Wow... What a marathon of a book!

For years, a friend has been suggesting I read Centennial, and now I truly understand why. Michener has masterfully created lush stories filled with engaging characters. With each passing chapter, I found myself befriending a new set of characters, and when they reappeared in later chapters, it was like reuniting with old friends, which felt really good. It is quite evident that the book is extremely well researched. Although only on rare occasions does Michener go a bit overboard in showing just how much he knows. This is one of those books that I simply did not want to put down at night, and in the morning, as soon as my eyes adjusted to the light, I would pick it up right away.

However, Centennial missed achieving a perfect score from me for two specific reasons. There are two chapters early on that delve into exhaustive depth regarding the geological and living histories of the west. While some information would have been acceptable, there was simply an overwhelming amount for me. Then, as the story entered the 20th century, the storytelling began to unravel a bit. I just didn't have the same level of care and interest in the characters, and there were far too many stories being told simultaneously. Strangely enough, despite having over 1000 pages, the end seemed a bit rushed. Great care was taken earlier in the book to meticulously craft the stories. But towards the end, I got the distinct feeling that it was time to "wrap it up," yet Michener still had an abundance more to say. Perhaps this could have been split into two books, allowing Michener to fully explore all of his time periods in greater detail.

Even with these drawback chapters, I would highly recommend Centennial to anyone. Even if they might feel intimidated by the sheer page count, I would reassure them not to worry about it. The story is so captivating that it will fully support them throughout the entire journey.

This novel fails to reach the high standards set by some of his other works.

It lacks the depth and complexity that made his previous novels so captivating. The plot seems rather simplistic and predictable, lacking the twists and turns that would keep the reader on the edge of their seats.

The characters also feel underdeveloped, lacking the nuance and individuality that would make them truly memorable.

While there are some moments of good writing, overall, this novel is a disappointment and not nearly as good as some of his other novels. It fails to engage the reader on an emotional level and leaves much to be desired.

Perhaps the author was having an off day when he wrote this, or maybe he was trying something new that didn't quite work out. Either way, it's a shame that this novel didn't live up to the expectations set by his previous body of work.

One of my favorite authors is Michener.

As usual, he delivers an interesting story of a fictional town in the American West.

His writing takes us on a captivating journey through time, providing a historical perspective of the region from ancient times all the way to the early 1970s.

We get to witness the evolution of the town, its people, and their way of life.

Michener's attention to detail and his ability to bring history to life make this story truly engaging.

We learn about the different cultures that have influenced the area, the struggles and triumphs of the settlers, and the impact of historical events on the town.

It is a fascinating read that not only entertains but also educates us about the rich history of the American West.

Overall, Michener's work is a testament to his talent as a storyteller and his deep understanding of history.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in history or enjoys a good fictional story.

The first chapter of this book was truly underwhelming.

It presented an outdated and bombastic storytelling tone that simply failed to resonate with me. The "story before the story" concept had potential, but it could have been condensed to a quarter of its original length. However, once I managed to get through the initial couple of chapters and delved into the sections about the animals, I found myself increasingly engaged.

I would actually mourn the conclusion of each chapter, whether it was about the diplodocus, the beaver, the horse, the Arapaho, the trappers, and so on. I eagerly wanted to continue reading within that particular section.

The book is remarkably narrative, much like a Disney movie. It features heroes and noble creatures, serendipitous coincidences, a drawn-out build-up to tragedy, and the ultimate victory of goodness. It builds upon itself in a seamless manner, and one can trust that each chapter is relevant to the overall narrative. The chapter about the Arapaho massacre was some of the most brutally vivid reading I have ever experienced.

Nonetheless, when the book reverts back to "modern day" (the 1970s), it loses its charm once again. There is something about the contemporary writing and dialogue that is simply not up to par. Even after an entire book filled with real life and tragedy, the supposedly knowledgeable main character at the end succumbs to the fallacy of "it ain't like the good old days anymore".

Overall, this book is truly an amazing saga of intertwined stories, set within a well-researched setting and historical context. I was truly entertained and enriched by approximately 950 out of the 1000 pages.

My dad has often described this book as his absolute favorite, and thus, I decided that the time had come for me to embark on this literary journey. I have a penchant for Michener's works, and this particular one had been sitting on my shelf, patiently waiting for its moment.

I'm truly glad that I chose to wait to read it. Had I not spent a significant amount of time living and traveling out west, I would never have been able to fully appreciate its depth and beauty. The history and themes explored within these pages have become some of my most cherished topics to delve into over the past few years. It was an absolute pleasure to read a fictionalized account of historical events that I hold dear, such as the Dust Bowl period and, of course, the iconic cattle drives. However, I also relished the new and detailed perspectives presented on Native American history and the history of "outside" cultures in this region - Mexicans, Japanese, and Russians, to name a few. I have an abiding love for books about the west because they encapsulate all the magnificent qualities of the human spirit and are intricately connected to the land.

