With very little known about Etta Place, what a great fiction piece. It was surprizingly "romancey" but an enjoyable read. ( )

I loved this book. A woman in a men world. What a great way to tell a story by adding diary entries.

Good book to read. ( )

This was an intriquing story, very well written. However I found it difficult to read because of the violence. It was interesting to have the links to historical facts. Nice to see a story about a bad-ass woman.

This is the story of Etta Place, historically the woman who was the partner of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid around the turn of the century. Not much is known about Etta Place so this is an imagining of her story.
I was interested in the historical details but the writing was not as satisfying. This was almost written in the style of a romance with descriptions like " a face designed by god for angels". Etta was always beautiful,Kid was always handsome and strong, and the villains always evil. Really evil! Three stars for a good story, but not much depth. ( )

I loved this book. An interesting mix of actually history and a bit of fiction make for an amazing journey of a strong woman in a man's world. The use of diary entries, letters and newspaper articles to tell parts of the story made for an interesting insight in to the 'bad guys' world of life. ( )

I liked this one as I tend to like historical fiction but couldn't really tell what characters were real and which were not. All and all a good read. ( )

With Etta; a novel , Gerald Kolpan crafts a particular exuberance and richness as he sets out to re-imagine the life of Etta Place. Born Lorinda Jameson, tragedy compels a new identity that ultimately erupts into prominence alongside Harry Longbaugh, the nefarious Sundance Kid. While many of their adventures were front-page news, little is known of Etta’s early days or of her fate. Kolpan’s task, brilliantly achieved, brings Etta to life, midst historic realities and the beloved mythology of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. ( )

I really wanted to like this book more. Although historical fiction is a personal favorite, somehow this one did not resonate. The characterizations didn't give enough depth to make a connection and the plot almost felt frantic. Having said that, I would recommend the book to someone who wanted a fast paced read that wasn't too concerned with characterization or depth. ( )

Wow...I Loved this book. Historical Fiction is my favorite genre but I haven't read a great deal about this period in US history (at least not since my high school history classes). Kolpan really managed to bring this period alive for me and created a wonderful story about historical figures I knew only marginally or not at all about. The story being mostly about a woman probably helped me identify better with the main character and appreciate the world that she lived in and the choices she was forced to make. Etta Place, entirely unknown to me prior to this book, has now become a favorite heroine. It is also a love story which made it all the more interesting from my perspective. Though little is known about the real Etta Place, I think the author did an amazing job creating a history that she herself (if she was alive today) would be proud to call her own. I highly recommend this story to those fans of historical fiction, love stories, stories of outlaws and outlaw justice. I look forward to more books from this author and may look for other stories of this period in the future. ( )

A mix of historical fiction with real people as characters, and just plain fiction. While I enjoyed the story and was intrigued by the setting, the fact that I could never tell what was real and what was made up kept me from diving in completely. See my full review: Worducopia ( )

I really enjoyed this one. Etta of the title is Etta Place, the reputed girlfriend/wife of the Sundance Kid. Very little is known of this young woman's life before or after her association with the outlaws of the Hole in the Wall Gang. Koplan has written an entertaining tale of who Etta may have been - based on speculation and news stories of the time. He tells the story with alternating chapters of narrative, diary entries, letters, and news stories. All these help ground the novel in the time depicted. Koplan stays true to history where possible, but does have his Etta rub elbows with some of the mighty of the time. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a good Western. ( )

An interesting style. I liked the inclusion of diary entries, news reports, and police reports. This gave the narrative a way of showing Etta's personal feelings versus the image that the public were fed. I did think that there were a few things that were missing in the book, such as the reunion of Etta and Harry (the Sundance Kid), and more about what happened to Laura Bullion. Etta's relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt was lovely, and Eleanor was a great character, though it was fictional. ( )

I loved the writing style! ( )

Etta is the story of Etta Place, the Sundance Kid's beautiful, mysterious lover. Little is known about her, so Gerald Kolpan imagined her story. This novel is first and foremost a classic western full of train robbers, gun fights, and wild, untameable horses and men. But running through the story and defining it is Etta's unforgettable and unique voice, tough and no-nonsense, never shying for the hard or gruesome facts of her life, yet also refined, intelligent, and passionate. Etta is a complex and fully drawn character that I felt had become a good friend by the end of the book.
I listened to this book on audio and Kirsten Potter does an admirable job of bringing Etta to life. I found it highly entertaining, the perfect escape from the stress of everyday life. ( )

