The Rock Child American Dreamers Win Blevins 9780692203736 Books
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Packed with drama, humor, the lore of American Indians and Tibetan Buddhists, plus unforgettable characters, this book is a dazzling tour de force and a deeply moving story. An unlikely trio comprised of the Shoshone Indian Asie, a Tibetan nun, and Sir Richard Burton—the famous soldier and explorer—flees from the Utah Territory to California in 1862. The Destroying Angel of the Mormon Church, Porter Rockwell, pursues them relentlessly. The journey is packed with colorful characters, including a fledgling journalist named Mark Twain. In the end Asie discovers why he was named the Rock Child, what it means to be a man of color in America, what spiritual path will nurture him, who his people are, and the strength of love. Reviews “Blevins has stated his aim is to write ‘mythic novels of the American West.’ He meets that goal in The Rock Child. The voices shift between an Indian-Anglo musical savant; Sun Moon, a virginal Tibetan nun shanghaied into American prostitution; and Sir Richard Burton, real-life explorer, linguist, and Arabian Nights translator. “Joining Burton in rescuing Asie and Sun Moon from a dreadful fate is Mark Twain, a comedic catalyst that surprisingly few historical novelists have thought to exploit. Like Twain, Burton is well drawn. He’s a cultivated, Sean Connery-type sinner who feels badly about his appetites, and the picaresque passages told from his perspective enliven this ambitious narrative.” — Library Journal “A colorful novel set among the Mormons in 1862, featuring such real folks as Sam Clemens, Sir Richard Burton, Brigham Young, and Porter Rockwell, by the author of Stone Song, Win Blevins. “Half-Indian Asie Taylor, a musical prodigy who has been accepted into the Church of the Latter-day Saints, drowns when his delivery wagon is overturned in a flash flood. He experiences an out-of-body experience, returns to life, and is amazed to see the scarred but beautiful face of Sun Moon above him. Sun is a Tibetan Buddhist nun who was kidnapped in Asia and shipped to America to be sold into prostitution. Tarim, the tavernkeeper who bought her, expects to resell her for a hefty sum. “When Porter Rockwell, a Mormon known as the Destroying Angel buys Sun Moon, he attempts to satisfy his lust. Frustrated by his inability to do so, he disfigures her face. Sun Moon flees and falls in with Asie, who has decided to go in search of his origins and the meaning of his Shoshone name, Rock Child. Meanwhile, Rockwell is in pursuit of Sun Moon, determined to kill her—and anyone who gets in his way. “Tibetan-speaking Sir Richard Burton, a brilliant opium addict, is in Salt Lake City to persuade Brigham Young to form a separate Western Confederacy. Burton saves Asie and Sun Moon from Rockwell and joins their quest. For a while, Brigham Young gives them sanctuary from Rockwell, though Rockwell later follows the trio to San Francisco. “The climax would satisfy the Buddha himself as his teachings resoundingly bring the murderous Rockwell to heel. The historical detail serves a charming treasure.” — Kirkus Reviews “‘Life is a flabbergaster,’ says Asie Taylor, hero of Win Blevins’s The Rock Child, a story that will flabbergast every reader who opens it. This is a rich, funny, fascinating, meaningful, and memorable novel from the author of that incredible masterpiece about Crazy Horse, Stone Song.” —Rocky Mountain News “Win Blevins–that master yarn-spinner–has done it again with The Rock Child. A wonderfully wild one which you don’t want to miss.” — Tony Hillerman “Win Blevins displays an antic imagination, not only in mingling actual and invented characters, but in melding gritty action-adventure with metaphysical musings.” — Dale Wasserman, author of Man of La Mancha “Win Blevins’s new book is a risqué and veritable romp through the history of the Old West! Highly enjoyable reading! —Clyde M. Hall, Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Judge
The Rock Child American Dreamers Win Blevins 9780692203736 Books
In 1862, a Tibetan nun, a half-blood Native American, and the famous British explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, are on the run together across the arid desolation of the Great Basin. They are pursued by the infamously vicious Mormon assassin, Porter Rockwell, a man who does not easily forgive damage done to his nose, and to his pride. Death can come at any moment, from starvation, from thirst, or from Rockwell's bullets.Beautifully written, lyrical in places, this is an unforgettable story about the human need to belong somewhere, and the struggle to attain inner peace. During the journey, our travelers encounter all sorts of perilous situations, and every imaginable sort of human being, from simple and kindly, to bitter and disillusioned, to pure evil.
Not only is this a good solid yarn, but it also offers reflections on the nature of life, and the paths we choose to take.
Highly recommended.
