The Whip

( 15 )

Overview

The Whip is inspired by the true story of a woman, Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man.

As a young woman in Rhode Island, she fell in love and had a child. Her husband was lynched and her baby killed. The destruction of her family drove her west to California, dressed as a man, to track down the murder.

Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver. She ...

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The Whip

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Overview

The Whip is inspired by the true story of a woman, Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man.

As a young woman in Rhode Island, she fell in love and had a child. Her husband was lynched and her baby killed. The destruction of her family drove her west to California, dressed as a man, to track down the murder.

Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver. She killed a famous outlaw, had a secret love affair, and lived with a housekeeper who, unaware of her true sex, fell in love with her.

Charley was the first woman to vote in America (as a man). Her grave lies in Watsonville, California.

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Editorial Reviews

New World Review
One thing I really like about this job is that I get to discover promising new talent far outside of the world of agents, New York publishers, academics, and establishment book reviewers. Karen Kondazian's debut novel, The Whip, is in that category. Her well-written work, based on a true story, displays all the confidence of a seasoned novelist. I didn't detect one false note... I have often been accused of never meeting a book I didn't like. But try The Whip on, nevertheless, despite me. I think you will get as caught up in it as I was. This is classic Americana.
Library Journal
Charley Parkhurst (1812–79) was one of the finest stage coach drivers Wells Fargo had during the dangerous gold rush days. But there's one thing Wells Fargo never knew about Charley: Charlotte was a woman. In her fiction debut, actress Kondazian (The Actor's Encyclopedia of Casting Directors) dares to imagine the life such a dedicated disguise artist might have lived. Mistreated in an orphanage and sent to live in the stables, where she learned all there was to know about horses, fictional Charley grows up to be a servant in a boardinghouse. When she falls in love with an African American blacksmith, she is ostracized. And when her husband is lynched and her only daughter killed, Charley dresses as a man to apply for work with a stage coach company, aces the hands-on audition, and is sent west. She learns to swear, gamble, and smoke, and her life as a "whip" rewards her well. Yet underneath all the swagger and staunchness, Charley is a broken soul in many ways. VERDICT This quick-paced, wily tale is a fascinating blend of both fact and fiction that is sure to engage Western and historical fiction fans and readers who enjoyed Gerald Kolpan's Etta.—Keddy Ann Outlaw, formerly with Harris Cty. P.L., Houston, TX
Historical Novel Society
Karen Kondazian has gathered what exists [about Charley Parkhurst] and allowed her imagination to weave Charley's life into an intriguing pattern. She's done so in a fast-moving tale that quite possibly could be true. The Whip provides an interesting speculative life history for one of the more enigmatic characters of the Old West. Readers familiar with the setting—or who would like to be—will enjoy this tale.
John Manhold
Historical Novel Society - John Manhold
Karen Kondazian has gathered what exists [about Charley Parkhurst] and allowed her imagination to weave Charley's life into an intriguing pattern. She's done so in a fast-moving tale that quite possibly could be true. The Whip provides an interesting speculative life history for one of the more enigmatic characters of the Old West. Readers familiar with the setting—or who would like to be—will enjoy this tale. <br>— <i>John Manhold</i>
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781601823021
  • Publisher: Hansen Publishing Group, LLC
  • Publication date: 10/22/2011
  • Pages: 306
  • Sales rank: 114,567
  • Product dimensions: 5.50 (w) x 8.50 (h) x 0.64 (d)

Meet the Author

Karen Kondazian
THE WHIP is Karen Kondazian's debut novel. She is an award winning theatre actress and has starred in over fifty television shows and films, including the role of Kate Holliday in the TV movie, The Shootout at the OK Corral. Kondazian is also author of The Actor's Encyclopedia of Casting Directors
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 15 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(11)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 15 Customer Reviews
  • Posted November 19, 2012

    Five Stars! Unbelievable story!. Captivatting from start to fi

    Five Stars!
    Unbelievable story!. Captivatting from start to finish.
    Hope we hear more from this author in the near future.
    Gary
    Toronto, Canada

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted February 21, 2013

    Great book! Kondazian is a gifted storyteller and writes so visu

    Great book! Kondazian is a gifted storyteller and writes so visually, I found myself casting the movie in my head as I read it! 

    Her portrayal of Charley is compelling -- I eagerly turned pages wanting to find out her story. The author wrote each character and scene so well, and I even cried at once point (okay, two). 

    Hollywood would do well to recognize this book and make a movie right quick! If they want help with the casting, I'm available. 

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 18, 2013

    The Whip is an engaging and thrilling novel. It is narrated bril

    The Whip is an engaging and thrilling novel. It is narrated brilliantly. The dialogue is clear, concise,
    and sharp. All the characters sound and speak differently. Yes, they curse because after all that is how historically speaking Cowboys spoke in the Old West. It is a fast action paced character driven revenge Western story. A must read for anyone who is fascinated by the life of the true story of Charlotte &quot;Charley&quot; Parkhurst who was a woman that dressed like a man in order to survive making a decent living as a stagecoach driver for Wells Fargo during the Gold Rush Era.

