Americans

I'm only writing a review for the last book, because it's really about the entire series. I don't want (and it would be too long) to give a synopsis of the different storylines. I'm just giving my opinion of them as a whole. I read this series back in the late seventies, again a few years later, and am once again devouring the history of the Kent family. John Jakes smoothly intersperses historical facts, trivia, and fiction in a way that makes what was boring in my school years come alive. I often find myself wanting to be my own character in the books, whether a friend or family memeber! Even having read the entire series multiple times, I still find that I look forward to the next book. It's been a long time between this reading and the last, so some of the parts have faded and seem new, but many moments in the series had made a lasting impression and it's been pleasurable to revisit all of it. The only downside to the series is that it ends; the last book, the last paragraphs, the last sentence, leaves me wanting a whole lot more. I think that says the most about the entire story.

Book 8 in The Kent Family Chronicles neatly wraps up the family history in a most satisfying way.Carter Kent, son of Julia and Louis, shows some of the weakness of character of his father and becomes embroiled with shady, criminal types, forcing him to head for San Francisco where he becomes an off-sider to a powerful political boss. Will Kent follows his dream of becoming a doctor and after an initial inclination to concentrate on becoming rich and famous by marrying the promiscuous daughter of a society family, realises his true potential and joins a practice in the N.Y. slums. Eleanor Kent, married to Leo, a Jewish actor, experiences for herself the prejudice against Jews directed against her for daring to marry a Jew. They are caught in the terrible Johnstown flood and the pattern of their lives is altered forever.I'm sorry that this wonderful series has ended but am grateful for the very real insight into American history.

sorry it had to end. I would read another 8 volumns if he were to continue...i try to figure out which kent had the best life and which one had the most difficult....i welcome any feedback.

I first started the Kent Family Chronicles when I began teaching U.S. History. I learned so much, and there are stories that I will never forget. My family literally lost me for a few months, because I spent every available moment reading those books. It's been a few years since I've read them, but I'm thinking it's time to pick them up again. Be prepared to block out some time, because you won't put them down until you're done with all eight!

I have finally summed up enough time and courage to put myself to read through all the volumes in the "Kent Family Chronicles". I frankly don't know what took me so long to try and read them. Instead of resuming each book individually, I thought I'd gather all books into one single review and say that it has been perhaps the most entertaining time of my life. There's everything and anything any reader could possibly want. It's a massive compilation of historical detail gathered along with wonderfully crafted fiction. Its an overly dramatic saga, rich in tragedy, suspense, action, poignant love scenes. The person who reads these books and says they're nothing short of excellent truly does not know what great fiction storytelling is about. No wonder these books have received the critical acclaim they have. They are definitely books that stand in a class of their own. The bad thing about them is that there is an end to them...I am going to miss not reading about the Kents. Oh well, everything must end one day, I suppose. My admiration for John Jakes and his work is the only exception to this rule