I reviewed Jiles novel Simon the Fiddler last week, and finally got my hands on News of the World after being on the library waitlist for months. I’m happy to say it was worth the wait. Not sure why I had never read it before. Here is my book review News of the World by Paulette Jiles

I haven’t seen the movie, but it was hard to read the book without seeing Tom Hanks (one of my favorite actors – well isn’t he everyone’s favorite?) in the roll of Captain Jefferson Kidd. It’s 1870 and Kidd, going on 70 years (old for the era) earns his living in northern Texas going from town to town reading the world news to residents hungry for news.

It’s definitely the wild west with danger, bandits, thieves, rapists and murderers lurking in every town. But Kidd enjoys his solitary existence, though often pines for his deceased wife.

Then while stopping in Wichita Falls, Kidd is asked to transport a young orphan back to her relatives in San Antonio. Johanna has been living among the Kiowa for four years and has adopted the Kiowa ways and language. She is frightened and has no interest in leaving her Kiowa family.

This beautifully written book takes the Captain and Johanna on a 400 mile journey, escaping bandits, Indians, and desolate landscape to arrive in San Antonio to a less than welcoming aunt and uncle, Johanna’s only relatives.

The journey Johanna and the Captain have undertaken is more than crossing 400 miles…it is also crossing the bounds of trust, loneliness, honor and love. Finding hope and a new life can come in the most unexpected places, for a young girl and an old man.

I hope you enjoyed by Book Review News of the World by Paulette Jiles.

*****Five stars for News of the World by Paulette Jiles.

Read last week’s review of Simon the Fiddler

My current read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

See this week’s top performing pin here Tubac, Bisbee Tombstone Day Trip from Tucson

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