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Tags : The Rock Child (American Dreamers) [Win Blevins] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Packed with drama, humor, the lore of American Indians and Tibetan Buddhists, plus unforgettable characters,Win Blevins,The Rock Child (American Dreamers),WordWorx Publishing,0692203737,FICTION Historical General,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Historical,Historical - General,Historical fiction
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The Rock Child American Dreamers Win Blevins 9780692203736 Books Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved the main characters, especially the narrator. The book tells the story of a young man of mixed Anglo and Indian heritage, a Buddhist Nun, and a famous writer, explorer, soldier, spy, who travel west together in the 19th century, trying to overcome the hardships of the trip and hoping to out-distance the murdering Mormon maniac who chases them. The book caught my attention immediately and never lost it.
I don't claim that this work is great literature, but I did find it a lot of fun and a great and Mythic example of the Art of the Tall Tale. Doesn't the list of characters immediately suggest "tall tale"? Several reviewers objected to the presence of Mark Twain as a secondary character, finding his appearance out of place or less than credible. His own work, however, is full of examples of tall tales, and so to me he seemed right at home.
Analysis aside, I think that most readers would join me in rooting for the good guys, hating the bad, and just plain enjoying the story.
The author threw together individuals who once lived and made an interesting novel. The story starts out slowly in 1862 and is a little difficult to understand what is truly transpiring, but then as it progresses, the plot unfolds. A Tibetan nun, young and untouched, named Sun Moon, is kidnapped and brought to the United States to be forced into prostitution for a white man who purchases her. Her owner intends to support himself through her labors, but she insists she won’t do it because she is a nun. An infamously vicious Mormon assassin, Porter Rockwell, who particularly enjoys intercourse with helpless virgins, pays for her to service hin. She fights him, eventually kicking him in the groin and he slashes her in one eye with a knife and vows to get even with her and kill her in a painful way. Everyone thought she’d lose her eye, but a doctor worked hard and saved the eye, but it left a terrible scar on that side of her face.
She meets a young man who is a half-blood Native American, named Asie, who was raised by White foster parents when he was seven, but no one knows what tribe of Indians his mother belonged to. He has special abilities of hearing music in his mind and ears under unusual conditions. Thus, he earns a living playing a banjo and piano with a Black musician, who, through the years has made and saved money playing, and has accumulated property here and there, which no one knows.
They meet a famous British explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, who speaks many languages and he can speak to Sun Moon in her language. He does have trouble with indulging often in too much liquor. He knows Brigham Young, and to escape Rockwell, they run to Utah and stay with Young for a while. They know that eventually Rockwell will follow them there. They run into Samuel Clemens, who is also a writer, but he doesn’t want to tell the tales of his life to Burton, who wants to write them down in a book. Knowing that Rockwell is still after them, they take off for Lake Tahoe where they can live with several different Indian tribes there. Traveling from Salt Lake City to Lake Tahoe forces them to run together across the arid desolation of the Great Basin. Death can come at any moment from starvation, thirst or Rockwell’s bullets.
This plot leaps from one wild escapade to another and is unique, to say the least. I recommend this novel for a few fascinating hours of good reading.
I found this book very creative. Could all these people from far flung places and various backgrounds really get along? We seldom hear about the tolerant people in places and times that had races and religions so different from the norm. The USA has always claimed to be a democracy, but there are prejudices which this book does its part to overcome. Asie finds himself, but not how he imagined. Sun Moon finds herself, but not as a nun should be. Sam Clemens spends time with them. It's not your regular love story, but it is a romantic take on the mid Nineteenth century.
This book was painfully long and was really slow reading. After I read about 20%, I thought it would never end. I did not think I was going to be able to finish it but I trudged through. It needed some massive editing because it said the same things over and over and over again. I appreciate a good story but I like it concise. The characters weren't bad and I liked the historical elements but it didn't makeup for the boring repetition. I also thought the man character talked like an old man, not a young one, and I tired quickly of his made-up words.
I read the book in fits and starts; whenever I had time, and it was easy to follow. I kept coming back to it, so the story held my attention. I was, however, disappointed in the ending, which was a couple of pages of "and this was what happened."
Blevins made one or two choices as an author that I might quibble with, but overall this is a charming historical novel, full of verisimilitude. I fully intend to seek out other novels by this author -- and from a "bookaholic," with literally hundreds of books on my alone, whose largest folder is labeled 'Not Worth Re-Reading,' perhaps you may take that as a recommendation.
Win Blevins knowledge of history is the foundation of a wonderful story tying in real events and made to be entertaining and thought provoking. Loved this!
In 1862, a Tibetan nun, a half-blood Native American, and the famous British explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, are on the run together across the arid desolation of the Great Basin. They are pursued by the infamously vicious Mormon assassin, Porter Rockwell, a man who does not easily forgive damage done to his nose, and to his pride. Death can come at any moment, from starvation, from thirst, or from Rockwell's bullets.
Beautifully written, lyrical in places, this is an unforgettable story about the human need to belong somewhere, and the struggle to attain inner peace. During the journey, our travelers encounter all sorts of perilous situations, and every imaginable sort of human being, from simple and kindly, to bitter and disillusioned, to pure evil.
Not only is this a good solid yarn, but it also offers reflections on the nature of life, and the paths we choose to take.
Highly recommended.
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