Texas

FINALLY! It took me so long to read this book. I mean, it's a big one. Weighs five freakin' pounds. Anyway, I really loved this book up until they started talking about Texas football (more than halfway through). I skimmed over that part, most of the bits about Houston real estate, and some of the randomness toward the very end. The last section of the book didn't feel that cohesive to me, while the rest of the sections addressed very specific subjects like war, immigration, politics, slavery, farming, etc.

As a native Texan, I grew up learning a pretty one-sided view of Texas history. This book tells both/all sides, and it's fascinating. I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it. My favorite part is about the armadillo:

"How beautiful, show more how mysterious the armadillos were when one took the trouble to inspect them seriously, as Mr. Kramer did. They bespoke past ages, the death of great systems, the miracle of creation and survival; they were walking reminders of a time when volcanoes peppered the earth and vast lakes covered continents. They were hallowed creatures, for the had seen the earth before man arrived, and they had survived to remind him of how things had once been." show less

I note the cover describes this as a novel, but this sub-genre, doesn't meet that criteria. A set of short stories, with a specific locale was JAM's bread and butter. The most interesting stories outline the earlier history of the place. There's an outline of some of the injustices, and the final segments show how the modern American inhabitants have accommodated their pasts, and are going forward, with shared goals. They are not a painful way of learning some history, and JAM's style is clear. Adequate entertainment.
Oh...this is the Texas segment from the Indians to modern times.

Texas is James Michener's panoramic treatment of the history of that region of North America , beginning in 1535 and ending in the mid 1980's when the book was published. I have read a number of Michener's other works of fiction in the past, including Centennial, Chesapeake and The Covenant, but it has been nearly 30 years since I picked up one of his books.

Michener ably combined a mixture of true events and people with fictional characters and circumstances, crafting a survey of the development of Texas that was both broad and focused. As an example, he discussed the development of cattle ranching that had a wide-angle view, as well as looking at the specific situations of several people involved in ranching as their primary vocation. show more In a similar fashion he walked through the significant portions of Texas history and development, such as its time as a part of Spanish Mexico, its independence as a Republic and settlement during and after the Civil War.

Texas was a delight to read. I see that I have one more volume by Michener sitting unread on my library shelf. After having this pleasant reacquaintance with Michener's work I suspect that I'll be picking it up sooner rather than later. show less

A good trip into the history of Texas, from its start as a Spanish mission to its days as a republic to present day. Michener's style is a bit stale, but he does keep the reader entertained enough so he doesn't lose him.Pack a lunch though with this one its a long trip.

Filled with history and adventure, a compelling but very, very long book. Too long! I was planning on giving this 4 stars, but the last 20% (the last 2 chapters) were not only unnecessary, but torturous to read. I plugged on and am finally done.

Take the time to read this fabulous book about the people who founded the state of Texas. Historical charaters mixed in with the fictional folks come together for a story so compelling after I finished it I was ready to move to Texas! I read this during winter break from school. I was getting my B.S. in education and had 3 kids but I desperately needed a good fiction read to take me away from the craziness that was my life. This book was the ticket. Don't let the size scare you away--it's one of the best.

While planning a trip to Texas, I decided to go ahead, take the plunge, and read Michener's book. I was lucky enought to go to San Antonio and see the Alamo at about the same time as I was reading about it back in our hotel room. I love that great state, and their GREAT football team, and now Michener's book. I think this was one of my favorite books of his--my only complaint is that it did not start with the beginning of time (I am hoping Mexico does). I love how everything came full circle, and how the charachters and their families were throughout the book.