Andy's review
Morning River: A Novel of the Great Missouri Wilderness in 1825 (Man From Boston)
by W. Michael Gear
I'm not quite finished with this book. It's weird -- I'm about 30 pages from the end and I'm not sure if I'll keep reading. I like where the characters are now and I'd just as soon leave them there.
I haven't decided whether to read the sequel. I expect Willow and Richard will go their separate ways, after much soul-searching. If Richard makes his way back to Boston, that'd make reading the sequel worthwhile. I'd love to see Boston through the new Richard's eyes.
If anyone's read the sequel and can tell me (generally) what happens, I'd appreciate it. Might save me some time and money.
Andy's review
Morning River: A Novel of the Great Missouri Wilderness in 1825 (Man From Boston) by W. Michael Gear
Andy's review
rating:
bookshelves:
fiction
Naive Harvard idealist meets rugged frontier wilderness.
Poor Richard Hamilton, the affable, yet toolish young chap from Boston, is totally devoted to his philosophical bffs--Kant, Voltaire and Rousseau. In fact, as young Hamilton initially believes, there isn't any problem that can't be reasoned. Violence and savagery are the modus operandi on the western frontier precisely because it lacks the cultivation of ideals normal for civilized society. It would be tragic if young Richard found himself on the cusp of "savage" society only equipped with reason and some high culture driven morality. Oh boy. It happens. What follows is a tale masterfully combining beautiful story telling with history.
The interplay between cultured, European influenced reason verses the reality of American frontier life in 1825 is particularly fascinating.
Poor Richard Hamilton, the affable, yet toolish young chap from Boston, is totally devoted to his philosophical bffs--Kant, Voltaire and Rousseau. In fact, as young Hamilton initially believes, there isn't any problem that can't be reasoned. Violence and savagery are the modus operandi on the western frontier precisely because it lacks the cultivation of ideals normal for civilized society. It would be tragic if young Richard found himself on the cusp of "savage" society only equipped with reason and some high culture driven morality. Oh boy. It happens. What follows is a tale masterfully combining beautiful story telling with history.
The interplay between cultured, European influenced reason verses the reality of American frontier life in 1825 is particularly fascinating.
I'm not quite finished with this book. It's weird -- I'm about 30 pages from the end and I'm not sure if I'll keep reading. I like where the characters are now and I'd just as soon leave them there. I haven't decided whether to read the sequel. I expect Willow and Richard will go their separate ways, after much soul-searching. If Richard makes his way back to Boston, that'd make reading the sequel worthwhile. I'd love to see Boston through the new Richard's eyes.
If anyone's read the sequel and can tell me (generally) what happens, I'd appreciate it. Might save me some time and money.