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The Son
The Son | Philipp Meyer
From the author of the highly acclaimedAmerican Rustcomes his eagerly awaited second novel, an extraordinary multi-generational Texan epic Part epic of Texas, part classic coming-of-age story, part unflinching portrait of the bloody price of power, The Son is an utterly transporting novel that maps the legacy of violence in the American West through the lives of the McCulloughs, an ambitious family as resilient and dangerous as the land they claim. Love, honour, children are sacrificed in the name of ambition, as the family becomes one of the richest powers in Texas, a dynasty of unsurpassed wealth and privilege. Yet, like all empires, the McCulloughs must eventually face the consequences of their choices. 'Stunning ... a book that for once really does deserve to be called a masterpiece' Kate Atkinson 'Magnificent ... McCarthy's Border Trilogy is a point of reference, as is There Will Be Blood,but it is not fanciful to be reminded of certain passages from Moby-Dick-- it's that good' The Times 'Brilliant ... a wonderful novel' Lionel Shriver, Financial Times 'Its viscerality and boundless capacity for storytelling puts it on par with the classic of the genre, Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian' SundayTelegraph
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Therewillbebooks
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Pickpick

We begin this week with a tale as old as time....cutting up couches. From there we dive into the brilliant 2013 novel, 'The Son' by Philipp Meyer. This is our second Meyer novel and it's safe to say we are big fans! So much to unpack in this sprawling epic novel and we had a great time diving in. We highly recommend this novel and hope you enjoy this episode.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3bmW9R451GCEKdbjw9ilJp

Suet624 Stacked! 13mo
41 likes1 comment
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Therewillbebooks
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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I explain the context of this in our newest episode.

https://spotify.link/npY1k1k3EDb

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Therewillbebooks
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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audraelizabeth
The Son | Philipp Meyer
Mehso-so

Seemed way to long, i ended up finishing on audio.

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kellock
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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It was prophesied I would live to see one hundred and having achieved that age I see no reason to doubt it.

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kellock
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Going to give this a go next, purely because I want to watch the TV show next as well

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audraelizabeth
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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#audiocrafting. Diamond painting.

Texreader Very pretty! How is the audio? 4y
audraelizabeth @Texreader I really like it. 4y
TheSpineView 🖤🐎 4y
27 likes4 comments
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Airykah13
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

What I liked: The intertwining storytelling, varying character points of view, and the family drama.

What I didn't like: The story was a bit confusing at times. I had to look at the family tree at the beginning of the book more than once to see the relationship between the characters.

Bonus: The audiobook was great. Three different narrators, each with their own narration style. I also plan on watching the TV show soon.

Texreader A friend of mine is an “important” extra in the show. And I‘ve yet to watch it! 4y
Airykah13 @texreader I would have never known about the show if they hadn‘t changed the book cover 😂 4y
Texreader I didn‘t know there was a book until your post! 🤣 4y
Airykah13 @Texreader lolol, that‘s too funny 4y
Texreader It‘s a funny sort of evening that way. Serendipity? 4y
14 likes5 comments
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Well-ReadNeck
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Pickpick

Listened to this one on #audiobook Was a great narration with Will Patton and Kate Mulgrew. A long one for #TomeTopple

Amandajoy How many hours does an audiobook have to be before you classify it as a tome? I usually classify 450+ pages as a chunkster or tome, but have been trying to figure out how many hours that translates to. 4y
Well-ReadNeck @Amandajoy For Tome Topple it‘s 500+ pages, but I think 450+ is better. I had a LOT of books on my TBR between 450 and 500 that I‘ve put off for being so long. I just looked up the page count on amazon in determining the audiobook length. This one was over 17 hours, but I don‘t know if the time directly translates. 4y
Amandajoy We should make something up 🙂 4y
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nikirtehsuxlol For audiobook, anything over 16 hours starts to being kinda long for me and I hesitate buying it. But I have listened to two 30+ hour guys 4y
Well-ReadNeck @nikirtehsuxlol Same here. They have to be REALLY good narrations. I loved Ari Fliakos‘ narration of The Nix, which was another long one. 4y
Well-ReadNeck @Amandajoy Yes! I had a 14 plus hour one that I looked up the pages and it was just under. I‘m thinking 15 is probably about right. 4y
73 likes6 comments
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Minervasbutler
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Ambitious novel which recounts the story of Texas by following the McCullough family of ranchers and oil men. The story opens with 13-year-old Eli seeing his mother and sister raped by a Comanche band who kidnap him. The account of how he is assimilated into the band and his subsequent adventures is a terrific feat of storytelling, as are the alternating chapters recounting the bloody struggle between Mexicans, native Americans and Anglos. Superb

