“The Son” by Philipp Meyer is a book I had to read for a class while getting my English degree. It is far from the genres I normally read, but I ended up enjoying it way more than I expected to. Meyer is an extremely talented writer who is able to flow three time periods and storylines together seamlessly; it’s a talent I hope to achieve as I grow as a writer.

The story gives a historically accurate insight to the lives of indigenous Americans in the 1840s and the tensions they faced against Texans. Parts of it are extremely difficult to read due to the violence and death that is prevalent throughout the novel, but it is so well-written that it truly transforms you into the time period of the story. The story is told from three perspectives; three generations of the McCullough family. Despite these intertwining storylines, the author writes in a way that leaves no confusion in regards to the plot or perspectives.

I really like the moments of comedic relief within the story as well. All characters are well-rounded and are easy to picture and relate to in many ways. But I also appreciate that the story shows the reality of growing up, experiencing trauma, and dealing with familial issues. The perspectives of Eli, Peter, and J.A. are all unique and add so much depth and intricacy to the novel as a whole.

Despite the book being decently long, the pacing is also done well and I never felt it lagging as I read. All the characters seem so realistic that while reading at times I had to remind myself that the story is fictional. I’ve never been a fan of westerns or many non-fantasy fiction books, but this one changed my mind and helped expand my world of literature. It is definitely a story I want to re-read and I would also like to read more works by Meyer because of his skill in writing complex and intriguing stories.

– A.B.