From the acclaimed author of Acts of Faith (“A miracle . . . You can hardly conceive of a more affecting reading experience”R...
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reviews
Feb 26, 2011
switterbug (Betsey)
rated it: 
I dashed out to buy Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, Philip Caputo's, latest novel after reading an enthusiastic review in my local newspaper. I was unfamiliar with this author, but I was intrigued by the promise of a burly border tale. I was not disappointed. This is a generational saga and epic of the southwest, bristling with illegal border crossers and warring drug cartels, studded with outlaws and vaqueros. A dense book, it starts rather slowly, gradually lassoing the reader into a comple
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Jan 29, 2011
Paul
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"Crossers" begins at the turn of the twentieth century to the here and now. The story is being told in the now but references back to earlier history. Caputo is very descriptive in his portrayal of Arizona, and builds characters that come alive. Caputo also gives the reader an outstanding look at the early years of Arizona and the people that lived through that era. Those people were independent, tough, and answering to no one but themselves.
The story also brings to the More...
The story also brings to the More...
Dec 06, 2009
Charles
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The enormous malevolence of Sept. 11, 2001, still squats upon the imagination, resisting our efforts to comprehend it. Writers as various as Jay McInerney (“The Good Life”), Jonathan Safran Foer (“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”), John Updike (“Terrorist”) and Andre Dubus III (“The Garden of Last Days”) have tried working the events of 9/11 into their novels, but most of these ambitious books were doomed to at least partial failure because our memories of the actual events retain an emotion
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Oct 28, 2009
Tony
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Caputo, Philip. CROSSERS. (2009). ***. This is, essentially, a novel about life on the Arizona-Mexico border from the early days of the 20th century up until the years just past 9/11. It follows one family, from the grandfather who was in turn a rustler and a joiner in the Mexican revolution for kicks, to the grandson, a Connecticut WASP who is a powerful man on the world financial scene. The grandson, Gil Castle, lost his wife on 9/11. She was one of the passengers on one of the planes u
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Mar 12, 2011
Norma
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It took me quite a while to read this book because it dealt with such a complicated issue. I had to "digest" one chapter before I could go on. Crossers gives a lot of Arizona history and the "Wild West" mentality but I felt the main theme of the book was immigration problems and drug running problems and how they intertwined. It also dealt with border violence; not just violence on the Mexico side, but violence by us on our side as well. I thought that I didn't like this bo
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Dec 13, 2011
John
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The good: Caputo has a gift for writing suspenseful, thrilling stories. When the book moves, it rushes forward with a reckless, contagious energy. The book is also meticulously researched. The plot takes place on an isolated ranch that abuts the US-Mexico border in Arizona. The peaceful ranchers' lives are interrupted and threatened by the machinations of a Mexican drug cartel. But there are no easy villains or heroes here, as the novel visits the complex, painful history of the region and the l
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Dec 28, 2010
Jenny
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Very interesting but definitely rated R. It's about life on the AZ/Mexico border. It switches back and forth between events about 100 years ago and events now. It's a novel, but is probaby fairly accurate in its portrayal of life there near the border. I liked that it showed things from multiple perspectives and helped you see why illegal immigration is such a complex issue. I like what one character, Tessa says when another character, Blaine, wants to have vigilantes patrol his ranch after
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May 06, 2010
Jim
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This book is a combination historical novel-crime thriller-romance (but one that is guy-friendly)-story of personal redemption-philosophical reflection on our times. The thing is, it works.
The protagonist, Gil castle, whose wife died on 9/11, accepts his relatives’ invitation to come to stay at their ranch on the Arizona-Mexico border. While there, he becomes embroiled in the schemes of drug traffickers, the desperate plight of illegal migrants, and a relationship with a woman who is More...
The protagonist, Gil castle, whose wife died on 9/11, accepts his relatives’ invitation to come to stay at their ranch on the Arizona-Mexico border. While there, he becomes embroiled in the schemes of drug traffickers, the desperate plight of illegal migrants, and a relationship with a woman who is More...
