Ok, I've been trying to get into this book for a few days and am just wondering if it's just the beginning that kinda feels like a nonfiction or if that's how the entire book is written. I want to love this book. It was on my WL forever and my sweet Secret Santa sent it to me. Tell me this is an amazing book and I will be super glad I kept reading. :)

Kelly likes and dislikes are sooo very personal.  This was probably my best read of the year and I did enjoy it more as I got into it.  But this is all coming from a person who has the movie "Tombstone" on her top 10 list!  (well maybe top 25 actually)

Kelly --- Christa just finished "Doc" and she had a really tough time too.  She posted her thoughts in the "What are you reading" threads I think.  In the end, I believe she was happy she pressed on.  I just received one from my wishlist, so I am hoping to enjoy it.  It certainly had mostly rave reviews from the "historians" around here.

See, and reviews like "best book of the year" make me want to at least give it an honest shot! Also, to be fair to the book, this is my nightstand book. The one I read in bed before falling asleep. So maybe I just need to swap it out with my daytime book and see if that does the trick. :)

I would have to go back to my review, but I think I was a tad bit underwhelmed. You aren't alone.

The first part (set in Georgia) does read a little slow and a little dry; and I catch your point about it reading like non-fiction. I didn't think that at the time; but I can see how one  would. It's establishing basic background information on Doc and really serves no other purpose.

Same, but a little different during the Fort Worth days. When the book really picks up (for me, anyway) was after he gets to Dodge City. I loved the writing, loved the character development and loved the "voice" Mary Doria Russell gives all the characters - but, particularly Doc.

I initially approached the book with a little trepidation because I was worried I was going to get a rerun of the various movies (although, like Cheryl, Tombstone is absolutely one of my most favorite movies of all time). So, I was delighted that the book stays focused on the events in Dodge City; events that basically served as the "coming out" party for Doc and Wyatt Earp.

And, all that aside, I thought the plot was pretty durn good, as well.

Kelly

P.S. Good to hear from you Kelly! How is young Baby Sawyer?

Becky is right.  I had a hard time getting into it but I am glad I stuck it out.  I did not connect with Doc at all until over halfway through.  It was Wyatt that I initially connected with and then the others came around slowly.  I agree with Kelly P that it picked up in Dodge City, although there were a lot of characters there and it was sometimes hard to keep up with them all. By the end, I was a little kid again....huddled under the covers with a flashlight racing to the finish in the middle of the night!