Northfield: A Western Story

A Unique Take On a Well-known Subject

I have to admit, even though I am a fan of Johnny D. Boggs, I approached this book with a big "what can he do with this subject?"

I was HAPPILY surprised by the original plot and approach. Boggs gave this well-known event new life in a page-turning novel.

The story is told by various characters as they see things and, believe me, the idea works very well, thanks to the talent of Johnny D. Boggs.

NORTHFIELD is one of my favorite books.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

My horizons...

have been broadened by reading this book. This was a free friday book that I thought looked interesting, so I downloaded it and read it over lunch at work throughout the week, and then finished it last night. I found that I wanted to keep picking up the book to learn about the next character, and find out what actually happened in Northfield. I really enjoyed the way the book was written, in the language that was prominently spoken back in those days...typical cowboy/western english...it helped me to engage in the characters better, as if they were really speaking to me. I found this an easy read, and would recommend it to anyone who would like to broaden their reading horizons like I did. Enjoy!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I liked it.

This was a different way of adding some spice to a historical event. Since I grew up in Faribault, MN, 13 miles from Northfield. I found this very believable since I knew people who could very well fit these characters. Very well written.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great writing style and characters

I grew up 15 miles from Northfield and often heard the story of the James gang robbery, but this book made it alive. Great fun to read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Surprisingly Good

I was skeptical that the world needed another book about the Jesse James/Cole Younger gang, but I was pleasantly surprised. This was well-written. I especially enjoyed the different perspectives provided by the numerous narrators of the chapters.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Real life reads like a good novel

I was amazed to find out this was a true story! Great book!

Not a bad read

I wasn't gripped by this book, but it's passable.

I am now a Johnny Boggs fan!

This western novel tells the famous story of the botched Northfield robbery by the James-Younger Gang. What makes this one different is that each chapter is told from the p.o.v. of a different character. It adds another level of interest and flows seamlessly. Recommended! - Michael

Great, exciting book!

I don't normally like non-fiction, but this book was a welcome exception. The story of the disastrous Northfield, Minnesota bank robbery that caused the demise of the Jesse James/Cole Younger gang. It reads like a fiction novel. It's written from various points of view, ranging from James and Younger to a five year old girl. This is a great read!!!!!!!

Very disjointed writing

Turgid writting. Overkill on the personal diary type writing. I undeerstand what the author was trying to do but the plot of the True Northfield raid was turned into a hash job of the old vernacular that grated on the eyes and ruined a hell of a great story. I would do my best to stay away from any of this authors other stories if they are all like Northfield.

Not worth your money to purchase, or your time to read.

Poorly constructed, surely B/N has better writers of western sagas than this.

read it

its good

Enjoyed this book

I enjoyed the different perspectives on the Northfield raid. Living only a few miles from Northfield and very familiar with the area and towns mentioned in this historical novel made it interesting and fun to read. It is easy to read and Boggs does a good job at relying on the historical account. If you are interested in Jesse James and his botched trip to Minnesota you won't want to miss this.

RECOMMENDED

Flat in places but overall I enjoyed this book.

My First Western!

I got this as a free download and wasn't expecting much. I've never read a "western" novel before, but this novel, based on a true story, sucked me in and kept me there! Boggs' unique perspective of each character telling their story was at first confusing (so many characters!), but then the rhythm of his writing started to come together for me and I was hooked! This book is well researched and the characters just pop off the page! I will definitely read more from this author.

good western read

rambles a little as these outlaws did, but it is to history and brings out little known facts. read! its a goody.

Very Good- Better than I expected

Very unique approach to a western, Northfield is a about the fall of the James/Younger Gang in Northfield Minnesota in 1876. Each chapter is a piece of the story as told by the people who were involved. It's a really creative way to approach this subject. IN the begging of the book we hear from one of the outlaws who explains why they're even in Minnesota. A local hotel owner meets the gang but doesn't know who they are, yet. We here from people in the street, lawmen and through their stories, track the progress of the raid, from the early scouting efforts, through the raid, to their escape and the final shootout for the Cole's.
I didn't think I was going to like it, but the price was right it and it turned out to be much better than I expected. I'd recommend it, the price is certainly right. Now that I've read the book I'll be heading down to Northfield in September to see the reenactment of the raid.

Very Good Book

Very Entertaining. Liked how each chapter told the story of the Northfield, MN bank robbery from a different perspective.

Northfield has surprisingly Unique Voices from an old Genre

I'm a SCI-FI fanatic, as well as, a compulsive researcher of history (i.e. American Civil War, developement of Western civilization & religious philosophy, Crusades).

However, when "Barnes and Noble" offered NORTHFIELD by Jonny D. Boggs as a free ebook download. I became unusually attracked to the characters involved, relating their first person observations of a botched robbery attempt, known at times as "The Great Northfield Raid", executed by the notorious Jesse James & Cole Younger Confederates.

Hesitating to call this particular group of outlaws, theifs, bandits & killers, a few of these former Confederate soldiers rode with the infamous Quantrell's Raiders. In the post-war aftermath, those who did serve under Quantrell became hunted down for outrages that later would be looked upon as "crimes against humanity". This association would forever stigmatize Jesse James and Younger brothers in their personal struggles to survive southern reconstruction in a still yet divided Mississippi region devestated by the Union's hero General William T. Sherman.

Motivated by Confederate States defeat and an overwhelming drive for revenge, Jesse and Cole Younger rush into a plan to rob banks of the northern state of Minnesota where the small thriving town of Northfield is located. Also, aware that the former (Union Army appointed) reconstructionist govenor of Mississippi is now a successful politcal figure in Minnesota, offers these "good ole boys" payback and supposedly a payday.

Each chapter is a first person account by a witness of or participant in the Northfield robbery. Expressing themselves in the old west or southern vernacular, each individual viewpoint introduces the reader into the James' and Youngers' struggle to survive and stay ahead of self appointed posses and bounty hunters.

Stealing, robbing and killing across the northern territory of Minnesota and Great Plains states, I began to understand how these reluctant criminals became viewed as Robin Hood archtypes. Turned out into the ignorance, squalor and devastation of post Civil War south the James and Younger gang were almost preordained for defeat. Their deep seated impulse for revenge and compulsion to go out in a blaze of glory.

Johnny Boggs' simple characterizations reveal a more complex realism of the era these people lived day to day. Plainly, it wasn't just black and white or blue and grey.

Excellent read!

I normally am not a reader of westerns or first person narrative stories, but this ebook was free so I figured what the heck, and downloaded it. I'm so glad I did. I felt like I was there, listening to the first hand accounts of the happenings of the Northfield bank robbery. It was hard to put my Nook down, it grabs you right from the first page and doesn't let go till the last page. I gave it 2 stars for originality because the story has been told so many times in so many different ways. But really, the way Mr. Boggs tells it, is pretty original. All in all, even if there was a charge for it, I'd highly recommend it as a book to add to your library.