This is a story of a family moving west on the Oregon trail.
It is a good story, but nothing outstanding. A nice contrast/companion
read is Grapes of Wrath. Interestingly, this was the third book in a
trilogy. It is rare for the last book in a series to win any awards.
I didn't read this again for the list. I have read it twice before. Also saw
the classic movie with Humphery Bogart. Both great. This is undoubtedly Wouk's best
work. If you are a fan of W.W.II naval historical fiction, this is for you. A great
navel three pack is: this book, Mitchener's South Pacific and
Alistair MacLean's H.M.S. Ulysses.
This is a novella for you impatient types. Another schools staple. I
can't believe I had not read this one before, but I don't remember doing so.
Frankly, this kind of book is Papa at his finest. Every writer should have to
read William Howells, Umberto Eco, Barbara Kingsolver and then this book to understand
the pure essence of descriptive literature. [Note to to English majors,
that was not praise for the first three.]
Gad, I barely made it thru this book. It is a very allegorical story
set in WWI France. I can see that it is very 'artsy' and would catch the
eye of the literary crowd. But it is a hard book to read. I don't fool
easily, but I am still puzzled about some of what went on in the story. I
hope the next Faulkner on the list is more linear.
This book could have been better. The author died before it was
completed. Editors collected the parts and notes and published the book.
The writing is quite good and the story is engaging, but it suffers from
a lack of overall flow and consistency.
This is about a young boy and his father who go west to prospect for gold in 1850.
It is told from the viewpoint of the boy. The best aspect of the book is the
dialog of the drunk doctor father. A not-to-be-missed passage is the crossing of verbal
swords with the Mormons in Salt Lake City. Hilarious.
