Reading for Me

In eighth grade, I completed an independent study in American history. It was in that class that I was first introduced to John Jakes’ epic Kent Family Chronicles. Although I was too young to tackle the series at that age, I was intrigued with the concept of a series of novels that traced an American family from the colonial era through the nation’s Bicentennial. As I began my new year of reading, I decided that 2014 was the year to complete the eight volume saga.

The Bastard, the first volume in the Kent Family Chronicles, introduces the reader to Phillipe Charboneau.  Phillipe is the illegitimate son of a wealthy English lord. As Phillipe attempts to claim his rightful inheritance, he faces immense struggle and becomes intrigued with the opportunities to start a new life in the American colonies. After discussing the possibilities with an eccentric Benjamin Franklin, the Bastard chases his dreams of fortune, sails the seas for America, and reinvents himself as Phillip Kent.  Phillip quickly becomes involved with the colonists’ fight for liberty and finds himself at the Boston Tea Party and at the early shots of the Revolutionary War. The book is flecked with historical references and figures such as John Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock. Beautifully written, The Bastard easily swept me into the American story and I look forward to beginning the next volume in the near future.

I was first introduced to John Jakes’ work in junior high school.  I was doing an independent study in American history and the coordinator recommended I read the Kent Family Chronicles. Looking back on that recommendation, I’m still surprised; even though the history was fascinating, the novel was a bit too mature in content for my young mind. Since then, I’ve always been fascinated by Jakes’ works but have never really taken the opportunity to dive in.  This week, I visited a city that I dearly love — Savannah, Georgia — only this time I traveled there during the closing months of the Civil War as told by John Jakes.

Savannah is enthralling as a historical narrative. The details of the war leap from the page. The reader is horrified at the suffering of the innocents at the hands of Union and Confederate soldiers. As a story, however, I found myself wanting more. After reading 100 pages, I was tempted to set the book aside and start something new. The only thing that caused me to push ahead was the realization that there were less than 200 pages remaining. In those final pages, the historical accounts took a backseat to the tribulations faced by the central characters. THIS is what I appreciate about John Jakes’ novels. He is a master storyteller; I simply wish he would get the story rolling a bit sooner.

It’s always been on my bucket list to read the Kent Family Chronicles in its entirety; I still plan to do so, but I’m not feeling an intense desire to start after reading Savannah. If you’ve had a better experience with the works of John Jakes, I’d love to hear about it. I’m willing to give him another chance. I just need a recommendation of which book offers the best storytelling.