Anna40 Read it about 5 or 6 years ago and enjoyed it too. 5y
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Minervasbutler
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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RobertFrost
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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The Son fits the definitions of both epic for its scale and great American novel for its story. It is the story of the McCullough family, told primarily from the perspectives of three family members and spanning from 1836 to 2012.

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Becker
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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This novel is about the blood, sweat and tears (and there was plenty of all 3) that went into settling the state of Texas. The hostility between the Commanche and the Whites, the injustices done to the Mexicans and the development of the oil industry are all key factors in this story. Be warned it is a little brutal in places but don't let that stop you. It is an incredible piece of historical fiction and will always be a memorable book for me.

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jdiehr
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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While on a road trip a couple weeks ago, I suggested to my husband that we listen to an audiobook. "How about a western?" he suggested. To be honest, I had never read a western. We landed on "The Son," and I loved it.
The story skips from generation to generation, and the audio has 4 different narrators which made it easy to keep track of who was who. I do wish I had had a copy of the family tree - that would have helped me a lot at the beginning

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jdiehr
The Son | Philipp Meyer

"I have always found it interesting that white children take so quickly to Indian ways, while Indian children, when brought to be raised in white families, never take to it at all."

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jdiehr
The Son | Philipp Meyer

"My brother began to cry out in his sleep; I started to shake him, then stopped. There wasn't any dream he could be having that would be as bad as waking up."

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LonerDude33
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Mehso-so

Really enjoyed how the different generations clicked together by the end. A very aggressive and ultimately sad story of a family legacy. The second act kind of slowed down for me but I always came back to it. Enjoyed it a lot though.

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Ncostell
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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I really enjoyed this family saga told from three main characters‘ viewpoints over several generations. It was a sweeping book, detailing the often violent and brutal lives of the early settlers of Texas and the changing landscape and livelihoods of its inhabitants told through one family‘s story.

Tamra Been TBR so long! 7y
Ncostell @Tamra This has been on my TBR forever too. I bought it at my library‘s book sale a long time ago and finally got to it. 7y
AmyG I liked this book very much. 7y
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Mcoun
The Son | Philipp Meyer
Pickpick

The saga of a Texas oil family told from the perspective of 3 family members of different generations. There were a lot of things to learn and enjoy in this book. Warning: There is a lot of violence.

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Mjk20a
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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After that I couldn‘t bear to look. In the distance I could see the Nueces and the green river flats all around, the sun continuing to rise, catching in the pall of dust, the air around the casa mayor turning a brilliant orange as if some miracle were about to occur, a descent of angels, or perhaps the opposite, a kind of eruption, the ascent of some ancient fire that would wipe us all from the earth.

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Well-ReadNeck
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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#RockinMay #Cat'sInTheCradle

The title alone, amiright? Also, good excuse to recommend this book. 😉

Cinfhen Yup! Totally sums up the song!!! I've heard mixed reviews about the book, glad to hear you enjoyed it😊 7y
LeahBergen I really enjoyed this book. 👍🏼 7y
minkyb I loved Harry Chapin. So sad he died so young. 7y
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Smrloomis
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Kindle deal if you haven't read this yet. Personally I loved it. 😁

