Texas: A Novel
by James A. Michener
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Jamie by:
my brotherrecommends it for: Americans
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Read in August, 2006
recommends it for:
those interested factual history told through fictional characters
A lot of great about the Lone Star state and its surrounding territories... From General Santa Ana to Mesquite BBQing. This is my fist JM book and I would definitely like to read more. He did a great job weaving in historic facts through fictional story lines. It is a long one and I found it easy to pick up other books in between reading this one but I would def recommend it to anyone would wants a solid lesson of the significance of Texas in the formation of the US... and why it effects us stil...more
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This book has over 900 pages so it is not for the faint of heart-but it is a WONDERFUL telling of the history of Texas from the Spanish explorers through the late 20th century. It places fictional characters and their stories all through the history of Texas so you are very entertained while you are learning a close up, personal history of Texas. I read this just after I moved here and have really enjoyed visiting some of the historic places mentioned in the book.
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It might have been helpful to have read this book before moving to Texas. It was a very informative book. It spoke much of the isolation the inhabitants there face. It was also interesting to learn about how it really used to be Mexico. I don't know where the line in the sand was drawn as to the border, but it used to be Mexico which explains a lot about the current border issues. Also explains about all the
(@$#*@#)$ football and cheerleading.
(@$#*@#)$ football and cheerleading.
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Considering how much I enjoyed some of his other books, and also considering the fact that Texas was a second home to me when I was growing up, due to the facts that my parents grew up in Texas and my grandparents continued to live in Dallas after I was born, this book was a huge disappointment to me. The richness of the topic deserved better treatment than it got in this book. It certainly wasn't Michener's best effort.
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Texas is a novel by James A. Michener based on the history of the the Lone Star State. Characters include some real and fictional characters, including German Texan settlers, Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, other explorers, pioneers, oil men, ranchers, genteel descendant of Southern aristocracats, Chicanos, and so on, all based on extensive, historical research. It is over 1000 pages long
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Heather by:
Tobyrecommends it for: Texans and the Tex-curious
Great book. Who else besides Michener can keep you readin through 1300 pages of history lesson? I'm a native Texan, proud of it, and I still learned a lot about my state. Plus, living in Germany and missing the homeland, it was nice to feel my people again, you dig?
Every Texan and aspiring Texan should have to read this. Also would make a great gift for any Texan living abroad.
Every Texan and aspiring Texan should have to read this. Also would make a great gift for any Texan living abroad.
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Texans or anyone interested in Texas
LOVED this book! I'm a huge fan of epic novels (mainly because I like to lose myself in them!). I happen to also be from Texas, and though I had classes in school, I probably retained more from this novel than I ever did from a textbook. And yes, this is a novel, though based upon factual events. I would definitely recommend for any Texan or anyone interested in Texas.
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Read in July, 1994
I loved this book and couldn't put it down, however it still too me at least two months to read it all the way through. I loved it right up until present day when the book suddenly became very dull and i could barely finish it. But altogether i have to give it high marks for being a great semi-historical epic that kept me riveted despite also doubling as a paper-weight.
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Being from NJ, I didn't know very much about Texas history. When I moved here, my father-in-law bought me this book as a gift. Reading a fiction hitorical novel made learning about he history of Texas fun. It's interesting to read about the characters, know they are fictional, but also knowing this book is telling me about the forming of a territory/republic/state.
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Read in April, 2003
What can I say, I'm a Texan. I'd never read Michener but my husband and I were traveling around my home state of Texas for several weeks in our VW Camper nd I read this all along the way. It was great, long but great. Michener's a pretty great story teller but I don't think I could've made it through if it wasn't for my love of this great state.
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Read in January, 1988
I read this years ago, before I had encountered a "Texan" or had any idea what it meant to be one! : ) The story is rich and vibrant, classic Michener. Not only was the story enjoyable, I think I benefited from the knowledge when I did meet the real thing -- (Texans) later in life!
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I usually like the dense details Michener is noted for in his writing. I've had trouble getting into the story this time. Perhaps in time it will improve. The story line is two-fold: the settling of the west and the tensions leading up to the Civil War.
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Read in January, 2008
After traveling to San Antonio for the winter holidays last year, I picked up this historical novel and I learned so much about the settlement and culture of Texas; it very clearly explains the evolution of what we all know it means to be Texan.
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Read in July, 1994
I embarked on this book when I knew I was relocating to the Lone Star State ... and barely made it through it by the time I left it six years later. Wordy and slow (hire and editor already!), but the unique trivia bits were interesting.
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Read in January, 1993
This is the one and only book of Michener's I just couldn't get into. Don't know why it isn't grabbing me like all his other works. I've picked it up numerous times and gotten a few hundred pages into it, but.... Maybe I'll try again.
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Read in January, 1995
Plowed through as much as I could. I wanted to see the characterization of a distant relative who died at the Alamo. Very informative for any state historian. Got a little stale after the West Texas football section.
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most of the Michner books I read SO long ago that trying to remember what my thoughts were is pretty impossible. I think I read it when I was 14 trapped at my Grandparent's house in the middle of nowhere for 1 month.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in September, 2006
This book keeps me grounded, its a story about my roots and the people that came before me. If you ever wanted to know about the other nation that exsist within the United States, you must read this book.
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Read in March, 2008
I'm really enjoying this book. I've wanted to read it since I lived in Austin in 1999 and I've started it a couple of times since then. I'm hoping to finish it this time...
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