Reviews

Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta: Celebrated California Bandit by John Rollin Ridge, Yellow Bird

joshuarigsby's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

earth_to_haley's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

deranged_pegasus's review against another edition

5.0

The introduction at the start of the text is an intriguing tale all on its own as it tells of the basis behind the story and the life of the author. It is incredible to read of how many times he story was plagiarized and rewritten. I strongly recommend than anyone who reads his book reads all of the 50 page introduction.
The story itself is an unusual one. The 'hero' of the book is a bandit and murderer and yet is the one whom the reader is driven to look up too. The detail is beautifully done concerning all aspects of the tale. The descriptions, the characters, and the very aspects of violence contained within the pages masterfully done to illicit a reaction from the reader and a respect for Joaquin Murieta.

philip_bonanno's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Wild but fun book about thieves and bandits of prospectors in 19th century California. A little hard to get into though

marcelabecerra's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

meagwhalen's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Really, really interesting. Worth a critical and close read. 

alex_blackveil's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The biography of a robber. It wasn't a good nor bad read, but just what it is. If you're reply curious about Juaquin Murieta, go ahead and read it.

menabova's review against another edition

(for school)

anna_pereira24's review against another edition

1.0

I did not like this book at all. Terrible.

jz_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

this book is joaquin murieta's ted bundy cosplay. except I'm pretty sure Joaquin murders like a hundred times the amount of people.