Reviews for The Gates of the Alamo
Review - Gates of the Alamo, The
Why I read the book: Kelli picked it as the Carp book for March.
What the book was about: The months leading up to the battle, the battle itself and a short bit of the aftermath. The main characters were: Edmund McGowan, a botanist in the employ of Mexico, collecting specimens for a work on the plants of Texas; Mary Mott, a widow who runs an inn in south Texas; and Mary’s son Terrell. Chapters also follow the stories of Mexican soldiers in Santa Anna’s army and several members of the Alamo garrison including Bowie, Crockett, Travis and Travis’s slave, Joe.
On his way to Mexico City, Edmund stays at Mary’s inn. They are drawn to each other, but Edmund has this ideal that his botany is supreme and that he’s above the normal passions of life. Terrell, meanwhile, gets himself involved with a dimwitted girl and is plagued with guilt — especially after she commits suicide. When he hears about the troops gathering at the Alamo, he takes off. Mary follows to attempt to reconcile with him. Edmund goes along to try to recover his notes before they are destroyed by the advancing Mexican army.
Mary and Edmund arrive in San Antonio just before the Mexican troops arrive and take refuge in the Alamo. The book covers the preparation for the coming attack. Davy Crockett befriends Mary and, as a favor to her, sends Terrell out as a messenger, saving his life. Edmund is the one fighter who escapes, but he is grievously wounded. Mary is also allowed to go free and heads out in search of Terrell. Terrell, meanwhile, has broken his arm in several places while fleeing Mexican troops. He manages to connect with Houston’s forces and participate in the battle of San Jacinto, after which Santa Anna surrenders Texas. Mary goes back to her inn, thinking Edmund and Terrell are both dead. Edmund manages to make his way there just in time to die of his wounds. Terrell also makes it home and reconciles with his mother. Terrell lives into the 1900s, the last survivor of the battle.
What I liked about the book: I liked a lot about it to begin with. Edmunds character and his wanderings as a botanist were interesting. Mary was likeable. The history of the campaign and battle were good, and supposed to be as accurate as research can make them. The writing was good with very few of the “oh, give me a break” moments I usually run across in historical novels.
What I didn’t like about the book: Scattered things. Terrell’s character was annoying throughout. The whole bit about Edmund refusing to sleep with Mary was really stupid and added nothing to the story. The chapters on the Mexican soldiers, while adding to the complete picture, I suppose, were just an interruption for me. The biggest flaw for me was an unavoidable one. I knew how it would turn out. There was no suspense. And it went on too long after the battle.
As for the writing, I got the impression that the editor told Harrigan he needed to use more profanity, so he went back and stuck in a word or two every thirteen pages. There wasn’t a great deal of it, but it didn’t ring authentic when it occurred. And there were perhaps seventeen too many descriptions of the way dead bodies smell.
The most interesting quote: On a page in front of the title page it said:
El Florón está en la mano, en la mano.
Vamos a ver los talleres de la vida.
(The flower is in the hand, in the hand.
Let us go see the occupation of life.)
“El Florón,” a children’s song of Mexico
I read that several times and could make no sense of it. Then I read the book. It still makes no sense to me, other than that Edmund was a botanist.
Recommendation: It was going to be an 8 right up until the final 40 pages or so. The book seemed to drag on interminably and end flatly. I gave it a 7. But that’s still pretty good. If you’re interested in the Alamo or enjoy historical fiction, I’d say read it.
Further Comments: I’ve never been to the Alamo (and only once been to Texas), but I’ve talked to someone who was there. Kelli and Steve went with Steve’s family to the Alamo for a ceremony just for descendents. Steve is a descendent of Andrew Kent, who died in the battle. Jim and Steve sang a song, and the granddaughters dressed up in period costume and also sang. The night before I started this book, Kelli called me from the courtyard of the Alamo. She was excited to be there and wanted to share her excitement with someone.
What the book was about: The months leading up to the battle, the battle itself and a short bit of the aftermath. The main characters were: Edmund McGowan, a botanist in the employ of Mexico, collecting specimens for a work on the plants of Texas; Mary Mott, a widow who runs an inn in south Texas; and Mary’s son Terrell. Chapters also follow the stories of Mexican soldiers in Santa Anna’s army and several members of the Alamo garrison including Bowie, Crockett, Travis and Travis’s slave, Joe.
On his way to Mexico City, Edmund stays at Mary’s inn. They are drawn to each other, but Edmund has this ideal that his botany is supreme and that he’s above the normal passions of life. Terrell, meanwhile, gets himself involved with a dimwitted girl and is plagued with guilt — especially after she commits suicide. When he hears about the troops gathering at the Alamo, he takes off. Mary follows to attempt to reconcile with him. Edmund goes along to try to recover his notes before they are destroyed by the advancing Mexican army.
Mary and Edmund arrive in San Antonio just before the Mexican troops arrive and take refuge in the Alamo. The book covers the preparation for the coming attack. Davy Crockett befriends Mary and, as a favor to her, sends Terrell out as a messenger, saving his life. Edmund is the one fighter who escapes, but he is grievously wounded. Mary is also allowed to go free and heads out in search of Terrell. Terrell, meanwhile, has broken his arm in several places while fleeing Mexican troops. He manages to connect with Houston’s forces and participate in the battle of San Jacinto, after which Santa Anna surrenders Texas. Mary goes back to her inn, thinking Edmund and Terrell are both dead. Edmund manages to make his way there just in time to die of his wounds. Terrell also makes it home and reconciles with his mother. Terrell lives into the 1900s, the last survivor of the battle.
What I liked about the book: I liked a lot about it to begin with. Edmunds character and his wanderings as a botanist were interesting. Mary was likeable. The history of the campaign and battle were good, and supposed to be as accurate as research can make them. The writing was good with very few of the “oh, give me a break” moments I usually run across in historical novels.
What I didn’t like about the book: Scattered things. Terrell’s character was annoying throughout. The whole bit about Edmund refusing to sleep with Mary was really stupid and added nothing to the story. The chapters on the Mexican soldiers, while adding to the complete picture, I suppose, were just an interruption for me. The biggest flaw for me was an unavoidable one. I knew how it would turn out. There was no suspense. And it went on too long after the battle.
As for the writing, I got the impression that the editor told Harrigan he needed to use more profanity, so he went back and stuck in a word or two every thirteen pages. There wasn’t a great deal of it, but it didn’t ring authentic when it occurred. And there were perhaps seventeen too many descriptions of the way dead bodies smell.
The most interesting quote: On a page in front of the title page it said:
El Florón está en la mano, en la mano.
Vamos a ver los talleres de la vida.
(The flower is in the hand, in the hand.
Let us go see the occupation of life.)
“El Florón,” a children’s song of Mexico
I read that several times and could make no sense of it. Then I read the book. It still makes no sense to me, other than that Edmund was a botanist.
Recommendation: It was going to be an 8 right up until the final 40 pages or so. The book seemed to drag on interminably and end flatly. I gave it a 7. But that’s still pretty good. If you’re interested in the Alamo or enjoy historical fiction, I’d say read it.
Further Comments: I’ve never been to the Alamo (and only once been to Texas), but I’ve talked to someone who was there. Kelli and Steve went with Steve’s family to the Alamo for a ceremony just for descendents. Steve is a descendent of Andrew Kent, who died in the battle. Jim and Steve sang a song, and the granddaughters dressed up in period costume and also sang. The night before I started this book, Kelli called me from the courtyard of the Alamo. She was excited to be there and wanted to share her excitement with someone.
Reviewed by Roger on 2006-07-26 12:04:20