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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he's braver...longer." Emerson,
By
This review is from: The Brave: A Novel (Hardcover)
Our first view of Tommy Bedford is when a sympathetic prison guard is escorting him, at age thirteen, to see his mother, before she's executed after being found guilty of murder.
The actual story begins in 1959, when Tom is eight-years-old. He lives in England, in a world where his heroes are the cowboy stars of Western TV shows. He owns a photo of Flint McCullough, star of Wagon Train, which Tom cherishes. Tom is a meek boy who is attempting to cope with a nighttime bed wetting problem. His parents are understanding and sympathetic but they are much older than the parents of his friends. He's sent to Ashlawn Prep, boarding school, to toughen him up. The school, an imposing, Gothic mansion had been a mental hospital and is a cold, frightening facility for this little boy. There is similarity to Tom Brown in the novel by Thomas Hughes, which took place at an English boarding school in the 1830s. Tom's bed wetting is discovered by other students and he undergoes such bullying and sadistic behavior by one faculty member that he smuggles a letter to his sister, Diane. He thinks that Diane is the only one who would understand and he pleads with her to get him out of the school. Upon receiving the letter, Diane is brought to tears with compassion but she's not in position to help. She's a young actress, on the brink of success. It's not for another year when Diane becomes a successful actress. She has moved to Hollywood, where she met actor Ray Montane, who is famous for his cowboy character, Red McGraw. Imagine the effect on the little boy, now age nine, when his actress sister, and her famous boyfriend come to the school. Tom's esteem soars but then Diane tells him that she's not his sister, but is his mother. However, at the same time, she and Ray are able to provide a home for him in Hollywood. The story is interlaced between events of the past and what is happening currently. We see how sixteen-year-old Diane became pregnant and how Tom, now in his fifties, is a divorced filmmaker and writer. The emotional abuse he had growing up has led to his escape into alcohol which ruined his marriage and changed the rest of his life. This is a powerful, character driven novel by the author of "The Horse Whisperer." The pacing of the story and the description of Tom's life make him and his mother, Diane, memorable and sympathetic characters. Fans of Nicholas Evans are sure to enjoy this novel. Fans who discover his professionalism will also be entertained.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Gripping, Thrilling Novel,
By Steven James (Washington State) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Brave: A Novel (Hardcover)
I LOVED this book. One of my favorite books of all time is THE HORSE WHISPERER and this book comes close to topping that. THE BRAVE has all the elements of a top-notch bestseller. It moves along briskly and changes time and place frequently, enough to keep the reader moving along and never getting bored. Evans' attention to detail is meticulous, especially all the references to 1960's Hollywood. I found myself rapt in all the people and places he referenced. I could almost feel like I was a part of that era in Hollywood history while I was reading.
The characters were all interesting, especially Tom, the star of the book. I also found his mother to be a unique, if tragic figure. The character of TV-western fame Ray Montane was a bit of an enigma to me. He seemed to have good intentions but we all know what the road to Hell is paved with. All the characters play pivotal roles in the events that lead to a shocking conclusion. I can not recommend this book highly enough. I am shocked that there aren't more 5-star reviews because THE BRAVE really is one of the best books I have read this year. It has a little something for everyone. It is written by a man and exudes masculinity, however the storyline is one that women will find themselves drawn to. I think we all can learn something from this wonderful book. I strongly suggest you check it out sooner rather than later. 5 very solid stars.
27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A different Evans,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Brave (Kindle Edition)
I have read all of Nicholas Evans' books and thought the cover of this book glorious but misleading.
I am not sure if it is because I am new to reading a Kindle, (which I love by the way), but I had difficulty keeping on track with the story. The start of the story has Tom, aged thirteen, farewelling his mother who is about to go to the gas chamber. The story then moves backwards and forwards between Tom's childhood with his mother and the present. Tom is estranged from his ex-wife and son who is a soldier. The son is being charged with a war crime in Iraq. Nick Evans is very good at painting beautiful backgrounds with words. Set in England, Hollywood and mid west America the story unfolds in a clever way that had me not stopping until I had finished it.
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