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Threads West, An American Saga (2000)

by Reid Lance Rosenthal(Favorite Author)

4.01 of 5 Votes: 6

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review 1: Like most books that start a saga, this one starts slow. Quite a bit of the book is used to meet the main characters that will carry us through. If you're expecting something that will begin with balls of fire exploding from train wrecks, then this isn't for you. However, if you are interested in a read that builds to a crescendo like a symphony, with different harmonies weaving through the main melody, then get it now.The story is a wonderful, and sometimes quite painful, portrayal of the lives of the settlers of the American West. It's obvious that Mr. Rosenthal has done his homework, researching the trials the pioneers went through, only to bring them to life again in his book. He tells the story of many different people, from different walks of life, that meet up with ... moreone goal, making it west. It's clear these people would probably never associate with one another if they'd somehow met while remaining in Europe, but because of their shared difficulties and goals, they are forced to work out their differences and come together. This book is a testament to the power of love. Love of country, love of family, and love of one another.
review 2: Threads West: An American Saga by Reid Lance Rosenthal has been compared to books like Lonesome Dove. However I don't see the comparison. The first book in what has been billed as a six-novel epic series reads like a bad romance novel. This wordy work is filled with flowery descriptions and endless analogies. The first page contains classics such as "white foam of frothy swells", "a solitary thin candle flickered," "thighs quivered and her body trembled". I felt like I was reading a descriptive paragraph exercise for a creative writing class. The dialog is equally odd. [return][return]On the upside, the novel is a quick read. The short chapters focus on the many individual characters heading to America for various reasons. The first half of the book is set in Europe or on the ship across the Atlantic. Through a series of coincidences these people end up on the same ship and the same wagon train as well. The book ends rather abruptly without getting past the starting gate West. If half the book's adjectives were removed, the rest of the saga would have fit into a single book and saved some time.[return][return]The audience for this title is unclear. I'm a fan of historical and western fiction, but I'd put this more in the romance category. On the other hand, the sexual encounters focus on male domination rather than the love story elements of pop romance titles. I'll pass on the rest of the series.[return][return]I've read lots of wonderful books as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program, but this one missed the mark. less

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