The Son, by Phillip Meyer

I have just finished reading The Son by Philipp Meyer and doubt I'll read a better book this summer, maybe even this year.

Spanning more than 150 years, the saga of the McCullough family is told from three points of view. Having been abducted by Comanche Indians as a teenager in frontier Texas, family patriarch Eli, also known as The Colonel, is easily the most fascinating character and the centerpiece of the novel. His son Peter and great-granddaughter Jeannie round out the decades where we see major events unfold as the McCullough family grows (largely because of Jeannie's leadership) to become multi-millionaire Texas oil barons.

Part historical saga, part western, this book occupies a space somewhere between Huck Finn and Lonesome Dove; a coming-of-age tale that spans four generations, with the settlement and rise of Texas as a backdrop.

Like Twain and McMurtrey, Meyer succeeds in offering a book about man's connection to the land and the inherent violence that comes with it. Be warned though - it's not for the squeamish.  From frontier clashes to the torture and rape of captives, no detail is spared.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this title nominated for a Pulitzer or National Book Award.