The Rebels (The Kent Family Chronicles Volume 2)

Rating:
Summary: Book 2 of a great series
Review: Book 2 0f The Kent Family Chronicles is The Rebels.Philip Kent is now a serving soldier in George Washingtons rebel army,enduring cold,starvation and all the privations of war. He recieves a letter from his wife,Anne whom he has left in Boston with their infant son,Abraham,who tells him of her worries about the unwanted attention of a sea captain who is connected to the shipping firm with whom they have invested their savings.A new character is introduced,Judson Fletcher, a dissolute drunkard and family black sheep who is a warped soul because of his love for another mans wife and the dislike of his father. The War of Independence is in its main stages in this book with the names of many well known soldiers and characters of historical importance being included--it's a wonderfully easy way to learn history within the context of a family saga.

Rating:
Summary: Can't beat the Kent Chronicles
Review: I love this entire series, and The Rebels is where the twists and turns of family fortune shift into high gear (drama?).

Rating:
Summary: Another fascinating insight into history
Review: I read this book in two days ~~ I couldn't put it down. John Jake focuses on Philip Kent again and this time, introduces a new character, a dissolute drunkard from the Virginian plantation families ~~ Judson Fletcher. Philip is sent to the front to fight while his wife, Anne, stays behind with their son. Judson meanders between his father's plantation, and Philadelphia and Richmond.

This book is more intense on the war ~~ describing the conditions of Valley Forge where the men encamped for a bitter winter. They describe more battle scenes that makes you feel like you're right there having a sunstroke with the men. It gives you a glimpse of the hardships these men fought, despaired over and died for. Like Paine said, "These are the times that try a man's soul." It's not exactly a wonderful read but the author wasn't too brutal in describing the wartime scenes.

And it's a reminder of what the men of the Revolution fought for.

It is a good book ~~ perfect for those long winter nights. If you like history and fiction, this book is among the best combination of the two!

12-20-04

Rating:
Summary: Guilty pleasure
Review: John Jakes has become my favorite guilty pleasure. His books read fast and have plenty of action and melodrama (kind of like he wrote them with a miniseries in mind...hmm...). They're just trashy enough that you feel like you're having fun, and just historical enough that you feel like you're learning something. I loved the North and South miniseries, and I loved the Crown family books. I wasn't sure I would be as intrigued by the revolutionary period, but I'm falling in love with the characters - I had to run out to the bookstore and get "The Seekers" right after I finished "The Rebels!"

Rating:
Summary: Guilty pleasure
Review: John Jakes has become my favorite guilty pleasure. His books read fast and have plenty of action and melodrama (kind of like he wrote them with a miniseries in mind...hmm...). They're just trashy enough that you feel like you're having fun, and just historical enough that you feel like you're learning something. I loved the North and South miniseries, and I loved the Crown family books. I wasn't sure I would be as intrigued by the revolutionary period, but I'm falling in love with the characters - I had to run out to the bookstore and get "The Seekers" right after I finished "The Rebels!"

Rating:
Summary: Very one sided
Review: The book was a very good account of the American Revolution, but jOhn jakes gave a very one sided view of slavery. I was appalled at the riot scene and all of his descriptions about the slavery system. He did show how the overseer and owners REALLY felt about the slaves, but he could have given the view of the slaves themselves. considering john jakes is white maybe it was best that he didn't. Overall I enjoyed the parts about the War and the historical figures.

Rating:
Summary: The only non-5 star book of the 8-book series.
Review: This is an interesting and compelling read, and a necessary part of the Kent family chronicles. It's kind of a bummer, though, as absolutely nothing good happens to anyone for over 500 pages. I guess you could call it brilliant but depressing, if that makes sense.

Rating:
Summary: The only non-5 star book of the 8-book series.
Review: This is an interesting and compelling read, and a necessary part of the Kent family chronicles. It's kind of a bummer, though, as absolutely nothing good happens to anyone for over 500 pages. I guess you could call it brilliant but depressing, if that makes sense.

Rating:
Summary: impressed
Review: writing a sequel to a best seller is hard for a lot of writers to do well,but John jakes delivers! This book has all the action,richness of historical people,places,events and hot romance as the prior book;but is fresh and exciting. A continuation in the Kent family story worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: impressed
Review: writing a sequel to a best seller is hard for a lot of writers to do well,but John jakes delivers! This book has all the action,richness of historical people,places,events and hot romance as the prior book;but is fresh and exciting. A continuation in the Kent family story worth reading.