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Rivers West #7
The American River
John Augustus Sutter arrives in California to stake his claim near the Sacramento and American rivers, and finds himself answering the pleas of the Donner party, stranded in the Sierra Nevadas and surviving through cannabilism. Original.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
213 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Gary McCarthy
104 books13 followersGary McCarthy is the author of fourteen American historical novels and thirty-four westerns published by many of New York's major publishing houses. He has over three million books in print and continues to research and write his Canyon Country novels.
Growing up with horses and living in California, Nevada and Arizona, Gary is well suited to writing about the American West. He received his B.S. degree in Animal Science and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics. He has a keen interest in Native American cultures, especially the Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai and Haulapai who live in Northern Arizona.
Gary and his wife Jane live in Arizona and have often ridden horses and hiked in the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests. Gary is always looking for new stories set in the American West and considers the research to be among his most favorite pursuits.
Growing up with horses and living in California, Nevada and Arizona, Gary is well suited to writing about the American West. He received his B.S. degree in Animal Science and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics. He has a keen interest in Native American cultures, especially the Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai and Haulapai who live in Northern Arizona.
Gary and his wife Jane live in Arizona and have often ridden horses and hiked in the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests. Gary is always looking for new stories set in the American West and considers the research to be among his most favorite pursuits.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 28, 2018
Another good read about how the we're rivers played an important part in the development of the American West.
McCarthy again shows his writing skills here in this very well written book on the American River and the development of the Sacramento area of California. The characters are well developed and it is like you are there with. The interplay between characters is well don. You come away feeling that you were either Captain Sutter and helping in establishing his fort.
I can see now after reading this novel how men of vision helped develop this land especially those out west where the odds were really great you had to face the Indians, Mexicans, as well as outlaws and wild animals. They had to learn how to live off the land and how to cure injuries there well nl McDonald's or doctors avaliable. My hat goes off to these courageous people expecially the women they were very tough.
McCarthy again shows his writing skills here in this very well written book on the American River and the development of the Sacramento area of California. The characters are well developed and it is like you are there with. The interplay between characters is well don. You come away feeling that you were either Captain Sutter and helping in establishing his fort.
I can see now after reading this novel how men of vision helped develop this land especially those out west where the odds were really great you had to face the Indians, Mexicans, as well as outlaws and wild animals. They had to learn how to live off the land and how to cure injuries there well nl McDonald's or doctors avaliable. My hat goes off to these courageous people expecially the women they were very tough.
April 7, 2018
Good Nonfictional fiction.
Loved the story and how McCarthy followed closely to historical facts. This is my first read by this author, but will become a follower. I gave the story four stars, but the amount of misspelled words, added words the writer did not write in so many sentences , extremely poor punctuation marks were horrible. I had to read sentences several times to figure out what was being said. These terrible errors often appear in Kindle stories, but those in its story were the worst I have seen. These are certainly not the writers fault, however.
Loved the story and how McCarthy followed closely to historical facts. This is my first read by this author, but will become a follower. I gave the story four stars, but the amount of misspelled words, added words the writer did not write in so many sentences , extremely poor punctuation marks were horrible. I had to read sentences several times to figure out what was being said. These terrible errors often appear in Kindle stories, but those in its story were the worst I have seen. These are certainly not the writers fault, however.
December 30, 2017
California and Sutter
Growing up in California, Sutter was a big part of the state's history. Bringing life and depth to his character was refreshing. History books do not give life to characters, this book did.
Growing up in California, Sutter was a big part of the state's history. Bringing life and depth to his character was refreshing. History books do not give life to characters, this book did.
February 10, 2018
Great story
I love history novels and this was a really good one. Read a lot of English and Irish history, but I liked the characters and the history of the time before the gold rush
I love history novels and this was a really good one. Read a lot of English and Irish history, but I liked the characters and the history of the time before the gold rush
December 18, 2017
Atrocious spelling!
The one thing I disliked with this book was the atrocious spelling. Sometimes it was hard to follow the story line.
The one thing I disliked with this book was the atrocious spelling. Sometimes it was hard to follow the story line.
April 23, 2018
I would of given it 4 stars except there were so many typos in this e-book that it took away from the story.
I probably will try another of his books and see how that goes.
I probably will try another of his books and see how that goes.
March 30, 2018
The 1st Novel of the Rivers of the West
GO has written the 1st novel for an unusual western novel. The Gila River is an amusing river by placement. The river is located between the low Arizona desert and the high Mojave Desert. The southern end of the river became a good busy town. A little gold was discovered which caused it's people to search for gold. This is an excellent read for the genre......ER
GO has written the 1st novel for an unusual western novel. The Gila River is an amusing river by placement. The river is located between the low Arizona desert and the high Mojave Desert. The southern end of the river became a good busy town. A little gold was discovered which caused it's people to search for gold. This is an excellent read for the genre......ER
January 7, 2014
I listened to this book while driving cross country after visiting my family in the state I was raised, Rhode Island, to my home of 20+ years in Sacramento. I don't believe I actually knew what this book was about when I checked it out from the Sacramento Online Library. I probably thought it was a standard western that took place in an area that I was familiar with.
I mention this because this book surprised me and had special meaning for me as I drove effortlessly across the vast open country of this beautiful nation. A trek that a hundred and fifty years was treacherous and for many, deadly.
This story begins in 1839, written in 3rd person narrative it follows a fictional character, Morgan Beck, as he guides and accompanies the very real historical figure, John Augustus Sutter, the founder of Sacramento.
This fictionalized history brings to life historical events of the early days of California and specifically the founding of Sacramento. The author does not apologize for nor does he demonize the rampant bigotry and racism of the day. He just paints the picture with all its beauty and heroism as well as it blemishes and warts.
A good read.
I mention this because this book surprised me and had special meaning for me as I drove effortlessly across the vast open country of this beautiful nation. A trek that a hundred and fifty years was treacherous and for many, deadly.
This story begins in 1839, written in 3rd person narrative it follows a fictional character, Morgan Beck, as he guides and accompanies the very real historical figure, John Augustus Sutter, the founder of Sacramento.
This fictionalized history brings to life historical events of the early days of California and specifically the founding of Sacramento. The author does not apologize for nor does he demonize the rampant bigotry and racism of the day. He just paints the picture with all its beauty and heroism as well as it blemishes and warts.
A good read.
May 7, 2016
read some time in 1992
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews