News of the World

News of the World – Paulette Jiles

Standing in a bookstore, I flipped open the cover of the book, and that sold me. The inner flap material for News of the World, a map of Texas — much of my Texas.

Blurb helped, but I loved the map.

Pictures rarely sell a book, but the inner piece was map, a map of “old timey” Texas, missing the approximate cartographer’s lines, more like a modern-ish map, but the image sold it. At one time or another, twice, in recent memory, I’ve covered nearly identical ground.

Men have lost the ability to discuss any political event in Texas in a reasonable manner. There is no debate, only force. In point of fact, regard the soldiers beyond the door. Page 72.

Some would suggest, not much has changed. Historical tale that covers familiar ground, a version of post-Confederacy Texas, oddly appropriate in a deeply divided nation, even now.

The name of a tale that is framed around a journey, like a pilgrimage? Homer's Odyssey, &c.? Begs comparison to Lonesome Dove, digging into both myth, history, and a narrative framed around a journey.

Kind of lightweight, but lyrical in presentation, a nice story that includes a narrow portion of my old homes.

Cool. Good story.

News of the World – Paulette Jiles