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A review by dontpanic42
The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
5.0
I'm at the point with Jess Walter that I will read whatever he publishes without looking at the blurb on the book to find out what it's about. And I encourage everyone else to do the same. He's a brilliant author and you just can't go wrong diving in and discovering things as you go. That said, if you want to read on anyway...
The Cold Millions is, at its most basic, a story about a sixteen-year-old Ryan "Rye" Dolan who follows his older brother, Gregory ("Gig"), on the hobo's path to Spokane, Washington, in the early 1900s. There, the murder of a police officer incites violence by the local police against itinerant workers. Against that tension, the progressive IWW union start pro-labor and free speech actions in town that result in hundreds of activists' being jailed. And in the process Rye finds his voice and searches for his own place in the chaotic world.
There's a lot more to it that that, but that's the elevator pitch. The story also features the nineteen-year-old, pregnant spitfire activist, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, who catches Rye up in her idealistic tornado. There's Ursula the Great, the performer who tames cougars and catches Gig's eye. There's Lem Brand, the rich man who owns and runs so much of Spokane. There's Del Devreaux, the private-detective-cum-hired-gun. There's Early Reston, who just wants to blow it all up. Just to name a few. The characters in this book are well drawn and we get first person glimpses of many that really add to the overall power of the story.
Despite describing (fictional but based on real life) events that took place more than a century ago, the story is filled with themes that remain relevant to this day. The levels of remove between the wealthy and the working class, and the power that the wealthy wield. The struggle of people for their human rights and the role of law enforcement in pushing back. And what it means to fight for change: can we make progress by fighting within the system, or do we need to blow the whole thing up to make a difference?
At the end of the day, the main reason this book is so great is that with all of its wonderful characters and profound themes, it is at its heart a good story. It has intrigue, moments of thrill and suspense, and even love stories. The characters make realistic decisions that have realistic consequences, and they learn and grow in the process. And it builds to a compelling climax before closing out with a satisfying epilogue.
The Cold Millions is a morally complex tale with compelling characters and an engaging plot, all set against a well drawn historical backdrop that feels highly relevant today. I don't know what more you can ask for. Highly recommended.
The Cold Millions is, at its most basic, a story about a sixteen-year-old Ryan "Rye" Dolan who follows his older brother, Gregory ("Gig"), on the hobo's path to Spokane, Washington, in the early 1900s. There, the murder of a police officer incites violence by the local police against itinerant workers. Against that tension, the progressive IWW union start pro-labor and free speech actions in town that result in hundreds of activists' being jailed. And in the process Rye finds his voice and searches for his own place in the chaotic world.
There's a lot more to it that that, but that's the elevator pitch. The story also features the nineteen-year-old, pregnant spitfire activist, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, who catches Rye up in her idealistic tornado. There's Ursula the Great, the performer who tames cougars and catches Gig's eye. There's Lem Brand, the rich man who owns and runs so much of Spokane. There's Del Devreaux, the private-detective-cum-hired-gun. There's Early Reston, who just wants to blow it all up. Just to name a few. The characters in this book are well drawn and we get first person glimpses of many that really add to the overall power of the story.
Despite describing (fictional but based on real life) events that took place more than a century ago, the story is filled with themes that remain relevant to this day. The levels of remove between the wealthy and the working class, and the power that the wealthy wield. The struggle of people for their human rights and the role of law enforcement in pushing back. And what it means to fight for change: can we make progress by fighting within the system, or do we need to blow the whole thing up to make a difference?
At the end of the day, the main reason this book is so great is that with all of its wonderful characters and profound themes, it is at its heart a good story. It has intrigue, moments of thrill and suspense, and even love stories. The characters make realistic decisions that have realistic consequences, and they learn and grow in the process. And it builds to a compelling climax before closing out with a satisfying epilogue.
The Cold Millions is a morally complex tale with compelling characters and an engaging plot, all set against a well drawn historical backdrop that feels highly relevant today. I don't know what more you can ask for. Highly recommended.