OhNoMersault Hated American Rust. Is this better? 7y
Zelma @OhNoMersault completely different. This is a multigenerational novel about an oil family. 7y
Smrloomis @OhNoMersault I haven't read American Rust so I don't know if the style is the same, although @Zelma is right. It's a family saga over several generations. I loved it but I also like the Texas setting so that helped. 7y
OhNoMersault The good ol' boy writing style is what bothered me but I'm pretty sure it was his debut so I'm wondering if he reigned it is a bit for his second novel. 7y
Smrloomis @OhNoMersault in that case perhaps get a sample and see? I read it too long ago to really remember. 7y
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TEArificbooks
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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The weather is so wonderful today, a little cool from the storm in the distance, smells like rain. Going to spend sometime reading and snacking outside. I am enjoying the book so far. #lularoe

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wanderer15
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Appropriate that my own feline "son" walked into my picture here...I was really impressed with this book, though once again anybody put off by unflinching depictions of violence should pass. I need a palate cleanser/something fun!

BennettBookworm Hey Fitz! 7y
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melrailey
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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I'm back to this book today and somehow a beer feels like the right drink to go with it.

Jinjer I watched the first episode and then lost track of where & when it's on! Definitely want to read the book. My mom watched it with me and said "Good Lord are they still remaking westerns from the 1950s? Can't they come up with anything new?"? 8y
melrailey @Jinjer That is hilarious! I just finished the book this morning while at the doctors with my grandfather. I enjoyed it a lot but it is a classic multi-generational western. I've been recording the tv show and will watch it soon - after Bosch and 13 Reasons Why and American Gods. Yikes! That's a lot of TV! 8y
Jinjer I want to watch 13 reasons why & American gods and handmaids tale! Never heard of Bosch! I'm sucked into White Princess & Genius so don't know when I'll find the time!😬 8y
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Ange44
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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I'm about to dive into this family saga.

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melrailey
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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I'm not a fan of movie tie-in covers but guys Pierce Brosnan still looks good - even if I do miss my Remington Steele. 😜

DGRachel I loved Remington Steele!!! 8y
drokka I didn't know this was going to be a film. Another book i need to somehow fit in before going to the cinema 8y
melrailey @drokka it's actually a tv series on AMC. It started this past Saturday. I recorded it but haven't watched it yet. My parents loved it though. 8y
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drokka Oh I'm safe then; I haven't got that channel. 🤣 8y
melrailey @drokka I just record tons of stuff and never watch it. My tv gets turned in for sports and Dancing with the Stars. It's so neglected. 8y
mjdowens I so loved Remington Steele. As a kid I wanted to work there just to be around him🙄 8y
Bookzombie 🙋🏼Remington Steele fan here! 8y
minkyb Remington Steele!!! 8y
99 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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Iindseyo
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Catching up the pilot for The Son. The casting of Pierce Brosnan as a Texan patriarch is a bit of a head scratcher. Can't decide if I'm enjoying it or not. Have y'all watched it?? #adaptation

SheReadsAndWrites I saw the ads and was intrigued but haven't had a chance to watch. 😊 8y
Lola Watching now #mixedfeelings 8y
Iindseyo @Lola I know! I wanted to like it but it felt like it dragged. I'll probably give it another episode before I make a decision 8y
Lola @Iindseyosborne Ditto. And as always, I found the violence harder to watch than to read 😑 8y
29 likes4 comments
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Lola
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Whoa! Checking out GR and saw a bit for this in the corner. I loved this book! Series premier is this Saturday, 4/8 on AMC, 8pm central time.

CherylDeFranceschi I loved this book! 8y
Lola I'm hoping this fills the Deadwood hole in my ❤️ 8y
Suetara I hope the series does the book justice-I loved it!! Excited to check it out. 8y
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BooksForEmpathy Thank you for pointing this out to me! Yay!! 8y
Lola @BooksForEmpathy You're welcome! The ads on GR usually bug me but if not for that ad, I never would have known about this! 8y
Tamra This has been TBR for a long time! I want to see it now too! 8y
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Bee
The Son | Philipp Meyer
Pickpick

The Son is like reading a Michener epic. Sex, murder and a Comanche what could be better?

