The Beginning

Longhorn Series, Book 1

By: Dusty Rhodes

Narrated by: Gene Engene

Buck Cordell is a giant of a man in a giant, untamed land called Texas. He builds a cattle ranch where ordinary men all say it can't be done a cattle empire that defies all odds, a family that changes the course of Texas history, and a legacy that outlives the Old West.

Round 'em up: listen to another novel in the Longhorn Series.©2007 Dusty Rhodes (P)2007 Books In Motion

Texas history after the Civil War

Would you consider the audio edition of The Beginning to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version. I suspect I would like some of it better because of the unusual male voices interpreted by the narrator. Buck, Chester and Chester's dad's voices were on target, but others were choppy with strange inflections.

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

Hmmm, not sure.

Have you listened to any of Gene Engene’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Never heard him before. I enjoyed his story narration and main character Texas accents a lot. He did the female and Hispanic voices well also. But his attempt to make the other male characters distinctive was distracting.

If you could rename The Beginning, what would you call it?

Don't think I would rename it.

Any additional comments?

Actually, I was exhausted after completing the book. There were so many tragedies emergencies and danger that I was cautious about starting each new chapter. That being said, the story was interesting and fast paced. The history of the cattle industry after the Civil War was well researched and fascinating. I did enjoy it, but maybe not enough to continue the series.

great story

Dusty Rhodes does it again in this great western. and Gene Engene is without a doubt the best narrator doing a western that has ever read a book. outstanding.

Eeeeyaaaahoooo.

Loved it. Great tale. Little bit of everything. Could NOT seem to stop listening. But I do wish he'd found the Hondo Kid.

western cliches abound

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, but with a warning. I knew he was a gunslinger, 'cause he wore his rig low, and he had nervous, squinty eyes. You could load that Sharps in the morning and shoot all day. She was the storekeeper's daughter. Get the Point?

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

For a book that's over the top, you need a performance that's over the top, Right, stranger?

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

They must have already made 50 of these, and I went to see all of them. Don't make 'em like this any more though, do they, Pard?

The Beginning of a Great Series

Perhaps, because I listened to "The Hondo Kid" first, then "The Prodigal Brother", listening to the series out of sequence is the reason I didn't find "The Beginning" as good as Books 2 & 3. I haven't heard Book 4, the last book in the series, yet.

"The Beginning" sets the background for the other books and really should be read first, but the next 2 books give evidence of what happened in Book 1, just not as detailed.

All in all, it's a great series, narrated by the very talented Gene Engene.

I highly recommend it for those who love the Western genre.