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A review by bairdy1985
Holliday by Matthew Di Paoli
5.0
First off it’s confession time.. I’ve always had a soft spot for Doc Holliday. Ever since I was about 8 or 9 years old and caught the movie Tombstone..he’s such an amazing character but often overshadowed.
What I immediately liked about the book is it humanized Doc early on.. you learn about the consumption that ails him.. how he lost his mother to the very thing that is trying to take his life now..
We also get introduced to Doc’s vices too.. and it really brings life to the man and while yes he’s not a saint you can’t help but like him.
Holliday is on a mission.. he wants to enjoy the finer things in life but at the same time is searching for a cure… you can tell he’s torn.. I don’t think he ever really thought it existed but at the same time he keeps going.. keeps looking for hope.
I guess what I really wanted from this book was to know Doc’s story… there’s plenty of tales regarding his time with Wyatt Earp but he’s never the main focus and that always baffled me… he was always the most interesting one of the group.
Doc’s tale is pure raw energy and emotion.. everything is felt in the moment and the author does a wonderful job at making the scenes jump out of the page.. your not just reading a story…you really feel the guttural sense of urgency.. but at the same time see Doc’s clear talent at not letting his emotions show.
I wouldn’t say the book is for the faint hearted.. there’s real emotion and while Holliday is the main character it’s the supporting characters, his links to them and how they interact that really make things become real. Doc doesn’t let people get close to him often but you can see why certain people make it through his shield.
Overall this was a cracking , engaging and thought-provoking read.. it offered me so much more than I could have ever expected and it’s a beautifully woven, harrowing tale of such a fascinating man.
I have to give the book a 5* rating but that truthy doesn’t do the tale or the authors writing style justice.. the book just effortlessly flows and is beautiful in its sorrow.
This is the kind of book I like to see!!
What I immediately liked about the book is it humanized Doc early on.. you learn about the consumption that ails him.. how he lost his mother to the very thing that is trying to take his life now..
We also get introduced to Doc’s vices too.. and it really brings life to the man and while yes he’s not a saint you can’t help but like him.
Holliday is on a mission.. he wants to enjoy the finer things in life but at the same time is searching for a cure… you can tell he’s torn.. I don’t think he ever really thought it existed but at the same time he keeps going.. keeps looking for hope.
I guess what I really wanted from this book was to know Doc’s story… there’s plenty of tales regarding his time with Wyatt Earp but he’s never the main focus and that always baffled me… he was always the most interesting one of the group.
Doc’s tale is pure raw energy and emotion.. everything is felt in the moment and the author does a wonderful job at making the scenes jump out of the page.. your not just reading a story…you really feel the guttural sense of urgency.. but at the same time see Doc’s clear talent at not letting his emotions show.
I wouldn’t say the book is for the faint hearted.. there’s real emotion and while Holliday is the main character it’s the supporting characters, his links to them and how they interact that really make things become real. Doc doesn’t let people get close to him often but you can see why certain people make it through his shield.
Overall this was a cracking , engaging and thought-provoking read.. it offered me so much more than I could have ever expected and it’s a beautifully woven, harrowing tale of such a fascinating man.
I have to give the book a 5* rating but that truthy doesn’t do the tale or the authors writing style justice.. the book just effortlessly flows and is beautiful in its sorrow.
This is the kind of book I like to see!!