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A review by heyimaghost
The Pioneers by James Fenimore Cooper
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
I was going to give this two stars. I wanted to give it up about halfway through. My copy is slightly beaten up because I slightly beat it up when I nearly threw it out. It was page 243 that ended with Richard Jones crying out at the door. Turning the page, I saw a quote that went on for a quarter of a page. No one cries out a paragraph, Cooper! I did give up for about three days, but I forced myself back into it. So why the extra star? Well, the second half took me five days, while the first half took half of my life.
It does pick up, but the first 180 pages are just one evening. He takes nearly half the book just setting things up, which can be frustrating. I've read books that seem like they take forever to actually start, but this was insufferable. What doesn't help is that Cooper does what a lot of American authors did in the 19th century, or, said better, he doesn't do what many American authors didn't do. I mean, of course, a lack of paragraph breaks. Henry James is the worst offender I know, but Cooper is pretty bad as well, especially the first half. Probably because there's more action in the latter half.
So if you can get through the first half, you'll have a very good adventure story for you. I even found it quite moving, especially the end. I had grown to really like The Leatherstocking, so it was affecting to see the back of him. John Mohegan, the Delware chief who is Natty Bumpo's closest companion, also has a very moving scene towards the climax. Here is the quote I found myself rereading a few times:
'"Why should Mohegan go?" returned the Indian, gloomily. "He has seen the days of an eagle, and his eye grows dim. He looks on the valley; he looks on the water; he looks in the hunting-grounds—but he sees no Delawares. Every one has a white skin. My fathers say, from the far-off land, Come. My women, my young warriors, my tribe, say, Come. The Great Spirit says, Come. Let Mohegan die."'
I won't say what happens after that, to avoid spoiling a two hundred year old novel.
I thought most of the characters were kind of non-entities though. Some were more colorful than others. I really liked Billy Kirby and Benjamin Pump by the end, though the latter's speech was nearly unintelligible. Richard Grant was, is, and always shall be an ass. At least he finally learned to shut up sometimes by the end.
I can't say I recommend this novel. The first half was such a slog that it tainted my enjoyment of the latter half, which was so much better. I will say that I intend to read more Leatherstocking Tales, but I'm going to need some time away from Cooper for a while.
It does pick up, but the first 180 pages are just one evening. He takes nearly half the book just setting things up, which can be frustrating. I've read books that seem like they take forever to actually start, but this was insufferable. What doesn't help is that Cooper does what a lot of American authors did in the 19th century, or, said better, he doesn't do what many American authors didn't do. I mean, of course, a lack of paragraph breaks. Henry James is the worst offender I know, but Cooper is pretty bad as well, especially the first half. Probably because there's more action in the latter half.
So if you can get through the first half, you'll have a very good adventure story for you. I even found it quite moving, especially the end. I had grown to really like The Leatherstocking, so it was affecting to see the back of him. John Mohegan, the Delware chief who is Natty Bumpo's closest companion, also has a very moving scene towards the climax. Here is the quote I found myself rereading a few times:
'"Why should Mohegan go?" returned the Indian, gloomily. "He has seen the days of an eagle, and his eye grows dim. He looks on the valley; he looks on the water; he looks in the hunting-grounds—but he sees no Delawares. Every one has a white skin. My fathers say, from the far-off land, Come. My women, my young warriors, my tribe, say, Come. The Great Spirit says, Come. Let Mohegan die."'
I won't say what happens after that, to avoid spoiling a two hundred year old novel.
I thought most of the characters were kind of non-entities though. Some were more colorful than others. I really liked Billy Kirby and Benjamin Pump by the end, though the latter's speech was nearly unintelligible. Richard Grant was, is, and always shall be an ass. At least he finally learned to shut up sometimes by the end.
I can't say I recommend this novel. The first half was such a slog that it tainted my enjoyment of the latter half, which was so much better. I will say that I intend to read more Leatherstocking Tales, but I'm going to need some time away from Cooper for a while.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Animal death