The Alamo

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Written
Review: After reading over 15 Alamo books over the past few years, Frank Thompson's book is both refreshing and informative. One of the few books I have read that I had to finish in the first day. I believe it is one of the must read books for students that will study American History. Each photo and illustration had a complete explanation and did not leave you questioning what was missing. A job well done and I will forever highly recommend this book as a must read!

Rating:
Summary: Ultimate Alamo Picture Book!
Review: First of all, it should be clarified that the book being discussed here is Frank Thompson's THE ALAMO, Salamander Press, UK. It is NOT the novelization of the film ,nor is it the movie tie-in "Making Of..." book.

That being said, THE ALAMO is, in a word, the ultimate Alamo picture book. With over 150 FULL COLOR illustrations, accompanied by captions in Mr. Thompson's own inimitable style, the large, coffee table-sized book will keep you mesmerized as Frank digs into and then explains the minutiae behind that beloved old pile of limestone and mud.

The accompanying text is a straight-forward telling of the Alamo story utilizing the latest in Alamo research, while relying upon Mr. Thompson own keen insight on the subject matter.

From the Alamo's place in history, its changing perceptions throughout the years, through its interpretation in film, the printed word and collectibles, this book will have you returning for repeated 'look-sees' and for the sheer joy of it.

It do!


Rating:
Summary: Plodding Novelization of the movie; NOT the illus. companion
Review: First, a word of clarification: Amazon's listings appear to be hopelessly scrambled for books by Frank Thompson with the word "Alamo" in them. I only found this listing -- for the mass-market paperback novelization of the screenplay to the film "The Alamo" -- by a link to a wholly different book of nearly the same title ("The Alamo: The Illustrated Story of the Epic Film"), which is itself also reviewed here along with reviews of the novel. On another occasion, I located this book via a link from a hardback book by the same author of the same title that is in fact an oversize hardback non-fiction book dealing with the historical Alamo, a book that predates both the 2004 movie and its tie-in books. I had to buy this book at a brick-and-mortar bookstore, in fact, due to my being unable to find it on Amazon with a normal "Search." It is all very confusing and I wonder how many customers are unablke to order the book they really want? The movie tie-in illustrated book is oversize, full of color photos from the film, and sold in hardback and paperback formats; the nbon-fiction hardback deals with the historical Alamo and predates the release of the 2004 movie. THIS book is a novelization of the film, is sold in mass-market paperback only, and is about 370 pages long, considerably more pages than the illustrated movie companion book OR non-fiction book. Be sure you know what you're ordering!

That said, I didn't care for this treatment very much. It has been a long, hard slog to force myself to read through it all (as an Alamo completist, I feel I should do this at least once). Partly this is due to the screenplay itself, forming the crux of this novelization, being surprisingly flat on the printed page (and sometimes equally so onscreen). But mainly it is due, I feel, to Thompson's shortcomings as a writer of fiction. His invented scenes (why the publishers felt the need to pad this book into its current bloated length is a mystery to me) are labored and flat, his characters stock types, his dialogue forced. There is an awkward connect with the screenplay sequences, and there is little to no literary style to Thompson's lifeless prose. It is a writing-by-the-numbers approach, devoid of emotion and as clunky as an Edsel. And something that never failed to take me out of whatever mood had been established was the frequent appearance of Thompson's in-jokey name-droppings of members of the Alamo Society or other Alamo experts and writers as bit characters. Maybe outsiders will not catch wise, but it struck me as inherently amaturish and distracting.

With the film tanking badly, if undeservedly, this title will probably soon disappear, but it won't be any great loss except to collectors of Alamo memorabilia. (...)

Rating:
Summary: Plodding Novelization of the movie; NOT the illus. companion
Review: First, a word of clarification: Amazon's listings appear to be hopelessly scrambled for books by Frank Thompson with the word "Alamo" in them. I only found this listing -- for the mass-market paperback novelization of the screenplay to the film "The Alamo" -- by a link to a wholly different book of nearly the same title ("The Alamo: The Illustrated Story of the Epic Film"), which is itself also reviewed here along with reviews of the novel. On another occasion, I located this book via a link from a hardback book by the same author of the same title that is in fact an oversize hardback non-fiction book dealing with the historical Alamo, a book that predates both the 2004 movie and its tie-in books. I had to buy this book at a brick-and-mortar bookstore, in fact, due to my being unable to find it on Amazon with a normal "Search." It is all very confusing and I wonder how many customers are unablke to order the book they really want? The movie tie-in illustrated book is oversize, full of color photos from the film, and sold in hardback and paperback formats; the nbon-fiction hardback deals with the historical Alamo and predates the release of the 2004 movie. THIS book is a novelization of the film, is sold in mass-market paperback only, and is about 370 pages long, considerably more pages than the illustrated movie companion book OR non-fiction book. Be sure you know what you're ordering!

