Customer Reviews

Threads West: An American Saga

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This is the first in a planned series of six book and billed as "An American Saga" and comes with a whopping 229 page count. 218 of those pages are story with the final ten being previews of book #2, Maps of Fate, coming out sometime later this year.

The first half of this book sets up the main characters, who for different reasons strike out for a new life in America. No matter what country or social background these folks have they all manage to end up on the same ship. Even more coincidental, no matter what their plans are for in America when they arrive they all seem to end up in St. Louis and sign on for the same wagon train. Oh, and they all get there just in time for about the last wagon train out of Dodge, get their wagons and supplies purchased in two days and no matter what their backgrounds seem to be expert at driving those wagons and handling the oxen just like a pro...

I'm a believer. Yes, there's a lot more to it than that, but unfortunately a story idea with a lot of potential was ruined by poor execution. The alternating chapters of character set up went on way too long (100+ pages), and frankly by the time it was over I had forgotten much of what went on before - set this book down for a day or two at your own peril, as you may have to back-track for a refresher course. I'd have preferred seeing the book start when the action began, and then liberally sprinkle the story with the character's back history.

Secondly, this book is too short and IMHO would have worked better as a trilogy of three big fat books instead of six slimmer editions, giving the reader more *meat* on the bones to convince them to continue. What this reader got was a plateful of unlikable characters and squicky male-fantasy sex that all ties into a mysterious map and a lost treasure of gold in Colorado's San Juan Mountains. The book comes to a dead stop right when the wagon train is pulling out and the adventure prepares to begin.

Still not sure? I'll just leave you a couple of quotes from the book, a book that according to the jacket reviewers and authors are comparing to "Lonesome Dove and Centennial".

"Her voice resembled a happy wind chime in a light breeze."

Note, our wind chime lady was speaking German. Not the most romantic language no matter how beautiful the woman is speaking it ;)

"There's was definitely something between my friend Reuben..."

????

"Jacob growled out a knowing laugh as he ripped the fabric of her blouse down to her waist. He cupped his entire hand around the flesh of her breast. Sarah felt is if this really was not her...She was an observer who simply watched from some strange man and woman. She felt faint...His fingertips inched below her waistband. She opened her mouth again to cry for help, but he reached over to the pitcher stand, grabbed one of the cloth napkins and shoved it roughly between her teeth...She gagged as one of Jacob's thick fingers found her center. She felt a stab of pain as his fiber penetrated her...Her entire body trembled and her thighs shook..."

Ick ick ick. Although don't forget we're getting some romance as well as rape so after one of our main pairs has rapturous sex in the baggage car and after they've dressed you'll be treated to stuff like this,

"Deep inside her belly, she could feel her body absorbing his seething explosion and her abdomen pulsed with currents of energy. She knew her face glowed and impassioned tears filmed her eyes. 'I...I have never felt like this.'"

Not quite my idea of romance. I'll pass on the rest of the series.

FTC? A win off of Librarything's Early Reviewers program.

I bought this book against my better judgement. Having read a number of reviews here on Amazon, including the one-star ones which excerpted the text, I made the purchase anyway, thinking the book couldn't possibly be as bad as it seems. Trust me on this. it's dreadful. The writing is poor. The text is full of errors and has never been touched by a professional editor. The story lacks any substance and ends just as there is a glimmer of hope that there might actually be a single tale to be told here. The sex borders on rape. I was so appalled by this work that I went to the website of its publisher, Rockin SR Publishing, which has published no fiction other than Threads West. My suspicion is that author Rosenthal owns the house and has, in reality, self-published this work.

Do yourself a favor and buy Lonesome Dove. I agree with a previous reviewer who decried any comparison between McMurtry's works and what has been written here. The only similarity is that both of them are available on paper.

It should also be noted that while this book is touted as having won 'prestigious' book awards, let the buyer beware. Most, if not all of these 'awards' are from award mills which charge a fee for 'entering' a book, said fee ranging from 60-odd bucks to over ninety, per entry. One site even says, "enter as often as you wish." Ugh.

