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The Whiskey Rebels A Novel David Liss 9781400064205 Books

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The Whiskey Rebels A Novel David Liss 9781400064205 Books

This was the most boring book I have read in years and years. I was so sure it would get better that I read 200 pages, hoping, hoping, hoping it would finally grab my attention. I love American History and read a lot of historical fiction - this one just dragged.

There are two stories here, parallel tales of two different protagonists in different parts of the state. By 200 pages there was still no connection between them, so the reader is just jumping between characters/stories. I didn't find either of the two main characters compelling in any way - they seemed like 2-dimensional cutouts. I didn't care what happened to them, didn't particularly like or sympathize with either. In an attempt to create authentic voices the author uses very stilted language and dialog. I never once believed a real person was speaking. In short, it was a big waste of my time.

There is so much GREAT historical fiction out there - give this one a pass and spend your money on something informative, entertaining, engaging and satisfying.


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The Whiskey Rebels A Novel David Liss 9781400064205 Books Reviews

This book is an engaging look at a lesser known period in American history, the time after the Constitution was ratified and the new nation was just being established. It is often thought that, like a romance, once the conflict is resolved, the couple lives happily ever after. But for the United States after the revolution, it was a chaotic time of seeking to lay the foundations of a republic. Many suffered in the chaos, and many were victimized by unscrupulous people. Such were the first settlers of western Pennsylvania, who were deceived into overpaying for worthless land and taken advantage of at every turn. The tale told in this book is based on real events and people. It spins a complicated web of intrigue that maintains suspense until the last chapter. One is not certain who are the "good guys" and indeed there may not be only one side that is in the right. I heartily recommend this book as a fascinating development of both plot and characters. One of the best books I've read in the last year.
I gave this to my dad, ( a real history buff) for Christmas, and he loved it. He said it was one of the best historical novels he'd read, even if the author did go on a bit long about the history of the financial industry. In his opinion the characters were lively and fun, the historical detail convincing, and the writing skilled. He now plans to read other books by this author.
A somewhat comp!ex novel of multiple characters, time frames and geographic locations, it is an engrossing mix of fact and fiction. Fictional and historical characters are skilfully brought together in a story of political and financial machinations and vengeance. The action moves back and forth among Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York.

Central to the story are, of course, the Whiskey Rebellion as well as the Bank of the United States, financial speculation and fraud, Alexander Hamilton and his policies, the Federalists and the anti-Federalists, the violence of the frontier and the fictional violence and plotting to destroy Hamilton and his bank. The destruction of the bank, for good or evil, was finally accomplished in 1811. The breaking of a tie vote in the senate by vice-president George Clinton allowed the bank's charter to expire in that year.

There is a little repetition in the writing but some may want or need that in a multi-character novel of more than 500 pages. There is not enough of it to be boring to most readers. Captain Saunders career and his aversion to violence did not quite mesh for me but I did not find it odd enough to disturb my enjoyment of the novel. Nor did the few scenes of graphic violence bother me as they are part of both the plot and character development rather than gratuitous. The villain Pearson is so self-serving, so arrogant, so evil, so devoid of any redeeming virtues that he is a genuine delight to hate. If this were a stage play I can easily imagine an audience hissing and pelting him with rotten vegetables and fruit.

Unfortunately there is a faint whiff of modern political correctness about the novel. Let's see, we have your feminist; your noble, put upon black slave; an incredibly able Jewish operative working for Alexander Hamilton; two more or less openly homosexual characters living out on the frontier where no one is disturbed by their lifestyle; several nasty, rotten, rich, greedy white men; and I probably left out some of the stereotypes. The novel is well written and sometimes the pages seemed to turn themselves despite the PC characters.
This is the 3rd book I've read by David Liss and I have one more in queue, so obviously I like his writing. The stories are well-researched historical mysteries with a financial/markets/politics aspect to them. I rate "The Coffee Trader" and "A Conspiracy of Paper" 5 stars. I would give this 5 stars but for Liss' dealing with historical figures and a slightly dark ending. I should point out that I rate tough, and this is far better than 95% of the books rated 5-star on . (Apparently those folks have either never read quality or can't recognize it!).
Having researched well and due to his ability to write period conversation, Liss gives the reader a real feel for the life and times of the era. This is not merely a poor modern story dropped into an historical setting to sell better.
The story is written in the first person by 2 different characters whose lives eventually intertwine. Therefore there are alternating chapters of one character then the other -- it is not done merely as an affectation, but adds to the story. I know that some reviewers are confused or put off by this, but it adds considerably to the mystery not unlike Michael Crichton.
In case you haven't read the other reviews, this primarily involves a woman who moves from Philadelphia to the frontier (Pittsburg) and returns seeking revenge, and an ex-American-Revolutionary-War-spy who was betrayed and disgraced. They are both involved with Alexander Hamilton setting up America's first national bank.
This was the most boring book I have read in years and years. I was so sure it would get better that I read 200 pages, hoping, hoping, hoping it would finally grab my attention. I love American History and read a lot of historical fiction - this one just dragged.

There are two stories here, parallel tales of two different protagonists in different parts of the state. By 200 pages there was still no connection between them, so the reader is just jumping between characters/stories. I didn't find either of the two main characters compelling in any way - they seemed like 2-dimensional cutouts. I didn't care what happened to them, didn't particularly like or sympathize with either. In an attempt to create authentic voices the author uses very stilted language and dialog. I never once believed a real person was speaking. In short, it was a big waste of my time.

There is so much GREAT historical fiction out there - give this one a pass and spend your money on something informative, entertaining, engaging and satisfying.