Centennial: A Novel by James A. Michener Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Centennial: A Novel
Book Review: A real prairie home companion
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone curious about the history of the western prairie must read this captivating book. Recently we drove from southeast Wisconsin to northeast Colorado to visit our son and daughter-in-law in Fort Collins...almost the exact spot for Michener's imaginary town of Centennial. For much of the way we followed the Platte River just like the early trappers and settlers.
From dinosaurs to the indians and their their horses to the settlers and cattle ranchers and more...James Michener weaves a story filled with western lore and fascinating fictional characters.
Each chapter starts with a reader-friendly map and ends with a review of the real and fictional accounts described. Michener makes the vast rolling hills and endless western prairie spring to life with narrative so real...you can almost touch the buffalo and smell the prairie wildflowers.
Centennial is both a wonderful read and a wonder of western history.
Book Review: An interesting History of the West
Summary: 4 Stars
This is another of Micheners great epic novels. After reading quite a few of his great stories I am beginning to see some of the common threads of his writing. In this story he slightly adjusts the model that he used for the epic novel "Texas." This story is told from the perspective of a University Professor, asked to be a consultant on a magazine project that captures the flavor and history of the old west. This paradigm is usually used to end each chapter. As usual Michener went way back this time (the opening of the book) to the beginning of the earth and formation of the Rocky Mountains. Reminded me of Alaska when he took the salmon all the way back to its conception or The Source when he chronicles the development of Israel from cave man times . What I really like though is as he is capturing the overall legendary stories, he also takes time to tell of people and situations that one would not ordinarily consider. A good example was entertainment; he shared the story of a family of performers and how they were able to survive, while still managing to include the classic cowboy stories. In another chapter he provided quite a bit of background on his characters (set in Pennsylvania) that were destined to travel west. The background provides for a much richer story as we learn of their experiences on the Oregon trail. He also deals with the dust bowl, which gave me some new insights as to that sad time in American history. To really appreciate the plight of these poor farmers you should read "The Grapes of Wrath."Book Review: Another Michener Classic
Summary: 4 Stars
James A. Michener has brought to life the town of Centennial in the American West. Believable characters coupled with classic storytelling enthralls in this weighty tome of 900 odd pages.
Without going into the story too much, I will say that Mr Michener always seems to be able to provide moral judgements ahead of his time. Remember that this book was written in 1974. He could have portrayed the standard understanding of Indians and Mexicans at the time. However, he has portrayed these people in a favorable light. The truth of the Great Treaty of 1851 and the subsequent events are thoughtfully written, as is the chapter on the massacre of the Arapaho. I am Australian, and when I went to school, our Aborigines were considered to be a blight on the landscape, probably similar to White America's thoughts on the Indians. Michener dispels those thoughts, and I wonder today whether he could have written a similar tale of Australia's settling, with the Aborigines in a favorable light...
The final chapter with its ecological overtones were streets ahead in the thinking of his day.
Regardless, I find Michener's work engrossing, factually relevent, and a good reason to forget my worries for a couple of days as I read his tale.
Book Review: CAPTIVATING BOOK
Summary: 5 Stars
I AGREE WITH ALL FIVE STAR RATINGS FOR THIS GREAT BOOK. ANY LESS THEN FIVE STARS, MUST NOT HAVE READ THIS CAPTIVATING BOOK WHICH I HATED TO HAVE END. WILL READ OVER AND OVER, AS I DO LONESOME DOVE, YES IM A WESTERN FAN, PROUD OF IT.Book Review: Centennial
Summary: 5 Stars
The book arrived in a timely fashion and its condition is pristine. While I have read this book at least once, maybe twice, I decided that I wanted a copy of my own. Great story and the fact that the action takes place quite close to where I have lived, is another plus.