Franklin's Crossing

This book was actually spell binding. I found the author had me completely caught up in the characters lives. The book was hard to put down. I think that there was enough material to make two books and the characters certainly could have gone on for quite a while, those that lived. Moses Franklin was exactly as I would think a black man in those times and circumstances would feel and act. He was very believable. It floundered somewhat in the ending but I didn't mind it was a very good read.

Each of the aspiring pioneers in this book suffers, none are quite whole. While one character's mental anguish may not precisely match that of another, the pain is still real, the dream still unfulfilled. These men and women are moving out west in the desperate hope that they will find what they desire, whether it is worldly success, relief from a horrible situation, or just a sense of internal peace. That, of course, does not happen. Instead, they become trapped in a claustrophobic pecan grove, surrounded by brutal Indians. There, in Franklin's Crossing, each person's weakness becomes even more apparent, pronounced, whether it is greed, selfishness, or cowardice; and so, when it is vital for everyone to work together, most fall completely apart. What I liked best about the book is that it is a woman who directly faces the nearly impossible challenges, a woman who survives and adapts and continues to fight back against ridiculous odds. And, while little joy surfaces throughout the tale, the final feeling is that there is always hope, that the possibility of a better life exists for those who take the necessary risks

I really enjoyed this book. It brings to life all of the hardships of people crossing through barren and dangerous country to achieve a dream. I could feel the heat of the midday sun, and feel the dirt of the trail drying out my mouth. There were characters that I despised and pitied, as well as charachters that I loved and admired. Moses Franklin is someone to be admired for his tenacity, and refusal to be made to feel less worthy merely becuase of the color of his skin, and the harsh realities of his birth and life. Aggie Sterling is the kind of woman I always wanted to be. Proud, fearless and not afraid to speak her mind, or do what she feels and knows to be the right thing. The wagon master, Cleve Graham, is a man I both admired and pitied. He has suffered so many losses, and yet, he refuses to accept blame for the many downfalls of his life. Especially the downfalls of the wagon train. He is an honorable, if confused man. Andrew Sterling, the father of Aggie Sterling, is a man of dubious character. With few exceptions, he has never truly gained anything in his life honestly. He is the type of man who makes me shudder at the mere thought of him. I read the book with a building tension, that comes only from becoming totally engrossed. Moses Franklin, Aggie Sterling, and the other members of the wagon train, and their hopes and dreams will haunt me for a long time to come