Jun 14, 2010
Tim
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An intriguing and shocking tale about a three generations of a family of Arizona ranchers living on the border with Mexico. The story highlights the history and porosity of the border, the intertwining of two cultures, and the current nightmare that exists today. A huge narco-drug subculture, complete with, wealth, greed, power, violence and religious pinnings imposed on the top of another subculture of desperate, brave, and powerless "wets" striving to reach a land with opportunity.
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Nov 22, 2010
Johnny
rated it:
It's hard for me to put my finger on it, but this book took me forever to get through. And ultimately, it took a very long time to tell a pretty simple story.
The non-genre parts of this book are the most successful. The slow pace of the first half matches the study of grief that is at the center of the story. However, when the story moves into genre (smugglers along the border), it never shifts the pace and feels a little like it drags.
Beautifully written, if arguably a li More...
The non-genre parts of this book are the most successful. The slow pace of the first half matches the study of grief that is at the center of the story. However, when the story moves into genre (smugglers along the border), it never shifts the pace and feels a little like it drags.
Beautifully written, if arguably a li More...
Mar 09, 2010
Jude
rated it:
I am a long time fan of Philip Caputo and have read his entire work after being captured by his remarkable story about Vietnam, "A Rumor of War." "Crossers" is very current, intertwining a tale of illegal immigration, smuggling and violence with old West history. He started to write a non=fiction piece about border issues for a quarterly review and his research turned up such fascinating material that it led to this novel.
Right after I finished this novel I sa More...
Right after I finished this novel I sa More...
Jan 29, 2012
Billcorcoran
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An interesting story taking place on the Mexican/Arizona border. The book jumps back and forth in time and I personally found the story taking place in the past was the one I found more enjoyable. That story had a Clint Eastwood western vibe to it that I think fans of westerns would enjoy. The more modern story was interesting as well, and dealt with exploring the various issues of illegal immigration on the border. It's a good book, I think I was just hoping for a deeper exploration of the
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Feb 28, 2010
Douglas
rated it:
First sentence - "We fly from our time and place to the settlement of Lochiel,the present-day ghost town then home to four hundred souls: adobe houses and miners' shacks, a post office, a school, a few stores, and three saloons islanded on the mile high grasslands of the San Rafael Valley and tethered to the outside world by a single road that writhes westward through the Patagonia Mountains to its end in Nogales, the road deeply rutted by the giant wagons trundling silver and copper ore ou
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Oct 27, 2009
Frederic
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Blurbs from Jim Harrison and Robert Olen Butler may give the impression that this is a "serious" novel...appropriately heavy elements(9/11,VietNam,Immigration,Seneca...)are undercut by lightweight characters more suited to a Movie-of-the -Week from the 1970's...lots of mini-series regulars like the Porsche Progressive who learns Life Lessons by getting Back-To-The-Land,the fiesty Pioneer Woman,The Single Mother with a Tragic Past,the Latina SpitFire and many more,including my favourite
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Nov 11, 2009
Mherriges
rated it:
A really relevant look at our fragile border relations between Mexico and the US told through the story of the Erskine family past and present. Mostly out of site out of mind for those of us who don't live and breathe it everyday there is a very stark and desperate coexistence that plays out everyday along the border. Not sure most of us have paid any attention to it but we should start. Its not just headlines but real people chasing real dreams. This is a good story that should open your eyes a
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Jan 17, 2011
Patrick
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The novelist John Gardner put forth the notion that fiction should "evoke a vivid and continuous dream." In other words, it should immerse the reader in a world that feels alive, from the beginning of the book to the end. Creating this universe -- be it one that looks and feels like our own or a totally different time and place -- is the challenge of the novelist.
I thought about this notion of the vivid and continuous dream while reading Philip Caputo's Crossers. I'd never More...
I thought about this notion of the vivid and continuous dream while reading Philip Caputo's Crossers. I'd never More...
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Apr 25, 2011
Kkraemer
rated it:
This book is about crossings and double crossings of borders and boundaries. Gil's wife died in 911 and he crosses into a new life on the family ranch in southern Arizona, where he learns of a different kind of terrorism. People and drugs cross the border, and greed, violence, and exploitation seem to know no boundaries. The border is fluid, the morals are fluid, and the money made from moving drugs drowns all that stand in its way.
