Customer Reviews

Zeke and Ned

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

 

 

What a tale! I'm a Cherokee with a strong heritage, heard about Ned Christie while growing up. I read the review by one of the other Cherokees, and was surprised to see how disappointed they were in this story. How refreshing to see a book with flesh-and-blood characters--I'm sick of books that portray us as "noble savages". We are a people with yearnings, sorrows, flaws and loyalties, strong ones. We wanted, more than anything in the nineteenth century, to be left alone to lead our lives, to extend our heritage. ZEKE AND NED is told in the style of a tall tale, Mark Twainish, if you will, and what a story!!! A historical novel, key word here being "novel". McMurtry and Ossana have taken a critical piece of history and brought it to life. My grandfather read it, loved it, laughed out loud, and cried at the end. I'm sure the clever, engaging dialogue is from the writers' imaginations and not from any historical treatises, because such treatises don't exist. Most of the general facts are true, such as the courtroom shootout, Judge Parker's penchant for hanging, the questionable morals of the U.S. Marshals, the fiery determination of Ned Christie to just be left alone, the strength of our women and their loyalty to their men and their heritage. Hope you'll take a chance on this book. You won't be sorry you did.

I hate reading because nothing really interests me, but this book was about 500 pages and I read it in 6 days. When you first see the book and read a description, you think it's going to be a normal, boring historical fiction novel about Indians. I started the book with that assumption, but my mindset was changed immediately after I finished the first page. The book incorporates a few historical facts (i.e. the Trail of Tears) and an interesting set of characters (Traditional Cherokee Indians, Christian Cherokee Indians, Brutal and friendly whites Americans, bootleggers, Cherokee politicians and many more). It has many different conflicts, including conflicts between whites and Indians NOT ON THE BATTLE FIELD (as normally portrayed), but in legal issues and moral differences. There are also comparisons between different types of marraiges and family orientations between Indian families. Although the book isn't totally historically accurate, it doesn't matter because it is Larry McMurtry's own developed characters put into the bodies and lives of a handful of Cherokee Indians and their white rivals.
The plot never stops. Every page is full of interesting details about the lives of these 1850's characters, and there are so many conflicts going on that you're kept interested through the whole book. There are just enough conflicts that you don't focus on one too much and get bored with it, and that there aren't too many that you get confused. Just the right pinch of clashes to keep you involved and wondering what happens next. Each different sub-plot has to do witha different aspect of western life, whether it be marraige, legal issues, bootlegging, family development, sicknesses and diseases, safety, and government. At least one sub-plot will make you want to read through the whole book! I can't stop expressing how amazing this book was and how great of a writer Larry McMurtry is. I recommend strongly that you go out and read this book because it will keep you interested and you will enjoy it!

What an incredible tale of human suffering, compassion, forgiveness, begrudgement, and triumph--depending on your perspective of course. Ned Christie is the classic tragic hero. His greatest flaw is intertwined with his greatest strength (vengence/tenacity). Yes, there is saddness in the bleak lives that Ned and Jewel have been thrust into, but there is a romantic inspiration in their steadfastness also. These characters are real, gripping, amiable. I particulary enjoyed the switch to the first person voice in the last part of the book. Zeke and Ned is an adventure you don't want to miss.

If I were a professor of American literature, heaven forbid, this would be primary required reading. The lesson would center around the perfection of literary structure. Broken into thirds this novel exploits the classic themes of comedy, melodrama, and tragedy. The switch to first person narrative in the third portion is poetic brilliance. Yet, this story isn't for everybody. For example, I have never been a great Twain fan and this book seems to parallel those sweeping works. As an ex-professional athlete in an ambiguous sport I personally found "Lonesome Dove" the quintessential great American novel. I found the seemingly intellectual musings of Augustus McCray to be the answers of life. Oh, if only I could be 'Like Gus'. However, between the two, "Ned and Zeke" may have greater public appeal. If you aren't laughing out loud during the courthouse gun flight, you should consider renting a personality. If by the end of the first part, you haven't been absorbed by these historically correct characters, few books are for you. This book is definitely for you if you are interested in a western yarn that has pretensions of being the great American novel.

McMurtry (and Ossana) have done a convincing, compelling portrait of a life and time that I knew little about before reading this book. In fact, it made me curious for more...and I've gone on to read books about the Trail of Tears, and Oklahoma and its settling. This reads like a contemporary Mark Twainish type of novel, which makes it all the more entertaining. Lots of plot twists; lots of really interesting characters; just simple, great storytelling from a few masters. I'd recommend this for readers from young adult upwards. I've read most of McMurtry's books, and am always surprised at how much I feel for the characters by the end of their stories. By the time I finished reading Zeke and Ned, I was moved in ways I never expected! Highly recommended for all readers, young and old, midwestern or otherwise!!!!!

This book tells a compelling and interesting story about life in the post-civil war Cherokee Nation. Most of the historical context of the book is quite accurate. The characters are excellent: Zeke the hillbilly-ish patriarch and Ned the tribal senator turned warrior. Zeke and Ned is a great book for those who are not offended by the brutality of life in the 19th century Oklahoma Ozark mountains

Larry McMurtry at his best here. From his outstaning characters to very unpredictible deaths and happenings, this book is definately worth while. Zeke and Ned is a wonderful book.

To be honest with you if I went to the bookstore myself I would have never picked up this book, it was given to me as a gift and just goes to show you, you can't judge a book by its cover! I would highly reccomend Zeke and Ned, McMurty and Ossana kept me turning pages. While reading I couldnt help but think what it would have been like to live at the time of Zeke and Ned times so simple yet so difficult. There daily adventures really go to show you (or at least me) how boring life really is today. Every morining they had a new problem or dilema. Even though all of their problems were self-inflicted for the most part. There were times I felt bad for Zeke and others that I thought he got what was coming to him, it was hard to decide whether to root for or against him, as for Ned he simply got in with the wrong crowd (Zeke) and then began his problems. Highly Reccomended.

I almost lost faith in McMurtry in his Sin Killer series, but I went back and picked up Zeke and Ned and rediscovered the writer I fell in love with in Lonesome Dove.

I live 30 miles east of Tahlequah and the setting is dead on. Ned is a strong character, representing the Cherokee Nation well, while other characters are rich and real, and downright funny at times, while tragic and flawed as well.

This is a brilliant book, well-written, and a portrait of Native America as real people.

I read quite a variety of books. In the last two years I've tried to stick with the classics. Still Zeke and Ned is my favorite story. I find the main characters so interesting, down to earth, and good human beings. It tells of strength, courage, conviction, and the principles of men. Everytime I've read it (3 times) I find it very difficult to read the end, my heartaches.
The injustice suffered by the American Indians is so tragic. There are many non-fiction books that tell the tragedy much better. But for a novel and an all around good story, it's my favorite.