Etta Place, notorious lover of the Sundance Kid, is one of history’s mysteries. Both her origins and her fate are completely unknown despite many guesses. Etta is given new life in this novel as a young Philadelphia debutante. Forced from her home at her father’s death, Lorinda Jameson becomes Etta Place and finds a refuge with scandalous criminals. A master horsewoman and sharpshooter with a gentle manner, Etta is perfect for assisting with train robberies and keeping hold of everyone’s money. Her circumstances constantly change, but Etta remains a strong, compassionate character throughout this engaging novel.

In this novel, Etta’s imagined story is given life through fictional letters, diary entries, and newspaper clippings. Since so little is actually known about the real life Etta, I really liked this aspect of the book and felt that I could imagine these events actually happening more than if perhaps Kolpan had kept the story as a diary. The only ones I didn’t like were Harry Longbaugh’s letters to his father. In truth I didn’t really like Harry (the Sundance Kid) much himself. He remained a very shadowy character despite Etta’s love for him. The rest of the outlaws were similar, although I did like the women, Laura Bullion and the little Native American girl.

In fact, I’d say the character of Etta is the best part of this novel. She is strong, compassionate, independent, and stubborn. She deals with each issue with grace and dignity, even when she is required to fight for her life. I think her character is really what holds this novel together. I also particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Eleanor Roosevelt. Although all of this is fictional, I quite liked the glimpse into what her youth may have been like. I also was glad that Etta spent time in the East so that the author could portray more of the country than the initial description seemed to entail.

Overall, this was a pretty good work of historical fiction. The plot didn’t entirely captivate me and some of the characters were weak, but I enjoyed reading it.

http://chikune.com/blog/?p=597 ( )

The life of beautiful, elegant Etta Place has long been a mystery to scholars of America’s Wild West. She was the lover of Harry Longabaugh, best known in pop culture as the Sundance Kid, and accompanied him on many of his adventures. After he and Butch Cassidy were killed in 1908, Etta disappears from the historical record. Theories abound as to who she was and where she went after his death, but nothing conclusive has ever been found.

In Gerald Kolpan’s first historical fiction novel, Etta Place is forced to flee her luxurious home after her father’s death brings the Black Hand mafia to collect his gambling debts. She is soon across the country in Colorado, serving travelers of the railroads meals with the graceful smile of a perfect “Harvey Girl.” But violence seems to follow Etta wherever she goes, and after defending herself against the unwanted advances of an amorous customer, Etta is once again on the run – this time in the company of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch. She meets the great love of her life, participates in the Wild Bunch’s train robberies, and quickly becomes as notorious as the rest of the gang. Constantly on the move in a variety of disguises and personas, Etta meets and befriends many of the celebrities of her age, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Buffalo Bill and Leon Trotsky.

Kolpan tells his story through a multitude of media, including diary entries, letters, newspaper articles interwoven with straightforward narrative. I enjoyed the story immensely; Etta is vivacious and brave, able to adapt to almost every situation. That said, the plot stretches credulity again and again. That Etta was a rich girl fleeing her home is reasonable; she was known for her beauty, manners and meticulous dress and such refinement would have required some money to cultivate. But Etta also befriends Eleanor Roosevelt, who saves her from trouble with her family’s influence, and for a time impersonates Annie Oakley in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. It’s a definite stretch. I could see any of these things working well as a plot device in separate novels, but thrown together in the same story it’s almost too much. But the beauty of historical fiction is the author is not bound by the biographer’s “and this is what did happen.” As long as he or she can say “this is what may have happened” or “we cannot prove that this did not happen,” history can be pinched, pulled and shaped to whatever the storyteller desires. So cast aside your desire for history and have fun with this entertaining tall tale of the Wild West. ( )

Etta is the story of Etta Place, an elusive woman who had a relationship with legendary train robber Harry Longabaugh, otherwise known as The Sundance Kid. Aside from one clear photograph, there is nearly nothing concrete known about Etta Place, if Etta Place was even her true name, and nothing is known of what became of her. Author Gerald Kolpan was intrigued enough with what he did know about Etta Place to conjure up who Etta might have been and what might have happened to her. The result is this novel, his first.

