News of the World

News of the World is a very good book. Paulette Jiles knows how to tell a story. Captain Kidd is now one of my favorite characters ever. I wish I could share some beer and conversation with him. And I just want to give Johanna a hug.

Reconstruction era Texas in 1870 was not a safe place. Outlaws, Kiowa and Comanche raiders, and various bandits make life perilous for travelers. In this place/time Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, an itinerant news reader, takes on the task of returning a ten-year-old girl who has lived with the Kiowa for several years to her nearest relatives. A journey of several hundred miles. Suffice to say the Captain and Johanna have many adventures and they slowly come to know and trust each other as they make the perilous journey.

The only drawback to the book for me is the complete lack of quotes in the text, which made it difficult for me to tell speech from introspection at times.

Great story. 4.5 stars rounded up.