Title: News of the World
Author: Paulette Jiles
Genre: Fiction / historical fiction
Rating: 4 / 5
Goodreads
Why I picked it up: I put it on my to-read list when I saw a Goodreads friend had rated it highly, and when it was time to read something new to Peter, I read out synopses of books and he picked this one.
What it’s about: A girl taken captive by Kiowa as a small child is then turned in by them; the Captain, an old veteran who makes his living by reading newspapers to packed halls in rural Texas, agrees to take her hundreds of miles south to be reunited with her family.
What I liked: The book is short and quiet. I liked that aspect of it, because especially in Westerns it often seems like the author wants to make sure that a lot of stuff happens. This book was more reflective and slow. Peter also like what he called the “anticlimactic structure” of the book and it having its focus be on children, women, Indians, and the elderly. He also liked the battle scene.
What I didn’t like: Peter didn’t like the “obscure references” that the author made to the time period that he felt was just her proving that the story was well-researched. I’m kind of hard pressed to come up with any single thing I “didn’t like,” but at the same time, I didn’t love the book.
Overall / recommended: Peter is a strong yes. I also would recommend this sweet story to most readers.
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