Review by iiQ007 -- Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the begin...
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Mohammad_Iqbal
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Review by iiQ007 -- Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the begin...
[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 is a historical fiction mainly focused on two civil war soldiers and a Western lifestyle. It also assimilates the struggles of the civil war, the struggles of Native Americans, racism and reminds us of the value of freedom that we forgot. The author explicitly describes bravery, friendship, and love. The period covered by the book is from 1863 to 1875.
Ty Jones, a freeborn black man from Louisiana, fought at Vicksburg, Mississippi alongside white Confederate. The narration starts with Ty Jones leaving home to join the Confederate army. After the unions won at the Mississippi river, Ty returns home and goes west to start a new life. Jack Donaldson, a white man from New York, fought at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Volunteers for the Union Army. After watching his two best friends die in the battle; he leaves the army and travels towards the west to start a new life. The author based Jack Donaldson on his wife’s ancestor who fought in the Civil War.
Ty Jones and Jack Donaldson fought their fair role in the army. After seeing enough deaths in the war, they carry out the haunting of war horrors in their home return. Certain common things between Ty and Jack, apart from loyalty and bravery, both traumatized by the war, seen enough deaths in their lifetime, and wanted a fresh start. The story begins with the meeting of Ty and Jack at Santa Fe Trail, and they soon become friends and start their journey together. What will happen to them? Will they endure the west?
I am most intrigued by the shifts in the narration between Jack and Ty with details using a parallel timeline. The book doesn’t contain any vulgarity or erotic scenes. The dialogue between the bartender and Jack’s pronouncement in defense of Ty is mindboggling. It is interesting to note that the narration starts with Ty leaving home and ends with Ty returning home.
There is nothing I dislike about the book. Description of war experiences might be disturbing. When Ty finds out who his actual father is, he just accepts him with no conundrum. This might seem artificial to some, but I think Ty understands his father’s reason and he must also admire him even before knowing the fact that he is his father. So that must explain the lack of conflict in Ty.
I believe that this narration won’t come just from research, the author must have either seen it or experienced it himself. The book is profoundly written and professionally edited. The narration flows like river water. I would give 4 out of 4 stars. I would happily read it again. The title says it is the beginning; I would be very much interested to read sequels.
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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 is a historical fiction mainly focused on two civil war soldiers and a Western lifestyle. It also assimilates the struggles of the civil war, the struggles of Native Americans, racism and reminds us of the value of freedom that we forgot. The author explicitly describes bravery, friendship, and love. The period covered by the book is from 1863 to 1875.
Ty Jones, a freeborn black man from Louisiana, fought at Vicksburg, Mississippi alongside white Confederate. The narration starts with Ty Jones leaving home to join the Confederate army. After the unions won at the Mississippi river, Ty returns home and goes west to start a new life. Jack Donaldson, a white man from New York, fought at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Volunteers for the Union Army. After watching his two best friends die in the battle; he leaves the army and travels towards the west to start a new life. The author based Jack Donaldson on his wife’s ancestor who fought in the Civil War.
Ty Jones and Jack Donaldson fought their fair role in the army. After seeing enough deaths in the war, they carry out the haunting of war horrors in their home return. Certain common things between Ty and Jack, apart from loyalty and bravery, both traumatized by the war, seen enough deaths in their lifetime, and wanted a fresh start. The story begins with the meeting of Ty and Jack at Santa Fe Trail, and they soon become friends and start their journey together. What will happen to them? Will they endure the west?
I am most intrigued by the shifts in the narration between Jack and Ty with details using a parallel timeline. The book doesn’t contain any vulgarity or erotic scenes. The dialogue between the bartender and Jack’s pronouncement in defense of Ty is mindboggling. It is interesting to note that the narration starts with Ty leaving home and ends with Ty returning home.
There is nothing I dislike about the book. Description of war experiences might be disturbing. When Ty finds out who his actual father is, he just accepts him with no conundrum. This might seem artificial to some, but I think Ty understands his father’s reason and he must also admire him even before knowing the fact that he is his father. So that must explain the lack of conflict in Ty.
I believe that this narration won’t come just from research, the author must have either seen it or experienced it himself. The book is profoundly written and professionally edited. The narration flows like river water. I would give 4 out of 4 stars. I would happily read it again. The title says it is the beginning; I would be very much interested to read sequels.
*******
******
Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the beginning
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids by Jemima Paul, Arvind Paul
