The Son

By: Philipp Meyer

Narrated by: Will Patton, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Shepherd, Clifton Collins Jr.

Length: 17 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2014

Soon to be a TV Series on AMC starring Pierce Brosnan and co-written by Philipp Meyer.

The critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling epic, a saga of land, blood, and power that follows the rise of one unforgettable Texas family from the Comanche raids of the 1800s to the oil booms of the 20th century.

Part epic of Texas, part classic coming-of-age story, part unflinching examination of the bloody price of power, The Son is a gripping and utterly transporting novel that maps the legacy of violence in the American west with rare emotional acuity, even as it presents an intimate portrait of one family across two centuries.

Eli McCullough is just twelve-years-old when a marauding band of Comanche storm his Texas homestead and brutally murder his mother and sister, taking him as a captive. Despite their torture and cruelty, Eli—against all odds—adapts to life with the Comanche, learning their ways, their language, taking on a new name, finding a place as the adopted son of the chief of the band, and fighting their wars against not only other Indians, but white men, too-complicating his sense of loyalty, his promised vengeance, and his very understanding of self. But when disease, starvation, and westward expansion finally decimate the Comanche, Eli is left alone in a world in which he belongs nowhere, neither white nor Indian, civilized or fully wild.

Deftly interweaving Eli's story with those of his son, Peter, and his great-granddaughter, JA, The Son deftly explores the legacy of Eli's ruthlessness, his drive to power, and his life-long status as an outsider, even as the McCullough family rises to become one of the richest in Texas, a ranching-and-oil dynasty of unsurpassed wealth and privilege.

Harrowing, panoramic, and deeply evocative, The Son is a fully realized masterwork in the greatest tradition of the American canon-an unforgettable novel that combines the narrative prowess of Larry McMurtry with the knife edge sharpness of Cormac McCarthy.

©2013 Philipp Meyer (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Awesome

An epic western for the ages. A must listen for fans of the American frontier.

A Must Listen!

Any additional comments?

I will preface my review by saying that I have not seen the television series. This book is a must read/listen for anyone interested in Texas History or the History of the Comanche People. Three generations of Texans cut their teeth on wars with perhaps the fiercest tribe to roam the plains. The author deftly moves back and forth between three time periods and weaves the divergent story lines together with great skill.

I'm a fan of Will Patton as a narrator from listening to his masterful performance as Dave Robicheaux in the James Lee Burke series. He does an equally good job here. Word of warning though, the book might not be for the squeamish. The author pulls no punches in describing the vicious nature of the Indian Wars.

Bit me in the heart❣️

Philip Meyer respectfully addresses the "other side" of our Texas heroes without losing their larger-than-life personas. I was completely enthralled for 3 days, but now left pondering my responsibility to "do something".
Without spelling it out, this tale implies that knowledge = responsibility.
Epic!

Super Cool!

Gonna be twice for this one, what a great story and a great performance, I love westerns and this one fit the bill.

Fascinating Texas Story

clever telling of a Texas story, alternating between generations of the same family. My favorite parts involve the Indians and their interactions with white settlers, and descriptions of how they lived.

I was a little annoyed by the authors obsession with long descriptions of the sexual experiences of each character. I found it gross and unnecessary to the plot.

Overall, I do recommend the book if you enjoy Western writing.

It was an amazing book

My self I’m going to have to listen again
Got confused on who was who at times
Loved it though and will enjoy listening again

Great Performance

The book was well done by today’s standards. The performance by all involved was stellar.

Excellent!

Good storyline using believable historical information about early to current Texas history. The prose flows quite well.

10/10

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Just amazing and captivating. A superb history and family tale.

Excellent !!

Very much enjoyed this well written story ! I highly recommend listening to the Audible presentation !