Customer Reviews

People of the Owl: A Novel of Prehistoric North America

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you are looking for a book on facts, then don't pick this up -- the Gears write hoping to understand what life may have been like for prehistoric Americans, based on what we do know about various cultures. This book isn't tedious fact after fact - it is a historical fiction book and a wonderful one at that. If you enjoyed the others in the series, then you are definitely going to enjoy this one as well.

This isn't just the classic story of the unlikely hero, as mentioned by another reviewer. It is a story about finding oneself, a journey of politics, lessons and love. The writing is really amazing and captures not only the fictional story of Salamandar and the Sun People, but also integrates the way these people lived long ago. If you read this book, you won't be able to put it down. Don't purchase it as a reference for the way the Sun People lived at one time, it's not that type of novel. It is a fictional story that will teach you lessons and provoke your own thoughts on the way you live your own life. Times are not so different today as they were long, long ago...

In their latest "People of the Owl" Micheal and Kathleen show us once again how narrow our view of our country is. This land is a great land doesn't even begin to explain the wonders of the acients that preceded us on this Continent. The Story is fantastic.

I am the first to admit it took me a bit to get into. As soon as I thought I had a grasp on all the characters, they start to change on me. I had to stop reading it for awhile. However, once I started reading it again, I was quickly drawn into the intricate web of political struggle developing among the characters. I was mesmorized and couldn't put it down!

If you give it a chance and push yourself past the beginning, it is well worth it. The Gears' skill is phenominal. I found myself crying along with the characters in the end. I felt I knew them so well. This book was truly a masterpiece any fan of the Gears should read!

This story continues the people of north america series
and it does what all the Gear's books do :
provides a great story with insight that you can trust
to be based on hard research.
yet they are truly readable.
I have been captivated by the characters
and these writers

This book had an exciting plot and I stayed up late to finish it. Yet, there were parts of it that I really didn't enjoy. Like the all too vivid butchering of people. I also don't know what type of book I would catagorize this as. Other reviewers were dissapointed because of how little history that was in it. There was a lot of prophetic dreaming which made it feel like fantasy to me, but i guess it is a part of the Native American culture.
Whatever else I say about this book, it was a good story but felt a bit unrealistic at times.

I wouldn't exactly recommend it but if you want something to read then it is ok, if not brilliant.

I found People of the Owl to be a very absorbing story. It is historical fiction that deals with Native Americans living in America's first real city, located in present-day Louisiana. It is the 11th book in the Gears' series about early Native Americans and reads similar to the others.

I've read them all and have enjoyed them all. The Gears manage to create vivid characters time and time again that you grow quite attached to. They mix suspense and excellent story telling with history, since much of their setting is based on archaelogical evidence.

This particular volume, while very enjoyable and hard to put down, did have a bit of a weaker ending than some other books in the series. It dragged a bit while Salamander pondered his big choice at the end. And his decision seemed a bit anti-climactic.

But I still would recommend this book. Definitely to fans of the Gears other works. And also to fans of pre-contact Native American historical fiction.

This is the second Gear book I've read. This book has a very slow start. With over 550 pages, it took me 200 pages to have any real interest. The first 100 pages I could hardly follow all the different characters, as they were given a chapter here and then another one later one so I'd lose the thread.

Frankly, the book would have been much better if it were only 250 to 300 pages. Even after I got to know the characters, the story didn't move along at a compelling pace. The main character, Salamander, was the only one the reader cared about and was the most developed.

The best feature of this book is the historic scene the Gears paint. They make Poverty Point come alive by filling in the details with their imagination. The broad brush strokes are fact, but much of the details are deductions. Regardless, the Gears do help us to realize the wonderful heritage we have right here in North America with the many vibrant cultures that have come and gone.

This book is an excellent read. The authors are clearly educated people - They show and NOT just tell a story. I read this book because I wanted to learn more about Native American culture and I had new experiences that seemed based on real facts. Native Americans likely behaved the way they were portrayed in the story - yet there was a nice fiction aspect that brought life and entertainment. Without giving away secrets of the story - the setting is described well - the story was well written and this book was worth purchasing. I intend to read more of this series.

I don't know how accurately this book captured what life might have been like at this site. However, I was amazed and excited about their recreation of what life might have been like in that area of the country at that time. The descriptions of the natural environment were what I found most exciting in the book. I also found the plot and politics interesting. I thought Mud Puppy's actions and thoughts throughout the book were slow moving, and yet I felt that what transpired in the book ought to have taken a longer period of time. The ending was a disappointment; it seemed too abrupt and incomplete.