Book Review: News of the World by Paulette Jiles
If I were to describe this book in one word that word would be "Heart". Paulette Jiles weaves a tale about two unlikely comrades, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd and Johanna. At first glance, one might look at each of these characters as being weak, too old, too young; to be seen as potential victims in the wild world of the lawless turn-of-the-century frontier that we find them. Captain Kidd is an elderly man riding alone across the plains of Texas to read stories from newspapers, informing the locals of the going's on of faraway places. Johanna is a young girl who had spent the last four years as a captive/adopted child of the Kiowa Indian tribe. While she looks like the other white girls she is permanently changed by her captivity and considers herself Kiowa. Captain Kidd has taken on the job of taking Johanna back to her relatives in a town near San Antonio, which is a long journey from where they start.
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In The News of the World, we follow Captain Kidd and Johanna as they travel throughout the harsh plains of the southern Texas frontier. After the civil war and other numerous political changes, the land is not governed by any formal political party and so there are treacherous bandits, unofficial law enforcement, military enforcers, and natives to contend with. At first, Johanna is confused and angry about her new circumstances and wants to run away and go back to her Kiowa tribe but soon she begins to see the Captain as her Kontah, or Grandfather. He begins to teach her how to speak English and how to be "civilized" by using a fork and knife and wearing shoes. The Captain is reluctant at first as well but as he remembers his own daughters he commits himself to protecting and taking care of the young Johanna.
As they make their way south toward San Antonio they stop at each town so that Captain Kidd can read the news to the locals. He makes sure to stay away from local politics as it can create unnecessary tension amongst the crowds. Instead, he reads stories about recent scientific discoveries, and intrigue from foreign countries and makes sure to add in some light-hearted stories as well. For only a dime each the townspeople come to hear of the world and The Captain keeps their attention with his strong voice and carefully selected articles. While he is doing this Johanna is oftentimes giving hell to a sitter, trying to run away, or snatching chickens to eat.
As the two continue on their path they find that they are stronger together and as they get closer to each other they also get closer to when they will have to part. The Captain made a promise and he is a man of his word and that means that once they get to Johanna's uncle's farm that he must let her go. And so the real conflict shows itself. Will the two be reunited or is Johanna just another acquaintance passing through the Captain's long life? Read to find out.
Because the two characters seem vulnerable set against such a harsh environment there is a constant sense of tension and suspense. Paulette Jiles writes with such elegance and fluidity that the reading experience is very enjoyable. The characters are vivid and relatable and there is never a dull moment. I laughed, I cried and I highly recommend this book. It is much more than a typical western. It is a story about the bond a parent feels for a child, how love can come from somewhere unexpected, and it is about hope. The author puts so much compassion, commitment, and love into this book that I fear they may have given away something of themself in the writing. We all benefit from this kind of story and its overflowing heart.
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