Rating: 
Summary: A Very Long Michener
Review: Michener's books are long and all of us who are fans know this, but this one is probably the longest one. It does get a bit tedious at times, but the book is very good and it's worth persevering with it. I don't know what our reader from Denmark was thinking, but the book is certainly not dreadful. I found the history of this state totally fascinating, and it felt like I was there when Texas was just coming into being I felt like one of those intrepid settlers that were responsible for making Texas a state. I would like to visit this state sometime because it has a great history. The story was good and the characters strong. I especially liked the story about the Alamo. This almost mythic battle comes alive in the book. America you have a lot to be proud of in this state.
Rating: 
Summary: fine job of showing just what went into the making of Texas
Review: Texas is a land of extremes that inspires pretty strong reactions. This means that any book about it that wants to be credible must walk the line between blind, gushing adoration of all things Texan (right or wrong) and mean-spirited bashing of cherished icons and legends of a very friendly people. Neither extreme of portrayal is really fair, when you get down to it.Michener, as usual, finds that midpoint. In this novel he includes the many peoples that have lived in Texas, viewing the legends and stories with a receptive and forensic eye. Each new wind of history that has blown over Texas is recorded and its impact portrayed. In the end, ultimately, we see how Texas came to be Texas, with all that that entails today. I'd say it's fitting that this is a pretty large book. Enthusiastically recommended to fans of Michener, those interested in Texas, or anyone who enjoys the genre of 'faction' (fiction closely paralleling history).
Rating:
Summary: How the West Was Won
Review: Texas is like the Texas it describes, large, diverse, bold and beautiful. Michener has developed a masterpiece that might take the average reader awhile to "get into." (I delved into its 1000+ pages once a year ago and put it down, only to recently pick it up again) But, Texas is well worth the time and the effort. Texas traces the history of the state from its beginnings as a Mexico territory through its short stay as a independent state into its annexation into the United States, role in the civil war and beyond. Michener saturates the book with interesting people and places, puts you at the Alamo, San Jacinto and the battle of Vicksburg... you follow a cattle drive, live through a hurricane and do battle with Indians. His characters experience all the best and the worst that Texan history has to offer and see famous Texas patriots (Sam Houston, Davy Crockett) and infamous vilians (Santa Anna, Benito Garza, the Comanche Indians) at work and play. However, the best part of the book is its description of the "culture" of Texas, the way the reader is shown the influence of Spanish, Mexican, French,and German settlers, the influx of adverturers from Kentucky and Tennessee mixing with northern merchants, southern cotton growers and, of course, the various Indian tribes that occupied Texas. You learn to appreciate the diversity and the psyche that made Texas the place it is today. It is a delightful, adventuresome, wonderful book-- by the end, you may want to move there yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: The Slow Long Tale of Texas
Review: The book to me was a little slow in the beganing fisrt but it got interesting when they got talking about Sam Huston was the first president of Texas. The book was to in formitive to make the book interesting for me to get involed like I did in past books. I say that the book was tells every thing about the the state and the four major people in the state. The book is to deep in the history of the state and the people that made the state what it is I dont understand how a person can find such happyness in writing about a place that has had it's history played out throw every western that has ever been made. The book was a very long read witch was very uninjoyable to me the the first story of the Mexican boy who made his way to Texas and raised a family that became a leader in the Texas way of life for Mexicans. in short the book is a some what good read with a good auther and it is a very good book to learn from but if you just want to read pick another book grab a Tim O'Brien. (This review was written by a student of bgfay's)
Rating:
Summary: Makes me (more) proud to be a Texan
Review: The length (my version is 1500 pages!) did scare me at first but it far surpassed my hopes in bringing my state to life - I felt as if it were my personal history and made me proud to be a Texan, born and raised. It was informative and educational without being dull or preachy, and made me genuinely interested in the characters - both the historical and the fictional ones. Also made me a bit homesick.... all in all incredibly entertaining!!!
