The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Rating:
Summary: Maybe the best American book of historical literature
Review: An astonishing book--literary fiction, not genre fiction (as the title's allusion to MARAT/SADE reveals--and a dazzling exploration of greed for money and fame; violence; psychology; the way we invent oursleves. I agree with the above reviewer; this book is Shakespearian. I have read and taught much historically based American fiction and this us a masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Superb prose, but too much of a good thing?
Review: Hansen is an exemplary wordsmith and this is a wonderfully written book. Steeped in vivid detail and obviously painstaking research, it's enlightening and informative. If it fails at all its in its excesses. Can there be too much detail? Too deep an examination of the people and events surrounding the principal players? Unfortunately the answer is "yes," and those excesses make this book a tough, slow read. The fine quality of the writing, however, will certainly make up for some of the lapses in storytelling for many readers, especially those with higher literary standards.

Rating:
Summary: Superb prose, but too much of a good thing?
Review: This book starts off with long descriptions of interesting facts that lost my interest after about 5. And the rest of the book followed that drawn-out precedent, with some entertaining action, dialog and humor mixed in. I enjoyed the interesting view on America it exemplified that you don't often find in contemporary novels. Jesse James was also portrayed in an astonishing light, but it got old and boring after a while. As soon as the shock wore off, I was just waiting for it to end to see exactly how Jesse was assassinated. I was not let down, but this book just had too much information and too many details without enough plot and dialog for my liking.

Rating:
Summary: Creative and well-written, but just not "gripping"
Review: This book starts off with long descriptions of interesting facts that lost my interest after about 5. And the rest of the book followed that drawn-out precedent, with some entertaining action, dialog and humor mixed in. I enjoyed the interesting view on America it exemplified that you don't often find in contemporary novels. Jesse James was also portrayed in an astonishing light, but it got old and boring after a while. As soon as the shock wore off, I was just waiting for it to end to see exactly how Jesse was assassinated. I was not let down, but this book just had too much information and too many details without enough plot and dialog for my liking.