    It is evident that The Whip would make a wonderful academy award winning Western film for the
    narration, mood, and tone of the novel is cinematic in the same vein of the classic Western film.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 16, 2013

    Excellent book

    Fantastic book!!! I just could not put the book down because it was such a good story. Highly recommend.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 13, 2012

    Karen Kondazian has a way with words that just about takes your

    Karen Kondazian has a way with words that just about takes your breath away. She's smart, funny and unapologetic. This is one of the best novels I've ever read... and I've read a mountain of them. Heartbreakingly beautiful characters and truly unpredictable twists and turns had me panicked, repeatedly checking how many pages I had left. Warning: This is a story whose ending you will mourn. Have your tissues ready.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 9, 2012

    I found the THE WHIP on Amazon's list for biographical fiction b

    I found the THE WHIP on Amazon's list for biographical fiction best sellers and I must say, I was very surprised by this one. How it took to me on an emotional level.

    Set in the uncompromising Old West, the Whip's inspired by the true story of an extraordinary woman, Charlotte &quot;Charley&quot; Parkhurst who lived most of her life as a male stagecoach driver set on a path of revenge.

    I found Charley's story extremely moving, thrilling, dangerous and equally witty and heartbreaking. That's a testament to the author's careful handling of the touchy subject matter. The book captures the social and racial turmoil during the gold rush period with grace. Although a complicated and flawed character, author Karen Kondazian paints Charley as a fascinating, inspirational woman we care for. This compelling narrative of her personal journey will not be easily forgotten.

    It's a quick, breezy read (the chapters are really short) and I got hooked pretty quickly. Highly recommended!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 19, 2012

    An exceptional, quick read

    This book was so well written that I couldn't put it down; however, loved it so much that I didn't want it to end. Karen is such a good writer that I felt like I was the main character, Charley, feeling her pain and pleasure. I enjoyed the book so much, that 2 months later, I have started reading it again!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 4, 2012

    The title is appropriate because it not only describes the story

    The title is appropriate because it not only describes the story but also how tightly the reader is held, moved and grabbed. What a great story and one where not a word or phrase is wasted in this well-written story of life in the old west that we have never heard before. More importantly it is a very personal story about how a person can triumph in their own way while keeping a secret that would have made their journey impossible. Couldn't put it down and finished it wanting to know more and especially read more by Karen Kondazian. She has certainly brought her talents as an actress and story-teller to her writing and especially how to &quot;whip&quot; an audience. Don't miss this book if you want to be informed, enlightened, and moved.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 5, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    They had me at the cover.

    What a great read. I love historical novels set during the late 1800's and this one did not disappoint. It has everything a great western needs (horses, gunfights, stagecoaches, bar room brawls, etc.) and so much more. I loved it from beginning to end. If there is an award for best cover art, this book should win.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 3, 2012

    Highly recommend this book! You must check it out! Best western novel since lonesome dove!

    The book I discovered quite by accident. Once I received it on my nook, I could hardly put it down. It is a great story, wonderfully crafted, and it catches you on the first page and holds you tight through the entire read. This book should be brought to the silver screen.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 6, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    a piece of history which must be read

    There are stories and books that to come to you by chance and when you turn the very last page you feel invigorated becasue you found such a poignant and moving story, that is what happened with THE WHIP. Karen Kondazian weaves a story of American history where love crosses boundaries and where heartache and love is represented at it truest and rawest form. As a woman, I admired Charlotte "Charley" Packhurst. I was incredibly moved by her struggle and her will to make her own life, at some great costs. Charley kept on trudging forward despite the obstacles she faced. Kondazian really caputured the essense of what it must have been like for Charlotte to be Charley for all those years. Written in a nicely paced and engaging style, you will become so entrenched in the story and become emotionationally invested in Charley and the supporting characters. I have to admit that I am not normally drawn to historical/romance/western, but after reading what THE WHIP was written about, I could not turn it away. I feel ever so grateful to have read THE WHIP and to share this raving review with you. I have to agree with the other reviewers saying they could see this becoming a big screen hit. THE WHIP will not disappoint and I highly recommend it!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 26, 2013

    Well written

    An interesting bit of American history turned into great story. I wonder how many other women in that era denied the restrictions placed on women back then and lived as a man?

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  • Posted May 23, 2012

    Charley Parkhurst has lived a life of hardship including abandon

    Charley Parkhurst has lived a life of hardship including abandonment and abuse. As an adult out on her own, she chooses to live life on her own terms no matter what others think. Then, those closest to her die and she vows revenge. Thus begins a lifelong journey to find justice, love, companionship and happiness. In order to find these things, she has to live life as a man.

    The Whip, the debut novel by Karen Kondazian, is an interesting fictionalized account of the life of a well-known California-based stagecoach driver and the events that led her to live her life as a man in the 1800&rsquo;s. In telling the story of Charley Parkhurst, Kondazian touches on the effects of social issues of the time period including the care that children received in orphanages of the day, racism, and the accepted gender roles of that time period. Motifs include these social issues as well as abandonment and loss, death, and revenge. It questions what constitutes a &ldquo;family&rdquo; and how one person comes to terms with a lifetime of loss and loneliness in a time when women were not valued in society.

    The reader should expect to encounter language, violence, and sexuality while reading the novel. This book will appeal to adult readers.

    <i>I received a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation and all views are my own.</i>

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 6, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 14, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

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