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Bee
The Son | Philipp Meyer

Just started this

Bee This is going to be a new series on AMC. 8y
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CaramelLunacy
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Bailedbailed

The Son is certainly an interesting novel of my beloved home state, but I am going to have to bail for now - the brutality and the violence (especially sexual violence) is all too much for me right now. I may revisit...or may not.

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CaramelLunacy
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Couple of hours on the train ahead of me this evening - luckily, I have Mr B's latest pick to keep me company! #MrBsEmporium

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MamaGina
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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#FunPhotoFriday
My son and I in front of the Biltmore House in Asheville NC the last time he visited me. What's making me especially happy is that I leave on Monday to visit he and his fiancé in San Antonio TX !!!

LauraBeth Great pic 😀❤️ 8y
LilMamaMastro Oh, Enjoy!!! 👏 8y
ReadingEnvy Is it smoky where you are? I live down in Greenville and we are getting a lot of smoke from the forest fires. 8y
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MamaGina @ReadingEnvy I actually live in Hendersonville and haven't had a problem here so far but my parents live in Fletcher, about a 15 minute drive north of me, and they've gotten smoke there a couple times. 8y
Kimzey My Dad's side of the family came from Hendersonville and Mills River. I love that part of NC! 8y
MamaGina @Kimzey I love living here❣ @ReadingEnvy It got smoky here this afternoon!😩 8y
ReadingEnvy @MamaGina yeah we were in Hendersonville and Bat Cave and Flat Rock and some locations were rough, like campfire smoky. Phew. So worried about some of the places I love up there! 8y
Hobbinol ❤️Asheville! 8y
27 likes8 comments
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outis
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Texas #bookandbrew - I can't believe that McMurtry & Bats of the Republic (& many other ebooks) aren't in this pile (b/c couldn't find my hard copies) and that there's not a Shiner or Lone Star in sight. Bottles & cans seem to have somehow disappeared from my refrigerator in the craziness of the past 24 hours (or the past 6 months-whatever). I may need to restock to get through the rest of this week! #photoadaynov16

LeahBergen The Son is so good! 👍🏼 8y
Suzze Yay Texas! 8y
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CaramelLunacy
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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This just arrived from Mr B's today! Excited to see what they've sent this time...

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Smrloomis
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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I LOVED this book. It was EPIC. If you like Westerns and/or Texas historical settings and/or sweeping multigenerational novels, this is for you. Get it while it's cheap 😉👍🏽

LeahBergen I loved this one, too. ❤️ 8y
PenguinInFlight I was wondering if anyone had read this...I was debating buying it today. SOLD! LOL. ☺️ 8y
Smrloomis @LeahBergen YES! ❤️️❤️️❤️️ 8y
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Smrloomis @PenguinInFlight so glad to hear it! Definitely start it soon 😬 8y
OffTheBeatenShelf.com Fun! If you liked this I bet you'd also like Bats of the Republic. I read it earlier this year and it has the historical Texas setting and multigenerational characters too. 8y
Gulfsidemusing Have you read his novel American Rust? It's been on my list for years... 8y
CherylDeFranceschi Loved this book! 8y
Smrloomis @OffTheBeatenShelf.com oooh, thanks for the recommendation! 8y
Smrloomis @Lakesidemusing I haven't yet. So many books, so little time! 8y
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CherylDeFranceschi
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Oh. Oh. 💔

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Oonarch
The Son | Philipp Meyer
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Don't get discouraged if you're confused by all the changes in point of view and time period. It is tough to track, but well worth it. Incisive and so, so honest. Meyer hits the core of human nature for sure. The bad and the ugly much more so than the good.

librariankris Great audiobook. 8y
robinb You've been #SmittenByLittens! Welcome! 7y
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Justin_Hunter
The Son | Philipp Meyer
Pickpick

The Son isn't just western fiction. It's contemporary fiction at its best. It spans generations, shifts perspectives. Meyer wrote every passage without judgment. If we are to judge, that's fine, but he will not do it for us. Beautiful work.

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PeaceLadyLynn
The Son | Philipp Meyer

An all time favorite of mine and others in my book club. The history of Cowboys and Indians isn't watered down in this book so be ready for violence.

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