 |
|
An exceptional work of fiction:
In BONE RATTLER, Pattison writes a brilliant suspense novel that includes insights about the founding of our country, as well as the spiritual nature of both Native Americans and the persecuted minorities like the Scots who fled to these shores for refuge, freedom and a new life. These disenfranchised people had to make up justice on the early frontier even though they did not speak the same language, share similar cultures or espouse the same religious views. How did this happen uniquely in pre-colonial America? The crimes in this mystery encompass people from several distinct cultures (Scottish, English, Huron, French, Iroquois, Dutch, German, Quaker, Jesuit etc). BONE RATTLER focuses on the heroism inherent in maintaining identity or culture in the face of great trials; the sacrifices made by the founders of our country; and also the question of what law and justice mean and how they can be developed and preserved. This novel truly is leagues beyond the average mystery! It is hard to imagine a subject more relevant in our contemporary world than how democracy can be created, and how disparate tribes and peoples can communicate with and get along with one another. To have woven all of this into a fasciating mystery is a triumph.
The Author's Note Was The Best Chapter:
I purchased this book as an amazon.com recommendation. I adore historical literature and I initially thought this was right up my alley. Like a previous reviewer, I think it would be better to read a nonfiction account of the events referred to in this novel. I felt it lacked cohesiveness and character development was shallow. A "cast of characters" list would have been extremely helpful in keeping all the names straight. I finally made my own list about half way through the book. I will be passing this book along and not keeping it for my personal library.
Not Pattison's best (at least for me):
I loved all the Shan books (Skull Mantra & sequels), have read them all at least twice and think Eliot Pattison is just an amazing writer, but I just couldn't get into this one.
No delivery:
This novel has a great premise and actually combines two areas that interest me and I would assume would interest a lot of other obsessive readers like me, but too much of it fails to deliver and therefore falls flat. I very much enjoyed the combination of the two worlds (Scotland and Colonial America) but the author fails to explore any of the "color" that the premise offers. I would have liked to see more descriptions of the Native American culture through the eyes of the Scottish immigrant protagonist. It fails as a mystery, it fails as historical novel and therefore was a failure overall for me. I did not keep my copy of the novel as it is not something I would enjoy rereading. I donated my copy to my local library so that maybe someone who would really appreciate it might find it.
BOOK REVIEW:
GREAT BOOK AND STORY. IN KEEPING WITH HIS OTHERS. THE ROBERTSON DAVIES OF TIBET AND COLONIAL AMERICA GRAPPLING WITH NATIVE PEOPLES.
| Author: | Eliot Pattison | | Binding: | Hardcover | | Dewey Decimal Number: | 813.54 | | EAN: | 9781593761851 | | ISBN: | 1593761856 | | Number Of Pages: | 464 | | Publication Date: | 2007-12-28 |
|
