Random Reads discussion

Let's discuss Chapters 1-6 here. How is the start of the book going for you? Are there any standout characters? What about themes? Let's chat about it!

Good start with the Prologue. I enjoyed the family back story of the Hazard's and Main's. Young Joseph "Hazard" was an interesting character, and it was kind of disappointing to leave him behind in the story so soon. Charles de Main selling Indians into the slave trade made him...ummm...an interesting character. So he captures seven Indians, kills a number of them when they revolt, and then saves the Indian girl from the auction block so that she can carry his babies. Ewww. And the girl goes to him willingly and affectionately? Yeah, I don't buy that one.

The rest of the chapters spend the majority of time introducing us to Orry and George during their time at West Point. It was an easy read, and I enjoy the relationship between the two characters.

Justin LaMotte is detestable, and it is obvious why Orry doesn't like him. It will be interesting to see how their conflict plays out.

Madeline appears to be a strong and intelligent woman, so I hope we hear much more from her.

I have been slow going to start this one. The prologue was a little dense, and I agree with Mike that I wish we had more time with the young Joseph Hazard. Considering the prologue was 200+ years before the start of part 1. I know the story isn’t necessarily about how the families started out, but I wanted a little more.

I’m only through chapter 1 at the moment, seeing as my work schedule isn’t letting up at all, but I will be continuing today. I think now that we are with Orry and George the story will progress faster than the prologue.

I’m really enjoying this novel. I’m old enough to remember this as a miniseries when it was on TV in the 80s so Orry is always Patrick Swayze in my mind. I also like the cameos of famous civil war generals “before”.

It’s a very readable chunkie brick. I find I’m always wanting to pick it up to read. The way it is written it is sometimes research dense, but I’m sure it’s part of story building.

Also I think this first book in the trilogy isn’t so much actual ‘civil war’ as it is about the years and prevailing circumstances leading up to the fall of Ft Sumter. The time of unspeakable cruelty to enslaved people. The time when women had no voice. In that, we see John Jakes setting up the Hazards and Mains for what we know will come. Also in that, he speaks volumes into our present day societal struggles on race and gender equity.

Hi everyone! The prologue seemed to take me longer to get through than I anticipated but now I’m rolling through chapters! It’s very dense and I’m enjoying looking up so many different things. I’m from Canada and I know the big events of American history but not really anything in depth. I like the relationship between George and Orry and how it’s symbolizing the difference in ideas around slavery within the country at large during that time. I’m a bit ahead and I’ve struggled in some parts involving the slaves (no spoilers I promise!!) but already my hope for this story is in the North and with George.

I can appreciate the character development that’s occurring in these early chapters. I keep forgetting this is a trilogy!!!! I may have no choice but to read the entire series if my interest keeps up like this! I feel like the stage is being set very well for the reader to remember and differentiate each character and their individual struggle(s). I’m not sure other people might have difficulty remembering stories when many characters are involved but I certainly do.

Yes, I liked that we got that little bit of backstory in the prologue with the two families and their beginnings. The part in the prologue with the Native American woman was pretty unbelievable, and I feel like it further played up the stereotype that indigenous women are animalistic and hypersexualized.

It started out a bit slow for me, but now I’m getting into it. I’m really liking George and Orry’s friendship (and I’m totally picturing Patrick Swayze as Orry 😂). I also am finding the depiction of slavery interesting. Unlike Gone with the Wind, where the slaves are depicted as happy as can be and childlike, and don’t seem to know what to do when they are eventually freed, I think in this novel things seem a little more accurate. The slaves we’ve met aren’t happy, even if they are treated “fairly” by their owners. They are very aware of their situation and their oppression. I like that a lot of the anti-slavery views we’re seeing come from Orry’s brother. I’m interested in seeing how his story progresses (hopefully he’ll still have a big role in the story). And Justin LaMotte? I hate hate hate him. So much.

Waaahhh..what about Joseph? Will we get a view back to how that history progressed?

Was already gritting my teeth reading about the poor 7 Indians . At what point did the author think it a great idea to make the female Indian actually have “feelings” for Charles?

I was really liking reading about George and Orry’s friendship. Getting to see all the other famous generals when they were just young cadets too. Poor Orry is so naive about life and I hope he keeps his honesty and integrity. I am so saddened by the defeatist attitude of the slaves though. I wonder how long that takes to change in this book?

Justin LaMotte is a steamy pile of horse pucky! I look forward to a bullet from either side to take him out, but it would be better if a slave beat his butt first. Have a feeling he is going to weak a lot of havoc first though.

Okay now that I’m done with this section I have a few more thoughts.

I like how some of the Mains question the use of slavery openly. They see how horrific it is, but on the flip side don’t do anything to change it. Charles is the perfect example of how racism is not something you’re born with, but something you’re taught.

I feel so bad for Madeline. Justin is a steaming pile of his prized horse’s shit. I hope he dies in a horrific way, but I agree with Monica in that he will wreak some havoc as a villain before we see the last of him.

It’s been so long since I’ve watched the miniseries I’ve forgotten how the story goes, which is great. I want to be surprised. I hope we get more of all the family dynamics before the war starts too.

I am finally caught up through Chapter 6. I had a feeling I'd be lagging behind. I do a lot of audiobooks since my eyes get tired easily, but this one didn't have an audio version at the library. I'm actually kind of glad since there are several words I don't recognize that I probably wouldn't have looked up otherwise. I am reading it on the Kindle, which makes look ups easy (although I find navigating around in the book itself so much harder on the Kindle vs. a real book).

I watched this miniseries back in the 80s and for nostalgia's sake rewatched a bit of it on Youtube (horrible video quality) about a year ago, so the actors are somewhat fresh in my mind. I can't help but see all of them when reading about these characters. Dent, especially, doesn't fit the physical description. It's hard, now, to read about Orry's parents who are described as old with gray hair and they are my age!

I remember some of the basic plot points from the miniseries but not most of it. I am enjoying getting some more background on the various characters.

Hi! I finished this first section yesterday. I have watched the mini series several times when I was younger, so I know the story well and the characters. This book is well written and approachable and that’s what concerned me at first. But I have no problem reading and following it. Gosh, I didn’t realize how much I missed these characters! I loved getting the backstory of the two families in the prologue, that’s something I don’t think we got in the miniseries. I love George and Orry’s friendship. And Orry and Madeline are EVERYTHING! I got a little giggly when they first met. I can’t wait to keep going!