Finally, I deeply appreciated the author's evident concern for environmental issues and his remarkable foresight. I reside in the west, and water shortages and smog are very real and pressing issues that have yet to be adequately resolved. James Michener addressed these matters at great length, along with other issues related to the stewardship of the land, when this book was published over 40 years ago.

I'm overjoyed to have read this book, and I wholeheartedly encourage anyone with an interest in literature about the west to add it to their reading list. It is a literary gem that offers a wealth of knowledge, inspiration, and a profound connection to the west.

My first encounter with a Michener book was an interesting one.

At the beginning, it seemed a bit slow due to all of the pre-historic material he presented. However, once he delved into the actual characters, the pace of the book picked up significantly and it moved along quickly.

It took me an extra couple of weeks to complete the reading because of the distractions of Christmas and spending time with my grandchildren. So, please don't judge the number of days I took to read the book as an indication of its readability.

I truly admired Michener's ability to create "real" characters that felt so vivid and lifelike. Moreover, the way that each chapter advanced the narrative to the next generation of characters was very engaging. In many ways, it really gave the impression of reading a detailed family history.

Based on this experience, I will most likely explore more of Michener's works in the future. I'm looking forward to seeing what other captivating stories and characters he has to offer.

I was given this book for Christmas in 1974.

It was even signed by Michener. I'll talk more about that in a minute.

I read a lot of Michener in my youth. But it's been forty years, maybe?

This one and Hawaii are probably my favorites.

I have a special connection to this book. Many of my mother's family farmed and raised cattle in this area. And I was exposed to that a lot as a kid. Some of the stories and events in the book rang true to me.

Also, Michener lived in Greeley, CO for a few years starting in 1936 and taught high school there. He taught my mother Social Studies when she was a junior in high school in 1938.

The book has multiple stories describing the settlement of the state and, of course, the destruction of the Native Americans. I didn't remember at first, but he actually has a chapter on Sand Creek called The Massacre. He moved the location to fit his story and changed the names, but the essence of what happened that day near Eads is fundamentally true, both in the lead-up to the event and the aftermath.

He also doesn't hold back when it comes to the destruction of the buffalo.

All in all, it's a decent history of the region where I have spent my whole life and where my bones will end up.

If you haven't read a Michener book, you could do worse than starting with this one. But be warned. The hardback is 909 pages!

Reading this book when I did created an almost surreal experience. I recently had a hankering for some Michener and found this one. My son took me on a 9-day camping trip to Colorado and Wyoming. When we came home, it seemed like a great time to read this story of the fictional town of Centennial, Colorado and its surroundings.

Imagine my surprise when the least-visited location we checked out, Pawnee Buttes, became a recurring centerpiece for this entire 1000+ page book!

If you've read Michener, you know how he composes his stories. They're not just multi-generational, but multi-millennial. I can't say that anything in the first 300 pages mesmerized me, but once Levi and Elly Zendt began their journey west out of eastern Pennsylvania, I got hooked. While I enjoyed it, I would rank Centennial a little below the other Micheners I've read like Chesapeake, Alaska, The Covenant and Tales of the South Pacific.

Centennial is located in northeast Colorado. The state celebrated its centennial in 1976, the year our country was celebrating its bicentennial. Well after the book's publication, Colorado actually named a suburb of Denver Centennial.

I will admit that I have been spoiled by Larry McMurtry's stories of the west. They are a tough act to follow. Michener wrote Centennial well before most of McMurtry's career, but what I mean is that once you've read McMurtry, it's hard not to compare all other western fiction to his. Michener includes the true tale of cattleman Charles Gooding trekking hundreds of miles on horseback to take the body of his friend and business partner Oliver Loving back to Texas for burial, as Loving had asked of him. This feat was re-created by McMurtry's Lonesome Dove character Woodrow Call, with the body of Gus McCrae, killed as Loving was by native Americans during a raid. There are actually a lot of similarities in Lonesome Dove to Michener's The Cowboys chapter, and in McMurtry's The Berrybender Narratives to Michener's The Hunters chapter. Michener's chapter The Crime, which tells of the exploits of Mervin and Maude Wendell, was probably my favorite section of the novel.

Michener was hardly a prude, but I got the idea that the bawdy life of rough men was a stretch for him to fully portray.

Drylands is a chapter about the men and women who came to farm knowing full well how little rain falls in eastern Colorado. It contains this powerful quote: "'I want to move west', he said. 'I want to work where I can own my own place.' It was the timeless cry of the man who dreamed of moving on, of leaving old patterns which circumscribed less venturesome men. It had been voiced at every stage of American development and had motivated the most diverse types of men: the renegade trapper, the devoted Mormon, the feckless son, the daring entrepreneur, the young woman without a man or a prospect of one, the housewife who wanted better things for her husband. It was the authentic vision of the pioneer American, the dream of freedom and more spacious horizons."

Twenty years before the internet and social media, one of Michener's characters makes a case for why, as opposed to most peoples worldwide, many Americans prefer solitude to highly social groupings, dating back to our Pilgrim ancestors' independent lifestyle, and later American life in so many isolated frontier locales.