If you have ever enjoyed a western novel, Threads West is a must read. This is a great story and is extremely well written. This book truly is an American saga. Once you have started reading it, you won't want to stop and will be wishing you had the next book in the series. I have read just about everything that Louis L'Amour wrote and Reid Rosenthal will soon be just as well known.

This book is an easy read, very vivid imagery and believeable characters. ANYONE who enjoys a great adventure story is sure to love this book. Embarking on the adventures of immigrants moving to America and then Westword bound to the land of opportunity. The characters are diverse and colorful, the story line keeps you interested in reading more, looking forward to the next book! A definate "Thumbs Up" to Reid Rosenthal for writing this story!!!

I found Threads West engrossing. I cared about the characters who were wonderfully developed. The story hooked me form the very first page. I was looking forward to stretching the reading out, but I read it in one sitting. Try as I might, I could not put it down. The mix of adventure, sense of American values, history and romance was beautifully done. And the sensual scenes were perfectly interwoven as key parts to the story. And they certainly got my heart beating faster! Hurry up on Book 2!

Well, I just finished the book. I really cannot tell you how impressive the reading was. I love character development in a book. The first book I read that taught me the real importance of it was " Sometimes a Great Notion" by Keesey. With "Threads", not only are the characters alive, I can visualize how they walk, the turn of a mouth and, in some instances, how they smell. Descriptive paragraphs are beautifully done. I have read books where the author has a very high opinion of his own vocabulary, and the meaning gets lost in the verbiage. Just enough is perfect. This is what you have done. I am already in love with Rebecca and hate Jacob with a great intensity. Reuben is you. He is my friend.
I hate to make comparisons because "Threads" is a unique novel. But, since comparisons are expected, I will give you two. "Lonesome Dove" with the people involved. The strength and the darkness of the soul. Michener's "Centennial" in the scope and the interveaving of livesand, I hope, generations.
Than you for sharing this marvelous work with me.

I absolutely loved this book. I'm not a western reader generally but after reading this book I must say that I will be reading the rest of the books in this series as soon as they come out. I could not put the book down. I finished it in three days and now I'm dying for the author to finish the next book so I can find out what happens to these characters. The author does a wonderful job interweaving the story lines together throughout the book and providing scene descriptions that make the reader feel like they are right there with the characters. Bravo!

The stunning vistas are artfully crafted by the author. The colorful and uniquely diverse characters steeped in historical context and detail were a pleasure to watch develop and fold into the books story line, which is reminicient of LaMore or McMurty. This novel has it all ... what a great read!

I just finished Threads West, Book 1 by Reid Rosenthal. I was hooked right from the start, and it just kept on getting better! This is a beautifully written, compelling first book in a fascinating saga of the settling of the American West, with all its challenges and dangers, treachery, cruelty, courage and romance. The plot is exciting and the characters are all strong and believable. I felt like I was transported straight to the 1850s! I was there with the immigrants starting in Europe, then crossing the Atlantic to make their fortunes in America, starting with the hustle and bustle of New York, followed by the arduous and dangerous journey across the country to the true Wild West, where greed for gold pushes men to desperation, where other men learn the hard way about the difficulties of settling the land, where women have to survive by their wits and develop strengths they never knew they had. The plot includes dirty, dangerous card games, knife and gun fights, conniving and hoping, bravery, romance, and steamy sex.

The early Kindle version needed a final proofreading for typos and grammatical errors, but apparently this has been fixed in the print version.

My biggest regret is that Book 2 isn't written yet, as I really want to find out what happens next to all these characters I've come to root for (and against). When's Book 2 coming out, Reid?

I have read Threads West 3 times,and each time was better than the first. I love how the author took me back in time to travel with a few of the characters as they left their European homes and country to come to a new land. He was able to help me understand the reasons why they would leave their homes and families to start a new life. I loved reading each characters individual stories as they all met up in New York to travel westward. I have my ear to the rail patiently waiting on the 2nd book. They say it is compared to Lonesome Dove. I say Threads West is in a league of its own. If you love adventure, romance, and a good book to curl up with then go get your cowboy hat, your boots, and hit the trail with the rest of us for one great ride out west. Hurry Reid and get that 2nd book to us. Yeehaw!!