Well, I have finished reading The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. I was so blown away by this book I have no idea where to start.
First of all, it was excellent. I was so completely enthralled by this novel that I read it in a quick two weeks.
Second of all, I went into this read with certain expectations after having seen--and incidentally, I own--the 1992 movie adaptation of this book starring Daniel Day-Lewis. I, personally, really enjoy the movie, and I'm sure I'll watch it again. But let me tell you something: that movie has absolutely nothing to do with the novel by James Fenimore Cooper. N O T H I N G. All the expectations I had were completely and systematically shattered the further I journeyed into the world of Hawkeye, Uncas, and Chingachgook. By the end of the story, I literally had no idea what was going to happen, and I gasped aloud when a certain pivotal moment occurred. So if you've ever seen the movie, please, put it out of your mind if you ever decide to read this novel. And by all means, read the novel.
But let's back up, shall we? The Last of the Mohicans centers around the three characters I already mentioned: the wise white scout Hawkeye (of if you prefer his Christian name, Nathaniel Bumppo) and his two Indian counterparts (Chingachgook and his son Uncas), as well as Duncan Heyward (a brave, young major in the English army), David Gamut (a singing idiot, although he does come through at the end), and Cora and Alice Munro (the beautiful daughters of General Munro). The Last of the Mohicans is a thrilling tale set in 1757 during the French and Indian War. (For all of you who might not be historically savvy, the French and Indian War in America was not between the French and Indians, but actually was a conflict between France and Great Britain to gain control of North America. It was before we gained our independence from Europe which happened in 1776. Enough with the history lesson; it's really not what this post is supposed to be about.) Anyway, the plot follows the adventures of the above-named characters as they struggle against the bloodthirsty and completely evil-to-his-very-core Huron Indian Magua, or, as the French call him, Le Renard Subtil. And let me tell you, what a bundle of adventures. This book does not contain a single dull moment. It's the type of novel that leaves you--sometimes literally--hanging off a cliff at the end of each chapter. I found myself holding my breath a lot, and Cody found me during every single down second of time we had riveted to this book. Time to go to church? I'm ready and sitting on the couch reading The Last of the Mohicans. Bedtime? Up till midnight reading The Last of the Mohicans. Sitting in a restaurant waiting for our food to come? Complaining that I didn't bring The Last of the Mohicans with me. I'm not kidding, you guys. This one's a page-turner, and I highly recommend it.
Some quick fun facts about the author, James Fenimore Cooper, which I have taken straight from my personal copy of The Last of the Mohicans: "According to family lore, Cooper fell into writing on a dare: One evening he threw down a novel in disgust, saying he could write a better book himself; when [his wife] Susan challenged him and reminded him that he could barely stand to write a letter, Cooper wrote his first novel, Precaution, published in 1820. Encouraged by favorable reviews, Cooper wrote other books in quick succession and was soon regarded as a major voice in America's emerging literary tradition. He eventually published thirty-two novels and was the first American to make a living as a professional novelist."
In summary, I give The Last of the Mohicans 5 out of 5 stars, and I would highly recommend it. If you have any kind of sense of adventure at all, you will enjoy it.
Have you ever read The Last of the Mohicans or anything else by James Fenimore Cooper? Did you know that The Last of the Mohicans is actually the second book in the Leatherstocking Tales which all feature America's favorite fictional hero (one of them anyway), Natty Bumppo? Have any of you read any of the others and would you recommend them? The Last of the Mohicans is obviously the most well-known but if the rest of Cooper's writing is anything like this, I want to read all of it.
Some quick fun facts about the author, James Fenimore Cooper, which I have taken straight from my personal copy of The Last of the Mohicans: "According to family lore, Cooper fell into writing on a dare: One evening he threw down a novel in disgust, saying he could write a better book himself; when [his wife] Susan challenged him and reminded him that he could barely stand to write a letter, Cooper wrote his first novel, Precaution, published in 1820. Encouraged by favorable reviews, Cooper wrote other books in quick succession and was soon regarded as a major voice in America's emerging literary tradition. He eventually published thirty-two novels and was the first American to make a living as a professional novelist."
In summary, I give The Last of the Mohicans 5 out of 5 stars, and I would highly recommend it. If you have any kind of sense of adventure at all, you will enjoy it.
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