Texas

A Novel

By: James A. Michener

Narrated by: Larry McKeever

Texas: a land of sprawling diversity and unparalleled richness; a dazzling chapter in the history of our nation; a place like no other on Earth. Through the remarkable lives of four families, this epic saga spans four centuries and two continents and charts the dramatic formation of several great dynasties from the age of the conquistadors to the present day. A richly compelling novel of a proud people eager to meet the challenge of the land, Texas is James Michener's most magnificent achievement.

©1985 James A. Michener (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Vast, sprawling, and eclectic in population and geography, the state has just the sort of larger-than-life history that lends itself to Mr. Michener's taste for multigenerational epics." ( The New York Times)

"A sweeping panorama.... [Michener] grapples earnestly with the Texas character in a way that Texas' own writers often don't." ( The Washington Post Book World)

Weak to begin with and narrator didn't help.

the narrator definitely took away from the story which wasn't strong to begin with. I don't know of any person from the Northern States that understands Texas. There was no accent or inflection by the narrator. Combined with the Northern accent made for a boring book. The stories weren't very good either. Maybe it is because I am a Texan & studied Texas history in school and on my ownbut, I found them uninspiring .

Applying your politics to historical fact?

From a native Texan: Author injected his liberal slant at EVERY opportunity. Reader couldn't even pronounce Waxahachie.

My state

I am a multi generation Texan so the content of the book, for the most part is great. Parts of it are difficult to hear, but much of the difficult parts are a true representation of our state's history. What I am having trouble with is the fact that the narrator did not bother to find out how to pronounce the names of Texas towns, counties, etc. The most glaring mistake is Waxahachie. For any true native of this great state, listening to the mispronunciation of this city is painful.

Long but enjoyable

Good story. Lines are blurred between fact and fiction. Covers over 400 years of history. Multitude fictional characters who grow to like and see them fade out when their time passes. I am a Texan and the stories you hear give you a good feel for our state and why we're so damn proud of our state.

Awesome

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

Very high. I enjoyed it almost as much as the Revenant.

What other book might you compare Texas to and why?

I am new to audiobooks. It had adventure and was filled with history.

Which scene was your favorite?

The three famous battles of Texas' fight for freedom.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes many times, both emotions.

Highly informative. I will revisit the Hill County

Fascinating historical novel about Texas and its relationship to Mexico. Well researched. Michener is masterful with evolution of his characters.

Facinating, engaging, delightful

I first read this book in 1988, just re-read it 30 years later. Still love it!

Texans should all listen to this

Just two comments:

1. When a person is reading a book about Texas, they really need to consult with Texans on the pronunciation of Texas cities and names. Examples: Waxahachie (Walks-a-hachie - NOT Wax-a-hachie); Megargal (Ma-gargle, NOT Me-gar-gal); Miami (Ma-yam-a, NOT Miami like in Florida); 6666 Ranch near Guthrie, TX (4-6 Ranch - a reference to the poker hand by which the guy won the ranch, NOT sixty-six sixty-six). There were a lot more.... Anyway, -nuf said.

2. The reader's delivery seemed stiff - and no special voices for anyone, including women.

The book was great!

Loved the book

Did not like narrator.
Loved the story and Michener’s books overall!
The facts were well researched and fed into the story nicely.

Superior Story, explains Texan mindset

What a bargain - over 64 hours, never boring! Very well researched, learned a lot about Texas and Mexico history while being entertained. Increased my respect and appreciation for Texas. Lots of very sad history - cruel domination of men over their fellow man. Helped me to understand the thinking of Texans I have had dealings with.

I did not agree with the conduct or opinions of most of the characters...murderous, greedy, racist, etc. Did not agree with people throwing their lives away in a lost cause. Several decent hard working admirable characters.

Learned a lot of interesting things about the long horn cattle and armadillos.

Author a craftsman. Narrator exceptionally good with the various accents - a variety of Amercian accents as well as Mexican, French, Irish, etc. I very much like this narrator.

I recommend this book. It is a classic and I rated it 5 stars in each category.