Michener brought out a number of interesting facts about life in Colorado in the 1970's, the period during which he wrote this. Colorado turned down hosting the 1976 Olympic Games, believing that the construction for the event would be too environmentally destructive. At that time, Denver had such bad smog that one often could not see the mountains. The state, and / or a powerful political faction there, was considering a bill to ban newcomers from moving into Colorado, due to a persistent severe water shortage.

A recurring theme in Michener's works is the relationship between specific races in each place that he writes of. He looks at this both on the large scale and on a personal one between man and man and between man and woman. In this, I see the likely influence of John Steinbeck.

Perhaps the thing that Michener does best inside his ridiculously extensive research for his historical novels is that he listens to his sources' hearts just as much as he pays attention to the facts and figures they feed him, and he infuses his characters with that love of place, and that makes us care.

If you've ever found yourself in a particular place, pondering who might have occupied that very spot before you, then this book is truly a gem for you.

Michener masterfully weaves together the lives of all the previous residents of the town Centennial. He does this with such finesse that it feels as if you are witnessing their stories unfold right before your eyes.

Not only does he focus on the individual lives, but he also delves deep into the political, social, and ecological changes that have occurred over time. It's a remarkable feat to cover such a wide range of topics and still maintain a captivating narrative.

The book is quite lengthy, but Michener's dedication to developing each character is unwavering. Whether it's the characters in the first story or the last, he invests the same amount of effort, ensuring that no plot feels rushed or underdeveloped.

As we progress through each new generation, we gain a profound understanding of how our actions have had a significant impact on the land and the people around us. From the era of the dinosaurs to the presence of American Indians, and then to the cattlemen and farmers, the land has undergone tremendous transformation.

By the time the book comes to an end, the land itself almost seems like a character that we have been closely observing. We've witnessed its journey from the birth of its majestic mountains, through the prosperous cattle years, and finally to the unfortunate draining of its aquifers and the presence of smog.

This was my very first encounter with a Michener book, and I can wholeheartedly say that it will not be my last. His ability to bring history and characters to life is truly remarkable, and I'm eager to explore more of his works.

Well, I finally completed it and am able to return it to my friend Patricia!

She had reminded me the other day that she adored it and had actually read it twice. For me, I think once is sufficient, yet I don't regret the hours I dedicated to it.

Evidently, an amazing quantity of research went into this work, just like with Michener's other creations.

I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in US history or, more specifically, the history of the Old West. It offers a detailed and engaging look into that particular era, filled with fascinating stories and characters that bring the past to life. Whether you are a history buff or simply looking for an interesting read, this work is sure to captivate you. So, give it a try and discover the wonders of the Old West for yourself!

Amazing read! The book is like a continuous line of short stories that are all interconnected in some way. It does a remarkable job of capturing life in Colorado at different points in its history. I would highly recommend it to any Colorado resident who wants a better understanding of life within the state.

Almost every chapter, I thought to myself, "The book won't be better than the last chapter." But it continued to build on itself and amaze me at every turn, with each "story" being unique in its own way.

I know it might seem like a challenge to get through such a large book, but reading it like short stories helps to break it down into manageable chunks. And Michener does a great job of almost immediately pulling you into the next chapter.

I can't wait to read Michener's other books! Hawaii is next, as I have relatives there, and then Chesapeake. I'm sure they will be just as captivating and informative as this one.

Four stars because it was expertly written, but not five because it pissed me off.

The historic details, the interweaving of plots, and the lifelike characters were a collective thing of beauty. It was truly remarkable how Michener brought the story to life. However, I did notice that he left a couple of loose ends. For instance, Ethan Grebe's story seemed to be left unresolved. And there was a character, Tim Grebe, who really fascinated me, but it seemed like Michener forgot to fully develop him. Maybe by the end of the book, he was just tired of writing and wanted to finish it already.

What really pissed me off, though, was the distinct sanctimoniousness in the book. In addition to the crappy dialogue in the modern sections, the overall tone gave the impression that the 70s were full of people whining about the state of the natural environment due to the actions of evil humans. The opening chapters about the natural development of the landscape and the early inhabiting species and migrations were indeed fascinating. It was fine when it was just the Native Americans, as they were portrayed as understanding the world and being in harmony with everything. But as soon as the white man arrived, it was all downhill. Because of civilization, the rivers were polluted, the landscape was stripped, the natural fauna were exterminated, and everyone was oppressed. I'm not denying that these things happened, but I object to the one-sided tone. My heart ached when reading about the extermination of the buffalo and the trapping of the beaver, and I was close to tears when learning about the abuse of the Arapaho. But seriously, did the settlers really do nothing right? Were they all evil, selfish, and heartless people, except for a few protagonists? And are only the descendants of Native Americans able to see and be dismayed by the disaster that has been wrought?

I know the book was written 35 years ago, and I'm aware that a lot of progress has been made in handling these issues in the past 35 years, perhaps partly due to books like this. But I don't like reading a novel and coming away from it hating myself for being human and related to those who committed these atrocities. It left me depressed and angry for the rest of the day.

The 70s must have been an utterly miserable decade. Thank god I missed most of them.