Rating:
Summary: Not As Popular Today As Hawaii But Good
Review: This book is among my favourites. I have read most or many of his books twice and always find them to be entertaining and educational. I keep a copy of Hawaii, Alaska, and Texas near at hand. This is a nice 1000 page historical novel that gives a very detailed picture of the evolution of the great state of Texas, now one of the most dynamic states in the USA. Michener's books use a common plot formula that starts out by telling a story that in some way reflects and utilizes accurately the actual or known historical developments and time lines and people of a region. In the present case it is about a group of people that came up from Mexico to settle in what is now Texas. It progresses through the development of the region adding in settlers, farmers, outlaws, lawmen, business people, adding in more characters and phasing out as time moves forward up to current times. When I decided to review this book I was not certain if people were still interested in buying this book but I was pleased to see that there is still interest at Amazon.com in buying and reading this great story but perhaps not quite as popular as some of his other works. Good read and a good gift. Jack in Toronto
Rating:
Summary: Great up to a point.
Review: This book was a great epic up to a point. It was interesting and highly informative, especially for Texans with an interest in Texas history. Then the wildcatting section ended. At this point the book became slow, boring, and predictable. Michener ran out of story or the deadline was coming up very soon, as it just took a serious nose dive after the 1920's. The modern Texas is far more appealing than Michener made it out to be, and as a result, I was very disappointed with the storytelling. The last 200 or so pages were just not worth it. Otherwise, the book was excellent. Too bad he ran out of steam. I also have a small beef with his education comments about Texas. I would like to point out that the state schools are the ones with the poor education reputations, not the private ones. I am a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, and for the seven years prior to my graduation, it was voted as best buy for the money by U.S. News and World Report. S! adly, when I graduated, it dropped all the way to number two. How about them apples, Michener!
Rating:
Summary: AS GREAT AS THE STATE
Review: This has to be one of James Michener's greatest achievements. If this isn't his best book, it is one of his best. At 1322 pages you would think that would be enough, but with all of the topics JM touches I actually found myself wanting more. Mercifully this one does not start with the formation of the earth's crust. Instead, JM jumps into the action and begins a saga that lasts almost 500 years. From the Indians, to the Spanish Friars, to the Alamo, gunslingers, frontiersmen, immigrants, cattleman, entrepreneurs, Texas Rangers, real estate barons, King Cotton, oil men, and football. This only scratches the surface. JM follows the lives of several families from their immigration to Texas and the lives they cut out for themselves while there. Beyond fascinating. I highly recommend this book. Don't let the size of it scare you off because if is a fast read.
Rating:
Summary: AS GREAT AS THE STATE
Review: This has to be one of James Michener's greatest achievements. If this isn't his best book, it is one of his best. At 1322 pages you would think that would be enough, but with all of the topics JM touches I actually found myself wanting more. Mercifully this one does not start with the formation of the earth's crust. Instead, JM jumps into the action and begins a saga that lasts almost 500 years. From the Indians, to the Spanish Friars, to the Alamo, gunslingers, frontiersmen, immigrants, cattleman, entrepreneurs, Texas Rangers, real estate barons, King Cotton, oil men, and football. This only scratches the surface. JM follows the lives of several families from their immigration to Texas and the lives they cut out for themselves while there. Beyond fascinating. I highly recommend this book. Don't let the size of it scare you off because if is a fast read.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER GREAT NOVEL ABOUT PEOPLE........
Review: THIS IS AS INTERESTING AS CENTENNIAL, ALASKA, AND CHESAPEAKE. I
HAVE HAWAII TO READ NEXT. I LIKE THE WAY JAMES MICHENER WRITES MAKING HISTORY ENJOYABLE. AS A HISTORY MAJOR IN COLLEGE I AM ALWAYS GLAD WHEN SOMEONE WRITES IN SUCH A WAY THAT HISTORY IS INTERESTING TO THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO IT. THIS
BOOK IS FULL OF BOTH FACT AND FICTION, BUT HE TELLS YOU UP FRONT
WHAT IS WHAT. ALSO IT IS JUST PLAIN INTERESTING AND VERY EASY TO
READ. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS AS WELL AS THE BOOKS ABOVE FOR ONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN HISTORY BUT NOT JUST FACTS.
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