And as a bonus, the book also supplies a good dose of page-turning suspense, historical information about a pivotal time in the settlement of the American West, and most importantly, it left me feeling richer as a person, richer to have known Will Merritt, his family, and all the other folks who live on the pages of Bjornson's novel. "Wide Open" delivers every element I want in a book: good writing, realistic characters, and a great story. Bjornson is destined to be a great author of American historical fiction. Part subtle morality play, part slam-bang adventure, part enduring romance, “Wide Open” is a story to savor.
Will discovers that honor trumps loyalty, the frailty of heros and the value of hard work. His story is allegory for the town, indeed, for the whole of the Great Plains.
The town is in such trouble that they hire “Wild Bill” Hickok as sheriff.Ībilene grew up with WIll and in 1871 it changed as he did. Mother and father are separately holding secret meetings. This cattle season has the town physically divided in two parts with Will's friends doing their best to start a turf war. But in the summer of 1871, Merritt senior harbored a secret that would change the city and maybe destroy it. Will Merritt's father helped develop Abilene, Kansas as the premier town where Texas cattle are exchanged for eastern money. A coming-of-age story with conflict and resolution, loss and gain, love and tragedy.
Eerily transporting descriptions interspersed with fast-paced action. “Wide Open”, Larry Bjornson's first novel, is a great read.
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