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on April 30, 2017
An interesting story, well-told. But it is really the development of the characters that carries the day. Captain Kidd is a gruff old widower who has a good life in 1800s Texas, but loses his fortune mainly due to living in a confederate state on the losing side of the civil war. Formerly a printer, he becomes a wanderer bring news of the world to small towns. He is tiring of life until he relevantly takes an assignment to deliver a young girl back to her relatives. This girl was being was being raised by Kiowa Indians who killed her family...but the girl has adopted Kiowa ways and has no interest or acknowledged recollection of white-folk life... the adventure begins...
on May 24, 2017
An engrossing story! One of the most interesting aspects of the story is Captain Kidd's travels around the southwestern United States, reading the
"news of the world" from newspapers he gathered along the way, and tailoring the readings to the audience's social and political leanings. Captain Kidd agrees to take Johanna, a child who had been captured by Indians after the murder of her parents, and who had lived in captivity for most of her young life, to return her to her family in San Antonio. The hardships of frontier life, and overcoming the difficulties in communicating with Johanna who had acquired all the habits of an Indian child and spoke no English. .
"news of the world" from newspapers he gathered along the way, and tailoring the readings to the audience's social and political leanings. Captain Kidd agrees to take Johanna, a child who had been captured by Indians after the murder of her parents, and who had lived in captivity for most of her young life, to return her to her family in San Antonio. The hardships of frontier life, and overcoming the difficulties in communicating with Johanna who had acquired all the habits of an Indian child and spoke no English. .
on April 3, 2017
Oh Johanna! What a brave strong little girl you were. You can read the other reviews for the storyline, I will tell you of my feelings. This book took me on a journey that is living in my soul. "The baseline of human life is courage." Johanna was the epitome of courage. And Captain...... oh Captain.... he is kindness. I can't even begin to describe how lovely this book is. Please, you must read it.
on November 12, 2016
Just a few quick words of praise for this lovely book. When I saw what the story was going to be about I almost decided not to read it. Not for me, too boring . Well, it turned out to be the exact opposite. Beautifully written so one enjoys every word . A story that quietly gets into your heart and stays with you for a long time after the last page. You'll not regret reading this tender tale . I loved it and will now read some of this talented author's other works.
on January 18, 2017
This is a great story of an older man who agrees to take on the daunting task of returning a young girl, captured by the Kiowa, to her white family. The setting is 1870 Texas, and Captain Kidd, a war veteran and news reader, travels with Johanna from the northern part of the state to near San Antonio. Their trip includes a shoot-out, chicken stealing, and English lessons. The characters are interesting, to say the least, and the writing is poetic. It took a few pages to get used to dialog without quotation marks, but that wasn't a deal breaker. Not a long book but one that will stay with you. I laughed, I cried, I was sorry it ended. Highly recommended.
on May 8, 2017
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is a tender but exciting story. It shows the power that love has in giving meaning to a lonely life. The writing is lovely and poetic even without the beautiful story. The technical writing is unconventional..... no quotation marks. However, that gives strength to the story of a young girl who has been a captive in a Native American tribe and is trying to adjust to the unconventional ( for her) world of petticoats, shoes, and riding sidesaddle. I loved this book!
to readjust to the unc
to readjust to the unc
on May 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well-developed and interesting. Grammar, plot, phrasing, pace are excellent. At first I thought it was going to be a dark story but it was quite the contrary, in fact, it turned out very heartwarming. About the time I thought I'd figured out where the book was going, there'd be an unexpected twist. It's a quick read that's a clean cut, wholesome story; one anyone can read w/o being offended by language, sex, etc. I'd give it more than 5-stars if they were available.
Cynthia Cooks/Author
Cynthia Cooks/Author
on June 8, 2017
Paulette Giles has given her readers a spare, beautifully written story about Captain Jefferson Kidd who travels the small towns of Texas and reads the news of the world and Johanna, a 10 year old girl who was taken captive and raised as a member of the Kiowa tribe. She has now been returned to the White world of which she has no memory of either language or customs. Captain Kidd reluctantly agrees to take her back to her remaining relatives, an aunt and uncle who live near San Antonio. Their journey across 400 miles of uneasy land still ravaged by the Civil War and Reconstruction politics and the ongoing war with the native peoples is told in language as sparse and beautiful as the landscape. The relationship between Cho-hunna and Kep-dun is so wonderfully rendered. This book is so deserving of its honor of being a National Book Award finalist. One of the best books I have read in the last several years.
on March 4, 2017
The precise choice of exactly the right word, length of sentence, dialogue, etc., is so rare that, even though I am a voracious reader, I seldom see it. The story is heartfelt and lifting, the setting is true (I'm Texan, too), and the history is verifiable. It is a very impressive book that I will enjoy again and again. Thank you so much, Paulette Jiles. I really needed my faith in quality authorship restored. Don't review many purchases, but those I review are often for 5-star ratings. News of the World is definitely Five Star!
