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

Great Book

Started out somewhat confusing until I figured out the method of the timeline. Then I went back and relistened it made sense to me. would love a followup.

Great Book!

I don't write a lot of reviews because I am lazy.
Please do your self a favor and don't pass this one up.
What you're getting is three books 📚 in one.
Each story takes you on a wild ride thru history.
Philip Meyer is is wonderful whitty, and did his research too the macks.
I love westerners,history, Indian story's and this one had it all.
I feel that Meyer will be my next favorite author!
It is narrated my some of the best in the business. Just check it out.

Amazing

Incredible story, incredible performances. this is the epitome of all that is great about audio books.

Amazing

Everything about this book is amazing. It was recommended by an acquaintance and I'm so glad I listened to it. The storyline, the narrators, everything-- 5 stars.

Epic Texas Saga!

Great new American author writing books that can stand hold their own with "lonesome dove" or "horseman pass by" great great epic! So glad I gave this one a listen. The narration and production were off the hook as well. Can't wait to read more by Philipp Meyer!

was a great read

Quite a great read there were times I couldn't stop listening. I really enjoyed the story of all the generations

Very entertaining!

I really loved that this story was written from multiple perspectives and multiple generations. Wish their was a part 2, or a prequel ...
I recommend this to anyone looking for a Wild West adventure

Compelling

If you could sum up The Son in three words, what would they be?

informative, fascinating, visceral

What other book might you compare The Son to and why?

historical novels by James A. Michener

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

There were both male and female narrators and each did an admirable job; however, I most enjoyed Will Patton. His modulation and intonation always intrigue.

Any additional comments?

I was fascinated to learn about the rituals and mores of the Comanche Indians. Have to admit however, that some of the descriptions of capture and torture were a bit visceral at times.

Tremendous narration!

Where does The Son rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's right near the top overall, but it is by far the best narration performance that I've heard.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite characters were Eli's Comanche "brothers". I particularly enjoyed their dialogue - both the way it was written and the way it was performed.

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

More than any other performance I've heard, these narrators bring the characters to life. I've noticed that sometimes when I watch "Orange Is the New Black" I hear Jeanne in Kate Mulgrew's voice and it brings her character back to me.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, I laughed a lot - mostly about Eli's coming of age - and grieved some (although I won't go into any spoilers here).

Any additional comments?

I probably wouldn't normally have picked this book up, but I tried it here because I'd read a couple of very positive reviews in Esquire and Entertainment Weekly. I was very satisfied overall, and wrote this review mostly to remind my future self that it might be nice to listen again later on.

Greatness

This was a great story that everyone should read or listen to. I recommend this book to everyone and for every young man to think about.