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Backlands (2014)

by Michael McGarrity(Favorite Author)

4.17 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0525953248 (ISBN13: 9780525953241)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Dutton Adult

series

Kerney Family Trilogy

review 1: I liked this book better than the previous one of the trilogy, Hardlands. Having said that, it seemed "soft," in a way, without serious conflict, suffering, or grief that you might expect from this type of historical novel. It also fails to convey the enormous impact of major events during the time period the novel covers, which includes the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War II. It also seems to confuse or conflate the massive amphibious invasion of Normandy with the follow-up, more scaled-back invasion of Sicily, for which the victory in North Africa paved the way.
review 2: I was looking for Lonesome Dove, so that may be why I was disappointed. A story of a family set in New Mexico in the early part of the 20th Century -- the old ways of life ... moreare disappearing in modern America, cars are replacing horses and young people want to go to school or even college rather than live the ranch life. After the death of his older brother and then his mother, Matt moves back in with his father on the ranch. I don't really know why I wasn't captivated by this book. Perhaps because I hadn't read the first installment, I was less attached to the characters than I would have been. McGarrity's writing is fine, the storyline moves at a steady pace, but I just found something lacking. A passable book. I liked it well enough, just not the awesomeness I was looking for. less

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