Kolpan uses a variety of narrative methods to tell his story, from newspaper clippings and letters, to Etta's diary and a traditional narrative. I enjoyed the various points of view of this story, but found Etta's words to be most interesting. I am not traditionally a reader from Wild West sorts of stories, so while the Wild West tales were probably my least favorite parts of the book, they don't distract from the focus of the narrative which is Etta's life. Born into a wealthy family, circumstances send Etta off to Colorado, and eventually into cahoots with the Wild Bunch. Life eventually brings her back east to New York City where she becomes close friends with Eleanor Roosevelt (hard to believe) and works in Buffalo Bill's rodeo show (easy to believe). Etta is a fast-paced book, plot driven and entertaining. Naturally, my own interest in Etta Place has been peaked and I'd love to know the real story like many others ( )

Not much is known about the legendary Etta Place who ran with the Outlaw bank robbing Hole- in-the-wall gang at the turn of the century. Where the historical record leaves off, Gerald Koplan steps in telling Etta’s imagined and incredible life story in his debut novel, Etta. Etta begins the story as a tom-boy debutante, lovely even though she prefers horseback riding and shooting to the tedium of parties. When her dad commits suicide, leaving her in financial ruin and threatened by some of his shadier financiers, Etta escapes west. On the edge of civilization she unexpectedly finds fulfillment and love in the unlikeliest of places.

As expected, the villains are dastardly, the heroines sweet, and our outlaws are gentlemen. The novel is told through diary entries, first person narration from several of the characters, fictional newspaper clippings, letters etc… This structure is as enjoyable as it is effective. The only caveat is beginning the book with an obituary, disclosing Etta was 80 at death which negates much of the suspense Koplan subsequently works so hard to build. To his credit however he does establish a strong female voice in Etta, and despite knowing the conclusion you will want to sort out the details of her journey.

The author admits in his notes that beyond fictionalizing some actual historical figures the bulk of his tale is not grounded in fact. If you are seeking a factual re-telling of the female outlaw or the hole in the wall gang this is not your book. However Etta expertly takes aim and is sure to captivate Historical Fiction and Western fans alike. ( )

This historical novel imagines the life of Etta Place, fellow outlaw and lover of the Sundance Kid, who was a member of Butch Cassidy's notorious gang of train and bank robbers. Etta's story is full of strong characters and dangerous adventures that unfold at the turn of the last century in a setting made real with plenty of historical details and figures (including a substantial role played by Eleanor Roosevelt). Excepting one villainous character, Kolpan imagines a group of outlaws governed by a code of ethics comparable to Robinhood's. Unfortunately, these likable renegades are too one-dimensional and interchangeable to be interesting. As a character, Etta is much more engaging than her partners in crime.

Interspersed throughout the story are Etta's journal entries, the Sundance Kid's letters to his father, detective reports, and newspaper articles. While the variety of sources lends credibility to this purely fictional story, Kolpan chose to reveal some of the novel's key moments via terse newspaper articles. This construct stripped the novel's most crucial events of suspense and emotion. (David Ebershoff's The 19th Wife is a much better mixed-media novel.) Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this quick-paced adventure tale as long as they aren't seeking much depth.

This review also appears on my blog Literary License. ( )

Full review at: http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/20... ( )

Etta
Gerald Kolpan
Random House Publishing
ISBN: 9780345503688
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com
5 stars
Fictionalized history…
Forget the movie!
Little is known about the woman that loved the Sundance Kid and rode with the Kid and Butch Cassidy. Who was Etta Place? Gerald Kolpan has created a life for Etta Place. Kolpan’s image of Place is one of a young girl raised by a single father. She was taught to shoot and ride. After her father’s suicide, she was forced to change her name. The Black Hand was after her for her father’s unpaid debts. When a man accosts her, she kills him in self defense. His family accuses her of murder. She takes refuge with Butch Cassidy’s gang. Her life was one of adventure. She robbed trains, pretended to be Annie Oakley, and befriended Eleanor Roosevelt. She and Sundance considered themselves champions of the poor.
My review can never do justice to this book. Gerald Kolpan has captured the essence of Etta Place. This book is captivating. I enjoyed every page. I felt Etta’s fear, triumph, sadness, and joy. I will look forward to more books by this author. ( )