This would make a good movie.
This would make a good movie.
Mar 03, 2010
Mike
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This is an OK book. I tended to plod through the book. I wanted to put the book down and read something else on several occasions. This novel ended up being a modern day western with flashacks to the "Old West' and how justice was meted out.
Caputo just did not bring his A game to this effort. finally, there were way too many curse words in the book which diluted the story.
I do not recommend this book unless you are a Caputo fan.
Caputo just did not bring his A game to this effort. finally, there were way too many curse words in the book which diluted the story.
I do not recommend this book unless you are a Caputo fan.
Sep 29, 2010
Meredith
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After two tries, I was not able to finish this book. I very much disliked the self-centered and navel-contemplating modern-day protagonist, Gil Castle, and the major issue in the plot has been better dealt with by others. Didn't like the back story, either, or Ben or Jeff. The writing was very stilted as well. Not a good read.
Jan 12, 2010
Kevin
rated it:
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Mar 30, 2010
Erik
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This thing is only a little weightier than some throw away romance novel. Way too much of the author's personal beliefs filtered through his one dimensional fictional characters. This was sent to me by one of my book clubs and I had high hopes. What a letdown. From the Jackie Collins school of writing I imagine...
Feb 01, 2010
Jo Marie
rated it:
An interesting book about life on the Arizona - Mexico border currently and in the past. The author jumps back and forth in time, which I found hard to follow sometimes. Life along the border has always been hard and violent and this book gives one a clearer sense of that from both sides of the border. I didn't like it as much as I thought I would but I'm glad I read it.
Aug 27, 2010
Bill
rated it:
not quite as much patience required for this book, compared to some of Mr. Caputo's other work... All-in-all a very good read. It's classified non-fiction, but I'm sure most of the events in the book really are happening these days along our border with Mexico. Also a very timely story given recent events between our federal government's lack of enforcement of border security, and individual states' attempts to pick up the slack.
May 26, 2011
Bob
rated it:
Caputo has given us an interesting look at life along the strife-ridden U.S.-Mexican border in southern Arizona. The characters, including a 9/11 widower, are vividly drawn and interesting. But the book suffers from a disappointingly abrupt and cliched ending and an excess of back-story.
Nov 10, 2010
Ron
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Good story that deals with the dangerous life led by ranchers on along the Arizona - Mexico border and its effects on two generations of a cattle ranching family dealing with drug and human trafficers using their rangeland to cross into the U.S. A pretty good read.
Sep 26, 2011
Janet
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Interesting, but not an easy read. The story revolves around a rancher on the Mexican border and gives voice to several points of view concerning illegal immigration, drug violence and the plight of those caught in the middle.
May 31, 2011
Brian
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OK, not brilliant but solid writing. Good story. With numerous current authors working the same territory, Caputo's description of the border wars & narcotrafficing didn't shed much new light. But he kept the pages turning. And I did enjoy the setting; some scenes were right around Sonoita, where Janet & I did our wine touring.
Those who hate violence should read something else.
Those who hate violence should read something else.
Apr 17, 2011
Karen
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Caputo is a skillful writer and knows how to weave a tale. I've always enjoyed his books and the way they deal with pressing issues - in this case the border/drug wars of the southwest. His one fault though, is going overboard with the action. It's larger than life and too much like an action movie. His woman characters also lack round edges, they read as types. I'm willing to forgave all that because he does setting so well and makes headlines come alive vividly. This book was especially w
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Dec 31, 2010
Mary
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Good perspective in a fictionalized setting of what it's like to live on the border of Arizona and Mexico. Life of a rancher and a drug and illegal alien runner explored in a generational epic.
Oct 24, 2010
Margaret
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While a lot of this book was good and I was interested in the plot, it ended on a lame note with the two dirty cops (one Mexican, one American) sharing info of no import and remarking on how one can never escape your history. Wow, how unique a vision. It is even more depressing that this is how Caputo summed up the book because there was so much more potential there.
