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jgintrovertedreader's review
4.0
Doc Holliday. To most of us, it's a name out of legend. The Wild West. The Shootout at the O.K. Corral. Wyatt Earp. But there's a real man behind the myth and in this work of fiction, author Mary Doria Russell tries to find him.
I must admit upfront that the O.K. Corral, etc. is not much more than a name to me. I've never seen Wyatt Earp or Tombstone or any of those movies. (I have, apparently, seen enough in channel surfing that I could not for the life of me get Kevin Costner's image out of my head as I read about Wyatt. And now that I've looked up Tombstone I see why Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer kept making appearances in my imagination too).
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I was a little taken aback at first by the style. It reads very much like nonfiction but the author says straight up at the beginning that it's not. I kept thinking that I was reading a nonfiction prologue and the story would begin later. But eventually I realized it was just the style of the book so I settled in and got comfortable. It worked. Telling the story in that way made Doc seem like more of a real person. The legend doesn't need more layers. This was a stripping away to get at the man underneath. And I liked him. A lot.
The cards are stacked against him from the beginning. Born with a cleft palate before the Civil War, he shouldn't have stood a chance. But his family came through and shaped him to be a Southern gentleman. His uncle operated and corrected the palate. His mother taught him manners and music. A cousin taught him horsemanship and how to choose his battles. A--friend? illegitimate cousin? I can't remember--taught him how to play cards and win. Then he had to watch his beloved mother die of tuberculosis, or consumption as they called it back then. And then he started coughing too. And so he was set on the path that would define him forever after.
The Doc in these pages is not perfect by any means. But that's part of his charm. He drinks too much and gambles too much and takes unnecessary risks and is too stubborn for his own good. But he's a loyal friend and a gentleman. He tries to treat everyone with respect if they deserve it. He's equally kind to the respectable townsfolk and to the town prostitutes, the Chinese man who does his laundry, and the Native American teen who does odd jobs for everyone. He has a vicious temper that he tries to keep under control and mostly succeeds in doing. But those who see flashes of it never forget it. He has a real musical talent but he refuses to play on an out-of-tune piano. When he finally does play, he moves his audience to tears.
He's caught in a tumultuous relationship with a prostitute named Kate. They need each other but they're not good for each other. They say hurtful things and hurl accusations and break up and get back together and are on a constant roller-coast ride. They're exhausting. There's one scene where the author imagines how different Doc's life might have been if he had finally left Kate for good and met a "nice girl." It was bittersweet. I was firmly attached to Doc at this point and I wanted him to have this gentle life. But the author points out that he still would have had consumption, so in the end, nothing would really change.
This Doc Holliday probably still isn't like the real Doc, but he's closer than most other books are going to show him at this point. He's a true Southern gentleman doing his best with the lousy hand he's been dealt.
I must admit upfront that the O.K. Corral, etc. is not much more than a name to me. I've never seen Wyatt Earp or Tombstone or any of those movies. (I have, apparently, seen enough in channel surfing that I could not for the life of me get Kevin Costner's image out of my head as I read about Wyatt. And now that I've looked up Tombstone I see why Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer kept making appearances in my imagination too).
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I was a little taken aback at first by the style. It reads very much like nonfiction but the author says straight up at the beginning that it's not. I kept thinking that I was reading a nonfiction prologue and the story would begin later. But eventually I realized it was just the style of the book so I settled in and got comfortable. It worked. Telling the story in that way made Doc seem like more of a real person. The legend doesn't need more layers. This was a stripping away to get at the man underneath. And I liked him. A lot.
The cards are stacked against him from the beginning. Born with a cleft palate before the Civil War, he shouldn't have stood a chance. But his family came through and shaped him to be a Southern gentleman. His uncle operated and corrected the palate. His mother taught him manners and music. A cousin taught him horsemanship and how to choose his battles. A--friend? illegitimate cousin? I can't remember--taught him how to play cards and win. Then he had to watch his beloved mother die of tuberculosis, or consumption as they called it back then. And then he started coughing too. And so he was set on the path that would define him forever after.
The Doc in these pages is not perfect by any means. But that's part of his charm. He drinks too much and gambles too much and takes unnecessary risks and is too stubborn for his own good. But he's a loyal friend and a gentleman. He tries to treat everyone with respect if they deserve it. He's equally kind to the respectable townsfolk and to the town prostitutes, the Chinese man who does his laundry, and the Native American teen who does odd jobs for everyone. He has a vicious temper that he tries to keep under control and mostly succeeds in doing. But those who see flashes of it never forget it. He has a real musical talent but he refuses to play on an out-of-tune piano. When he finally does play, he moves his audience to tears.
He's caught in a tumultuous relationship with a prostitute named Kate. They need each other but they're not good for each other. They say hurtful things and hurl accusations and break up and get back together and are on a constant roller-coast ride. They're exhausting. There's one scene where the author imagines how different Doc's life might have been if he had finally left Kate for good and met a "nice girl." It was bittersweet. I was firmly attached to Doc at this point and I wanted him to have this gentle life. But the author points out that he still would have had consumption, so in the end, nothing would really change.
This Doc Holliday probably still isn't like the real Doc, but he's closer than most other books are going to show him at this point. He's a true Southern gentleman doing his best with the lousy hand he's been dealt.
sarge_fll's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
earthgirl207's review
5.0
I first saw this book in a souvenir shop in Tombstone, Arizona, after watching a reenactment of the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral involving Doc Holliday and the Earps. I assumed it would be a book form of the typical shoot-'em-out Westerns that I grew up with, but this book is so much more.
I read historical fiction to gain passage into another time and place, and this book did not disappoint. In a seamless fashion, the author presents the backstory and perspective of not only Doc but all of the major players of Dodge City, Kansas, and lays bare the unexpected diversity of the typical frontier town of the time. Those who grew up with '50s Westerns and Bonanza are used to a one-dimensional, whitewashed history, but Russell takes care to present the town as the kaleidoscope that it really was, and presents each perspective in a nuanced and compassionate fashion.
The character of Doc was especially a treat, shown to be an elegant, educated (but flawed) Southern gentleman, exiled by tuberculosis and forced by his weakness to project a much fiercer image to those around him to protect himself. This, combined with the famous gunfight, fed the legend that most people know today, much to the dismay of Doc and his genteel family back home.
I read this book over the course of a month (because I read slow), and throughout that month I found myself mulling over one aspect or another of the book while I did other activities. This is the type of book that is so real-seeming and eloquent that it gets under your skin.
I read historical fiction to gain passage into another time and place, and this book did not disappoint. In a seamless fashion, the author presents the backstory and perspective of not only Doc but all of the major players of Dodge City, Kansas, and lays bare the unexpected diversity of the typical frontier town of the time. Those who grew up with '50s Westerns and Bonanza are used to a one-dimensional, whitewashed history, but Russell takes care to present the town as the kaleidoscope that it really was, and presents each perspective in a nuanced and compassionate fashion.
The character of Doc was especially a treat, shown to be an elegant, educated (but flawed) Southern gentleman, exiled by tuberculosis and forced by his weakness to project a much fiercer image to those around him to protect himself. This, combined with the famous gunfight, fed the legend that most people know today, much to the dismay of Doc and his genteel family back home.
I read this book over the course of a month (because I read slow), and throughout that month I found myself mulling over one aspect or another of the book while I did other activities. This is the type of book that is so real-seeming and eloquent that it gets under your skin.
mullensamy's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Really such a great book! Even though I know very little about the actual shoot-out at the O.K Corral, I loved "meeting" the famous Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers. I'm still surprised that the story didn't go into the specifics about the legendary shoot-out but I suppose the ending of the book reveals why. And I'm fine with that. It was a pleasure to learn about their personalities and the lives that they lived prior to becoming famous.
deeerj's review
5.0
I listened to the audio version, performed by Mark Bramhall. Wow, what a gripping novel! I don't care for westerns, but was eager to try a Mary Doria Russell book so took a chance. I am so glad i did! This well-researched factionalized account of John Henry Holliday's life before he went to Tombstone, AZ and became infamous was especially brought to life by Bramhall's voice. His ability to sound like a man with tuberculosis was credible, his portrayal of Doc's companion, Kate was passionate, and the reticence of Wyatt Earp was moving. Doc himself, a southern gentleman, well educated, dentist, gambler, alcoholic, consumptive, multi-lingual, piano-playing, loyal, passionate man is a fascinating character. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading some of Russell's other books, especially "The Sparrow", soon.
jlcunni258's review
5.0
really makes you feel the realness and grit of the old west, on of the most emotionally engaging books with some of the coolest characters Ive ever read
shannon_reidwheat's review
4.0
Interesting story about the short life of John "Doc" Holiday, who was quite the colorful character. Enjoyed the story and the character interaction created by the author. Another fine book, that was chosen as a Kansas Notable book in 2012.
koreydobbert's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kbaxter21's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75