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Summary: Richard Morgan-What a Hottie!
Review: I know Colleen McCullough's attention to detail can put some readers off but that is what makes her books so ultimately rereadable. Richard Morgan - strong,steadfast,silent and a great bod to boot! Yes he does seem a little "God the Fatherish" but this story is about him. He's not so unlike Caeser in intelligence and resourcefulness. I am going to reread this more than once and am looking forward to any and all sequels Ms. McCullough wants to send our way. This is a very good read, enjoy it for the great storytelling that it is.
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Summary: Ho Hum
Review: What an unbelievably boring book! It's a bunch of facts and numbers and dates strung together - as if the author was bound and determined to use every bit of historical research that she had found. The main character is a stick - the story is supposed to show how he became a stronger and better man through adversity and hardship, but instead he is so perfect and aloof and godlike, he isn't interesting or sympathetic at all. I was very disappointed in this book, because I had really enjoyed her previous books. The Thorn Birds, An Indecent Obsession, A Creed for the Third Millenium all had far more interesting and believable characters, and storylines that were far more engrossing and weren't sacrificed to historical detail. I plowed my way through Morgan's Run, hoping the story would finally take off, but it never did.
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Summary: Good Book! Couldn't put it down
Review: Really enjoyed this book. I know Mrs. McCullough gets some grief sometimes from history-buff nit-pickers, but I love how her reasearch brings the eras she writes about alive. (If I wanted to read a text book, I'd read a text book!) Book felt a little rushed at the end, doesn't stop me from looking forward to the next installment.ps Mrs. McCoullough, please don't leave us hanging on the Masters of Rome series!!
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Summary: Morgan's Run
Review: This book will appeal to readers who like a slow pace, an epic scope, and long passages of detailed exposition. I am not such a reader. Morgan's Run is the story of Richard Morgan, who begins his career in Bristol, ends up in prison, and is sent on a ship to help found a convict colony on an island off Australia. I read the book partly because of the claims of one professional reviewer that the book was largely about gunsmithing, the Brown Bess musket (and, I was hoping, associated tactics). It's not. The Brown Bess passage is merely one of the author's numerous info-dumps. Others involve topics, like saw-pits and sharpening sawteeth, less than fascinating to me. Characterization is a strength here, and helps to offset the book's slowness. Morgan is an appealing character, as is his friend Stephen Donovan. Secondary characters are also well drawn, though sometimes they get lost in the epic shuffle. The author portrays several nontraditional romantic relationships, which is nice to see in a genre that often ignores their existence; the portrayals, however, are not entirely free of stereotype. Women do not fare so well here, with even the eventual main love interest being drawn as rather stupid, and characters often express sentiments that seem misogynistic even for the 18th century. The plot is the main weakness here, because despite its intrinsic interest, it moves very slowly and incorporates little action. The section on the Alexander, the ship transporting the convicts to Australia, is by far the strongest. Setting is excellent in that the author has obviously done her research and has a firm grasp of her subject, but it intrudes via the aforementioned lumps of exposition. Language use is generally graceful, though with an anachronism here and there and the occasional authorial intrusion. I think this book will appeal to readers who enjoy this specific type of historical fiction. Persons needing action, crisis and drama in their novels may want to give it a miss.
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Summary: my review
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is the first time I have read about the convict sentencing in England that led to the beginning of a new nation, Australia. I have read books by Colleen McCullough and have always enjoyed them and this is certainly no exception. The writing is always interesting, the facts are very well presented in a plot that keeps the reader glued to the pages and all characters and places are extremely well described and feel very alive and present. Very good book.
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Summary: Too much graphic description of things best left unsaid...
Review: This book would have been great adventure with an admirable main character but I don't find it entertaining to read descriptions of how difficult it is to wipe one's butt in prison, or how one character had sex with sheep. I prefer some things to be hinted at rather than have to wade through a detailed description. After a while, the casual lewdness and perversity of some of the characters disgusted me and I could not finish the book.
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Summary: Historical fiction at it's absolute best!
Review: I should have known when I picked up this book that Ms. McCullough would have me crying by it's end. What an amazing combination of excellent prose, insightful historical interpretation, and spellbinding affection for the main character. As the descendant of a first-fleet convict who was transported on the Scarborough, I feel that I now have a much better understanding of how people became convicts--as well as what they did to survive. This book will please romantics, scholars, and history buffs alike. I cannot wait for the sequel!
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Summary: Depressing but Interesting
Review: Richard Morgan is a man for all seasons. His is a master gunsmith, sawyer (wood cutter), tavern owner-operator, pipe-setter, etc... He is also a convict and in 1786 England its no fun being incarcerated in the gaols (jails). In some sort of grand social experiment, convicts are shipped to Australia to settle the land. Luckily Richard is included in this experiment because if it were not for him, the settlement would be a failure. Life is harsh, the work is back breaking, and indigenous population would like nothing better than to kill these invaders. Supplies are minimal and the settlers receive little help from mother England. The people left to settle this harsh land are tough, rough spoken, unyielding and it is because of this they persevere and survive. The main character is clearly defined and McCullough serves up one depressing characterization of this tragic figure. In first few chapters his wife dies, his child is molested then killed, he loses his life savings and is accused of theft. Naturally he is not guilty, however, his innocence does him no good in jail. So Richard is challenged throughout this story, he is tempted by wine, woman and song. Not only does he forgo rum but he gives up sex and fun. In one chapter he is described as Job and I would agree. Having never read a history of Australia, I found McCullough's recount fascinating and interesting. The tragedies the settlers had to endure are unbelievable. I like her style and the tone of the story. The people were rough spoken convicts and the language used reflects this style. It was a pleasure to read this book and the pages flew by quickly. The only thing I would have liked is a hero with a lighter personality. Richard Morgan is boorish and depressing. Overall, I recommend "Morgan's Run" to all historical fiction buffs and action adventure seekers.
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Summary: A tough read but rewarding
Review: This was a dark but enlightening read as to life in parts of Britain in the 1700s, and also the journey to the first penal colony in Australia. Characters are well-developed, Richard Morgan can be a hero for us all. Had tried to read Robert Hugh's Fatal Shore but quit half way through. Will go back and try it again. Great book for history buffs.
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Summary: Historically excellent, but
Review: I agree with previous reviews of this book - I found it hard going and only because of Richard, it's main character, did any of the story hold together. The historic details, as is Ms. McCullough's wont, are superbly researched and I have learned a lot because of them, but I was not riveted, which is something I do expect from Ms McCullough.
A sequel to this story - I don't think I'll stand in line to buy it.
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