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

Historical western fiction worthy of McCarthy

The Son provides an entertaining, long-arc view of Texas; it is a family drama that covers 150+ years in a fast paced, well researched way. The family's generations takes a bit of figuring out (wonder if there's a family tree printed in book?), but becomes clearer as book progresses.

This is a great book and I was sad when it was done. I've read most of Cormac McCarthy, including his trilogy. This is almost as well written, with its share of frontier harshness.

My Best Audible; Greek epic of cowboys and Indians

I cannot add much more to the great reviews of this novel by listeners, readers and critics. I loved the literary devices used to tell this spectacular story of a Texas family, which is, in many ways, reminiscent of a Greek tragedy.

This is, by a long shot, the best book I've listened to. The best material by the best narrators. I also read it, but I can't be as bold in my assessment of the book in print.

I finished this in July and am just now sitting down to write a review. The novel sticks with you like any great piece of art, be it a novel, movie, painting or song.

I cannot recommend this enough.

Petered out toward the end

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It was three (really four) stories and narrators, not always well woven together. I thought that scheme was somewhat awkward. Also, I found the ending unsatisfying.

Would you recommend The Son to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes. In spite of my criticisms, I did enjoy the book.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I could listen to Will Patton read the phone book. He is among my favorites. In this case he was perfect as Eli.

Liked it, but not as good as reviews suggested

I love a good western, and this book got great reviews. I enjoyed it even though none of the characters were very likable. Some of the reviewers really got carried away raving about this book. But that's my opinion.

One thing that really bothered me was the use of modern language. I sincerely doubt that the Comanches of the mid-1800 were using the f---k word, shit, or using words like asshole. Nor do I suspect they started sentences with "actually". There was a lot of sarcasm used between the Comanches when they were talking. It didn't ring true to me. This language took the "period" out of the "period piece" for me and really was distracting.

I got much more out of the non-fiction book by S.C. Gwynne, EMPIRE OF THE SUMMER MOON, Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History. It you want to know more about Comanches, and Quanah Parker, who is mentioned in THE SON, I highly recommend this book, which was excellent.

Reads a bit like Sydney Sheldon

...without any explicit scenes. There are sex scenes depicted however in a more factual manner.

After reading the reviews, I had been braced for some gruesome violence because I consider myself sensitive to these things however I have finished the story and it was fine. There is plenty of violence, it is descriptive however not overly. There is just one gruesome scene that bothered me most largely because it's hard to think about what divides can drive people to inflict extreme cruelty on others.

The story moves along briskly. The characters felt well fleshed out. As to the other main gripe of some of the other reviewers, I will agree that the story jumping around was a bit confusing and perhaps the story might have been better without this. Because of this, in the case of Eli McCullough in particular, we know that he's not going to die or be killed at earlier points in the story because we know that he ends up wealthy and with heirs early on.

From a historic perspective, I found this added dimension edifying without being boring as I'm not much of a history buff. I noticed that the subject of women and their station at the time is brought up on many occasions. We have come a long way since then. Race issues are also a ubiquitous theme throughout. It's so encouraging to think how much times have changed. Whereas I have never really studied the indians, their culture and values I now have a much better understanding and respect. This story underlines their courage and altruism and love for nature and the natural world all values that I can fully admire and appreciate.

Probably due to all the jumping around in the story line I didn't like where it ended. It seemed that one point, the story just ends and audible thanks you for listening.

I definitely enjoyed Will Patton's narration. He's a natural for the characters that he's portrayed here.

Three Books in One

This is really three different books. Two of them are interesting, and I found the other not. Although it about three generations of a Texas family, following the plot in an audio version is slightly difficult. You jump between characters, eras, and story lines rather quickly. Sometimes you miss the transitions, especially near the end where the three separate story lines come together. The beginning of the book and story about being captured by Indians was the most interesting. The story about the Texas Woman Oil Barron was not. It so reminded me of the movie Giant.

So who was Jeanie's father?

I listened intently to this family saga, partly because Will Patton, narrating Eli's part, was so engrossing, and partly because I couldn't figure out which of Peter's sons had been Jeanie's father. I wonder if we were supposed to know? I was completely drawn into this story of survival and atrocities. It makes our recent American history seem benign compared to the "white dominance over everything that lived and breathed" that was portrayed during the demise of the American Indian. Fascinating details made this listen worthwhile.

outstanding novel

Will Patton never lets you down in any of his books. this is another must have. the story of a family from each generation and its issues settling the west. buy it

Just OK

Would you try another book from Philipp Meyer and/or the narrators?

Narrators are good. Not sure about another book from Mr. Meyer

Which scene was your favorite?

Scenes of the Colonel "Terete" during his captivity

Any additional comments?

I had high expectations based on reviews i had read. The story is OK but there are too many books to read an OK book...

number 1 book in my library

what a wonderful book ,very interesting, kept you thinking ,better the second, time 5 stars