Customer Reviews

Spring Drive: A North Country Tale

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

 

 

A fast-paced story of human and class conflict on one of 19th century America's overlooked frontiers, the North Woods. Each chapter alternates from the viewpoint of one character to another. The story takes unexpected turns and becomes a page-turner.

Spring Drive is the story of two Canadian men, the McDonald boys, that travel to Menominee, MI to work in a logging camp. A series of events leads to their lynching by the town. These events are based on a true story.

The book is a great look at how "frontier justice" worked. The story is presented in a way that the reader sees all the facts and cannot help but be outraged at lack of proper procedures in this small town's jail. This is a shorter story so I don't want to give too much away. If you have a weak stomach you may want to avoid. While the ending is quite well written and brings the events to life, it is a bit graphic and violent.

4/5

This was a surprising book. It is a fast paced novel based on events that took place in Menominee, Michigan, in 1881. It is a story about two loggers, the McDonald boys, who head into town to collect their pay and have some fun before they leave for Oregon the next day, but a series of unpredictable and horrific events, leads to there hideous torture and hanging. It delves into man's most base nature and sordid impulses. It is a spellbinding tale which touches on perplexing societal issues that still haunt us today. Hate, cruelty, torture, and more importantly, how certain persons can take such enjoyment and fascination in the debasement and harm done to another human being. These are still issues in our "advanced" civilization, and remain important in our cultural development. As I stated earlier, this is a surprising book that hooks you right at the start and holds your interest to the end. It is a sad portrayal of how uncivilized we remain.
by BUCK RODGERS