Comments on: The Removes

By: Naomi

Naomi — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 17:05:53 +0000

I do love good historical fiction like this, especially ones that focus on women!

By: Susan Wright

Susan Wright — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 16:26:13 +0000

In reply to JaneGS.

Hi Jane, thanks for your comments. Yes if you’ll have to get The Removes if you’re interested in Libby Custer. It’s quite a tale about her but has some harshness to it too — about the battles etc. And I agree with your husband, the book Varina is so good! One of my favorites of the year so far. Glad you plan to get to it.

By: JaneGS

JaneGS — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 18:20:52 +0000

I’m intrigued by The Removes. Having visited the Little Big Horn site a couple of times, I really have a hard time being at all sympathetic to Custer and his troops, but his wife fascinates me. I have a copy of her book, Boots and Saddle, which I would love to read next year.

My husband just finished Varina, and absolutely loved it, so I am hoping to read it in Nov.

By: Susan Wright

Susan Wright — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:42:31 +0000

In reply to Rachel.

Hi Rachel: I just looked up The Forgetting Tree on Amazon — looks like a bit of a crazy premise. Hmm, thanks for telling me about it. I agree: this new book is quite a departure from that. It has a lot of history to it. Apparently her most acclaimed book is her first one — The Lotus Eaters, which I hope to eventually get to.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:21:29 +0000

The only book I’ve read by her is The Forgetting Tree, which I thought was a very odd book that was just okay. This book sounds completely different.

By: Susan Wright

Susan Wright — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 19:34:47 +0000

In reply to Sarah.

Hi Sarah, good to hear from you. I can understand that it could be too upsetting for some readers. It’s definitely a violent and graphic tale — about the settling of the American frontier. Some readers on Goodreads commented that it was too much for them — violence wise. But I guess I’m glad to know a little more about the history.

By: Susan Wright

Susan Wright — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 19:31:26 +0000

In reply to JoAnn @ Lakeside Musing.

Hi JoAnn: it seems our reading always dovetails … and we often like the same books :-). I’m envious that you got to tour around at Little Bighorn Battlefield. I want to do that. If you’ve been there — then I think you’d like this novel! I’m still a bit curious about Custer. And now I definitely want to check out The Lotus Eaters. I’m impressed with her writing.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 19:22:58 +0000

This author does pick interesting topics and original POVs. The Removes might be a bit to upsetting for me to read. Thanks for the review!

By: JoAnn @ Lakeside Musing

JoAnn @ Lakeside Musing — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 17:25:27 +0000

Well you just sold me on The Removes… I had no idea it was about Custer! We visited the Little Bighorn Battlefield and Indian Memorial on our Great Western Adventure a few years ago. I’ll happily read more about it… such a fascinating period in our history.

Your post also jogged my memory about The Lotus Eaters. I purchased the audio version during one of audible’s BOGO sales (must be years ago now) and never listened to it. It’s still waiting in my library… this is my lucky day! 😉

By: Susan Wright

Susan Wright — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 22:53:18 +0000

In reply to Brian Joseph. Yeah Brian: I felt I learned quite a bit about Custer from this well researched novel. The author seems to de-mythologize a lot surrounding all the hype about him. But you're right: Custer seems to have carried through some harsh or genocidal policies at the bequest of the U.S. gov't. There was a lot of revenge on the Plains: one side would do one thing and the other side would do payback. It was grisly. I wouldn't mind reading Philbrick's book about Custer, or Evan Connell's Son of the Morning Star. He's quite a figure in history.