I loved this book! We may not know much about the "real" Etta Place but author Kolpan brings us a believable story filled with Wild West facts, political figures and historical justice! I recommend this to anyone with a yen for Western history, romance and just a good read in general. Mr Kolpan, please write another book! ( )

Rollicking, unsentimental, fast-paced and sexy story of one of the west’s few female legendary figures. Breathes true, sweaty, funny, smart life into the dusty images of Butch Sundance, the Kid, and his band!

Kept me turning pages until 1 am, greedily drinking in the story with the pleasant byproduct of a better understanding of some historical nuances about the railroads, early outpost towns, the very zeitgeist of the time. ( )

What fun! Who was the mysterious woman who loved the Sundance Kid and rode with Butch Cassidy and The Hole in The Wall Gang? The elusive Etta Place is always characterized as beautiful, an accomplished horseman and a crack shot. How she got her skills and how she wound up livving with outlaws and what happened to her is unknown. Gerald Kolpan takes the known history of Etta, creates a plausible background and peppers it with the events and people of the time. the result is a page turned, a rollicking adventure taking the reader through time structures by actual events. You will need to remind yourself the story if fiction. ( )

I am not typically one for reading Westerns. The American West has never held my imagination the way it has for so many people. Still, when Etta was offered as an Early Reader choice on LibraryThing in December, I requested it and was lucky enough to snag it. I don’t think I’ll ever become a regular reader of Westerns, but I’m glad that I had the opportunity to read Gerald Kolpan’s novel.

Etta tells the story of Etta Place, a young woman who grew up in Philadelphia as Lorinda Jameson. Lorinda’s mother died early in her life, leaving her father to raise her. Her father shares his love of horses and guns with her. As a result, she grew up to be an unconventional and spirited young woman. She could charm men with her beauty and dazzle them with her riding and shooting skills. After her father, who was an irresponsible businessman, dies leaving his finances and Lorinda’s life as his only survivor in a precarious position, she becomes the target of the brutal Black Hand. Luckily, her father’s attorney was a kind man who saved her from sure disfigurement or death by changing her identity to Etta Place and getting her a position as a Harvey Girl in Grand Junction, CO.

The West was not Etta’s element, but she accepted her new place in life with grace. Her time in Grand Junction might have gone by without incident if the degenerate son of one of the city’s most prominent families pursues her unsuccessfully to the point of attempted rape. The result of his crime gets Etta in trouble with the law and noticed by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’s Wild Bunch. They break her out of prison, and she is initiated into the gang herself. Etta quickly earns her place as one of the gang’s most infamous members through her superior riding and shooting skills. It was her outspoken disgust at the way in which other women were treated in the gang that earned her the love and respect of Sundance Kid. In doing so, she creates yet another mortal enemy, Kid Curry.

After joining Sundance Kid, Etta comes into contact with several well-known people of her time, such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Buffalo Bill Cody. It was in these connections, and most especially her connection with a prominent socialist figure, that took me outside of the novel. For example, while I enjoyed Eleanor Roosevelt’s presence, the embarrassing near sexual encounter between her and Etta was out of place in Etta’s story. It did not add any substance to her character or move the plot along in any way that Eleanor’s loneliness could not. Their friendship lost its luster to me afterward. In a novel about Eleanor, this would have been interesting. Within this novel, it was just noise.

Etta is a strong woman, yet she is compassionate as well. Her instincts keep her one step ahead of those who would do her harm, but it is the relationships she builds with the poor and the powerful alike that truly keep her safe. She is an intriguing character and I enjoyed reading about her adventures with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I am not alone. It is clear through the crafting of his debut novel that Gerald Kolpan found the myths and realities surrounding Etta inspiring as well. I found the news paper articles and the detective work going on alongside Etta’s story lively and fun. I can only imagine how much he enjoyed taking the bits and pieces of historical fact surrounding the real Etta Place and capturing her essence in writing. I look forward to seeing where Kolpan’s imagination will take him and his readers next.

http://literatehousewife.com/2009/01/... ( )