That said, I didn't care for this treatment very much. It has been a long, hard slog to force myself to read through it all (as an Alamo completist, I feel I should do this at least once). Partly this is due to the screenplay itself, forming the crux of this novelization, being surprisingly flat on the printed page (and sometimes equally so onscreen). But mainly it is due, I feel, to Thompson's shortcomings as a writer of fiction. His invented scenes (why the publishers felt the need to pad this book into its current bloated length is a mystery to me) are labored and flat, his characters stock types, his dialogue forced. There is an awkward connect with the screenplay sequences, and there is little to no literary style to Thompson's lifeless prose. It is a writing-by-the-numbers approach, devoid of emotion and as clunky as an Edsel. And something that never failed to take me out of whatever mood had been established was the frequent appearance of Thompson's in-jokey name-droppings of members of the Alamo Society or other Alamo experts and writers as bit characters. Maybe outsiders will not catch wise, but it struck me as inherently amaturish and distracting.

With the film tanking badly, if undeservedly, this title will probably soon disappear, but it won't be any great loss except to collectors of Alamo memorabilia. (...)

Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: Frank Thompson does a great job of depicting the sadness and triumph of the real battle in San Antonio. This is a marvelous movie tie-in. Thompson does an astounding job of creating the characters, especially Crockett, Bowie, and Travis. He also does a good job showing Sam Houston, a man trying to decide between his destiny as a general of war, or a life with his Cherokee Indian wife, Talihina. This is a great book, and I highly recommend reading it.

Rating:
Summary: Great book based on the movie
Review: Frank Thompson has released another excellent Alamo book. The Alamo is the novelization of the script by Leslie Boneham and John Lee Hancock. If you enjoyed the movie or are just looking to find out more information about Texas in the 1830's, this is the book for you. The book tells the story of the months leading up to the Texas Revolution, the siege and battle of the Alamo, followed by the Runaway Scrape and the battle of San Jacinto. Thompson uses the script very well, and at the same time adds his own little pieces about the characters and background settings of the time. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend the movie as well as both books by Mr. Thompson and the soundtrack by Carter Burwell. For an excellent read that places you directly in the Alamo, check out this novel!

Rating:
Summary: Great book based on the movie
Review: Frank Thompson has released another excellent Alamo book. The Alamo is the novelization of the script by Leslie Boneham and John Lee Hancock. If you enjoyed the movie or are just looking to find out more information about Texas in the 1830's, this is the book for you. The book tells the story of the months leading up to the Texas Revolution, the siege and battle of the Alamo, followed by the Runaway Scrape and the battle of San Jacinto. Thompson uses the script very well, and at the same time adds his own little pieces about the characters and background settings of the time. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend the movie as well as both books by Mr. Thompson and the soundtrack by Carter Burwell. For an excellent read that places you directly in the Alamo, check out this novel!

Rating:
Summary: I never knew...
Review: From the perspective of the common man, I can say that I know more about the historical Alamo than ever.

This book offers a broad review of the Alamo and it's place in our history as well as it's impact on our culture. I was very impressed with this book. I picked it up only to paw through and look at the numerous pictures and movie stills and found it to be thoroughly informative and entertaining.

Mr. Thompson may offer some information that distorts or contradicts what you thought you knew about the Alamo, but it's worth the exposure to his insights and opinions.

Rating:
Summary: Best to get this for $1at the book fair
Review: Prefeace to this review: I enjoy history and historical novels.

This book is geared for the a movie screenplay (I can see why the recent movie was a failure)and not for historical value. I really don't have to read Frank Thompson's interpretation of Sam Houston and Santa Anna's love making, how the soldier's faces were blown off (who was there to record it and survive?), or his slow introduction of David Crockett.

Thompson does try to portray a picture of the main characters before the Alamo began, but he always falls back to simple dialog and not solid and serious historical description.

At first I was going to give this book one star but as time goes on, it does provide light reading and reminds you of images of John Wayne's movie of the Alamo.

Best to buy used and sell used.


Rating:
Summary: Remember the Alamo? Frak Thompson does
Review: This book is an excellent source for information on the siege of the Alamo as well as its story through the last few centuries. Frank Thompson has put together a beautifully organized book together for Alamo fans everywhere. It is an easy read, but still very good. It deals with the people involved(both Texans and Mexicans), the siege of the Alamo, the massacre at Goliad, the battle of San Jacinto, and then the history of the Alamo up to now. There is an excellent collection of photos in the book with good captions under them rather than just having simple sentences. Thompson has an excellent writing style that makes his books that much easier to read. Also check out his books The Alamo: A Cultural History and if you can find it Alamo Movies. Excellent book for those trying to learn more about the famous mission and also for Alamo buffs everywhere.