Zeke and Ned

Rating:
Summary: A Beautifully Crafted Web of History and Fiction
Review: I hate reading because nothing really interests me, but this book was about 500 pages and I read it in 6 days. When you first see the book and read a description, you think it's going to be a normal, boring historical fiction novel about Indians. I started the book with that assumption, but my mindset was changed immediately after I finished the first page. The book incorporates a few historical facts (i.e. the Trail of Tears) and an interesting set of characters (Traditional Cherokee Indians, Christian Cherokee Indians, Brutal and friendly whites Americans, bootleggers, Cherokee politicians and many more). It has many different conflicts, including conflicts between whites and Indians NOT ON THE BATTLE FIELD (as normally portrayed), but in legal issues and moral differences. There are also comparisons between different types of marraiges and family orientations between Indian families. Although the book isn't totally historically accurate, it doesn't matter because it is Larry McMurtry's own developed characters put into the bodies and lives of a handful of Cherokee Indians and their white rivals.
The plot never stops. Every page is full of interesting details about the lives of these 1850's characters, and there are so many conflicts going on that you're kept interested through the whole book. There are just enough conflicts that you don't focus on one too much and get bored with it, and that there aren't too many that you get confused. Just the right pinch of clashes to keep you involved and wondering what happens next. Each different sub-plot has to do witha different aspect of western life, whether it be marraige, legal issues, bootlegging, family development, sicknesses and diseases, safety, and government. At least one sub-plot will make you want to read through the whole book! I can't stop expressing how amazing this book was and how great of a writer Larry McMurtry is. I recommend strongly that you go out and read this book because it will keep you interested and you will enjoy it!

Rating:
Summary: I preferred Gus McCray
Review: If I were a professor of American literature, heaven forbid, this would be primary required reading. The lesson would center around the perfection of literary structure. Broken into thirds this novel exploits the classic themes of comedy, melodrama, and tragedy. The switch to first person narrative in the third portion is poetic brilliance. Yet, this story isn't for everybody. For example, I have never been a great Twain fan and this book seems to parallel those sweeping works. As an ex-professional athlete in an ambiguous sport I personally found "Lonesome Dove" the quintessential great American novel. I found the seemingly intellectual musings of Augustus McCray to be the answers of life. Oh, if only I could be 'Like Gus'. However, between the two, "Ned and Zeke" may have greater public appeal. If you aren't laughing out loud during the courthouse gun flight, you should consider renting a personality. If by the end of the first part, you haven't been absorbed by these historically correct characters, few books are for you. This book is definitely for you if you are interested in a western yarn that has pretensions of being the great American novel.

Rating:
Summary: Zeke and Ned
Review: To be honest with you if I went to the bookstore myself I would have never picked up this book, it was given to me as a gift and just goes to show you, you can't judge a book by its cover! I would highly reccomend Zeke and Ned, McMurty and Ossana kept me turning pages. While reading I couldnt help but think what it would have been like to live at the time of Zeke and Ned times so simple yet so difficult. There daily adventures really go to show you (or at least me) how boring life really is today. Every morining they had a new problem or dilema. Even though all of their problems were self-inflicted for the most part. There were times I felt bad for Zeke and others that I thought he got what was coming to him, it was hard to decide whether to root for or against him, as for Ned he simply got in with the wrong crowd (Zeke) and then began his problems. Highly Reccomended.