Facing a flight from Cincinnati to Philly to Harrisburg with nothing to read, I stopped by an airport bookstore and did something I seldom do any more.
I paid full price for a book; $16.00 for a paper back. Just goes to show you how desperate I was.
I must say, this book was not a disappointment, by any stretch. On the contrary, this was a page-turner.
The author constructed the book using a large number of first- hand accounts from the era. This gave the book the feel of an un-folding story. And this story centered around some very interesting people: Ronald Mackenzie, Cynthia Ann Parker, Jack Hays and of course, Quanah Parker, important players in the “rise and fall” of the Comanche Indians.
This book is not rated PG. It is rated R for violence. The sheer brutality of these three men and the groups they lead (i.e. The US Calvary, the Texas Rangers and the Comanches) was almost beyond comprehension. The treatment Cynthia Parker suffered and survival was amazing, especially in light of her forced entry into Comanche life and her forced re-entry into the “civilized” world.
History buffs may be concerned about the book’s accuracy. But there is no denying the authors ability to write in an interesting and compelling way (this book was a finalist for the Pulitzer!)
The last three chapters bring the book to a powerful conclusion . . . how Quanah Parker “levered” his experience as a Comanche warrior into celebrity status. (after he realized further resistance would be futile)
I give “Summer Moon” a 4.75 out of 5.
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