltered life. It seemed only natural for him to fight with the Confederate army even though he was told it was not his war. Both men were forever changed by battle.
Jack and Ty’s paths cross after they are discharged while migrating west to escape the war and the turmoil created by the division of the north and south. Although they fought on opposite sides, they shared the inward scars the war left on their souls. They also shared a dream. As they follow their dream and attempt to escape the past, they find themselves in the middle of the Indian Wars. The Santa Fe Trail leads them to the dangers of cowboy life during westward migration, but will it lead them to their ultimate dream?
Doucette is a descriptive writer who has a talent for creating imagery. He expertly represents the day-to-day life and the complexities of the times following the Civil War in this historical fiction novel. His characters are believable and likable. Curiosity is created early on in the book by separate storylines of the two main characters before they meet. This author boldly takes on prejudice and the impact of war on soldiers. The story is woven with views of both sides of the Civil War, which makes it interesting to read.
This book is written for teen and adult audiences and is expertly edited. The main reason I would not include children in the audience is that the book references scalping indians and violent details of war. I enjoy historic fiction novels, but this era is not of particular interest to me. The target audience for this story would be readers who are interested in the westward migration of the post-Civil War era.
The novel is slow to start and has a disjointed plot at times. This author writes with very little emotion. The storyline felt mechanical and impersonal in the beginning. For these reasons, I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. The thing I enjoyed most about this book is the author’s ability to immerse the reader in the 1860s. If cowboy life in the 1860s is of interest to you, you will no doubt enjoy this read.
******
Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the beginning
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: House of Dads by June Gillam
