Customer Reviews

The Rebels (The Kent Family Chronicles Volume II)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book in two days ~~ I couldn't put it down. John Jake focuses on Philip Kent again and this time, introduces a new character, a dissolute drunkard from the Virginian plantation families ~~ Judson Fletcher. Philip is sent to the front to fight while his wife, Anne, stays behind with their son. Judson meanders between his father's plantation, and Philadelphia and Richmond.

This book is more intense on the war ~~ describing the conditions of Valley Forge where the men encamped for a bitter winter. They describe more battle scenes that makes you feel like you're right there having a sunstroke with the men. It gives you a glimpse of the hardships these men fought, despaired over and died for. Like Paine said, "These are the times that try a man's soul." It's not exactly a wonderful read but the author wasn't too brutal in describing the wartime scenes.

And it's a reminder of what the men of the Revolution fought for.

It is a good book ~~ perfect for those long winter nights. If you like history and fiction, this book is among the best combination of the two!

12-20-04

This is an interesting and compelling read, and a necessary part of the Kent family chronicles. It's kind of a bummer, though, as absolutely nothing good happens to anyone for over 500 pages. I guess you could call it brilliant but depressing, if that makes sense.

John Jakes has become my favorite guilty pleasure. His books read fast and have plenty of action and melodrama (kind of like he wrote them with a miniseries in mind...hmm...). They're just trashy enough that you feel like you're having fun, and just historical enough that you feel like you're learning something. I loved the North and South miniseries, and I loved the Crown family books. I wasn't sure I would be as intrigued by the revolutionary period, but I'm falling in love with the characters - I had to run out to the bookstore and get "The Seekers" right after I finished "The Rebels!"

writing a sequel to a best seller is hard for a lot of writers to do well,but John jakes delivers! This book has all the action,richness of historical people,places,events and hot romance as the prior book;but is fresh and exciting. A continuation in the Kent family story worth reading.

Another masterpiece by the talented John Jakes. True, "The Rebels" was not quite as good as "The Bastard", but it is still stock full of twists and turns. Some of the battle scenes were a little gory, however John Jakes has a knack for making the reader keep turning pages. This is one of those books that is hard, if not impossible, to put down. John Jakes really develops his characters, you feel for them. Between the stories of Judson Fletcher and Phillip Kent, you get wrapped up and forget where you are. You truly feel like you are learning something when you read "The Rebels," but it is not like listening to a grandparent drone on about "their day". John Jakes manages to juggle fun and learning perfectly. "The Rebels" is a lovable and important part of the American Bicentennial Series by John Jakes. I highly recommend you buy this book, it is a great read.

Book 2 0f The Kent Family Chronicles is The Rebels.Philip Kent is now a serving soldier in George Washingtons rebel army,enduring cold,starvation and all the privations of war. He recieves a letter from his wife,Anne whom he has left in Boston with their infant son,Abraham,who tells him of her worries about the unwanted attention of a sea captain who is connected to the shipping firm with whom they have invested their savings.A new character is introduced,Judson Fletcher, a dissolute drunkard and family black sheep who is a warped soul because of his love for another mans wife and the dislike of his father. The War of Independence is in its main stages in this book with the names of many well known soldiers and characters of historical importance being included--it's a wonderfully easy way to learn history within the context of a family saga.

The bastard was a really good novel and I could not wait to read the second. I found it not as good as the first but still it's a good novel. The thing I did not like abput the novel was the war parts some people will like it but I found they draggged on. I like how they shoed the coldness of the winters to the fighters and the harsh reality of war but the battel scences were long. Then there is new character like drunkard from the Virginian plantation families Judson Fletcher. Then there is Philips wife I was sad to see her outcome in the novel but enjoyed that part of the book. Very good characters in this book and I cant wait to read the next.

I love works on the American Revolution so I decided to read The Bastard and The Rebels as a 2 series book, as the rest of the Kent Chronicles have no interest for me at all.

I loved the bastard (4 out of 5 stars)Yes it was cheesy with its high melodrama (Alicia and Roger just happening to show up at a wim was pretty juvenile) But the story was intense and Phillipe was a BACKDROP to historical events.

The Rebel is a different story. The fictional characters take over, leaving the history of the era largely to discussion between them. This is disapointing. The historical aspects of Jakes novels are a strong point in otherwise infantile prose.

The character of Judson Fletcher is so ridiculously drawn that he is in no way redeemable or loathsome....really 7th grade writing at this point.

Overall I give the Rebel 3/5 for at least discussing interesting topics.

If you really are into the revolution Jeff Sharra's 2 book series is much better. But that is a personal choice for you to make

It is a page turner. I loved every page of it. Just finished reading this well written book by John Jakes, which transported me into the middle of the War of Independence. Now I am ready to continue to read the saga of the Kent Family
"The Seekers"

In "The Rebels," the second book of his Bicentennial series, John Jakes continues the story of Philip Kent, now married to Anne Ware and the father of a young son, Abraham. Philip feels the call to serve his birthing country (firmly established in the first book -- a call certainly prodded by his wife's Revolutionary resolve) and spends almost all of this book on the battlefield. Soldiering is a tough trade, and Jakes captures it in brutal detail as he weaves the tales of Philip and the men with whom he serves.

But there's another story in this book -- a big one -- and Jakes runs it parallel to Philip's story through the whole 533 pages of my '70s paperback edition. This is the story of Judson Fletcher, a troubled man born of a privileged Virginia plantation. He's heavy on the drinking, self-loathing and otherwise obnoxious behavior, but there's a strange sense of levelheadedness about him -- as well as a crushing desire to do better -- that's remarkably compelling. I admit wanting to skip over Philip's battle scenes to the alternating chapters featuring Judson as he sputters and starts in his search for some sense of purpose. I couldn't get enough of the guy. In fact, I read most of this book wondering who plays him in the '70s TV adaptation of this book, which a friend had given me on DVD but which I was patiently waiting to watch after I finished the book. I peeked at the IMDb: a pre-"Miami Vice" Don Johnson. Hmmmm. I figured Johnson had big shoes to fill, because as far as I was concerned, Judson Fletcher downright steals this book.

Then I watched the miniseries. Ugh. I appreciated the fact that Johnson's Judson is appropriately stern and self-assured (when sober, at least), but I was disappointed that the TV adaptation basically throws the events of this book out the window. There are too many story differences to list here, and that's another review, anyway. At least both the print and screen version end up in the same place ...

But back to the book! It was a great story, though heartbreaking for many of the characters. Jakes' technique of running the action parallel but separate for the two men might seem a little strange but is wholly forgiven: At the very end he brings it all together in a nice way, connecting their two lives unmistakably and setting things up superbly for the future of the series.