The Juicing Book

Ahuge,riveting,deeplyimaginednovelaboutthesiegeandfalloftheAlamo,aneventthatformedtheconsciousnessofTexasandthatresonatesthroughAmericanhistory.Withitsvibrant,unexpectedcharactersanditsrichnessofauthenticdetail,TheGatesoftheAlamoisanunforgettablere-creationofatime,aplace,andaheroicconflict.Thetimeis1835.AtthecenterofacanvascrowdedwithMexicansandAmericans,withKarankawaandComancheIndians,withsettlersofmanynationalities,standthreepeoplewhosefortunesquicklybecomeoururgentconcern:EdmundMcGowan,anaturalistoftoweringcourageandintellect,whoselife'sworkisthreatenedbythewaragainstMexicoandwhosecharacteristestedbyhisowndangerouspride;MaryMott,awidowedinnkeeperontheTexascoast,adeterminedandresourcefulwoman;andhersixteen-year-oldson,Terrell,whosefirstshatteringexperiencewithloveleadshiminsteadtowar,andintothecrucibleoftheAlamo.AsEdmundMcGowanandMaryMotttakeoffinpursuitofTerrellandfollowhimintothefortress,thepowerfulbutwaryattractionbetweenthemdeepens.Andthereaderisdrawnwiththemintotheharrowingdaysofthebattleitself.NeverbeforehasthefalloftheAlamobeenportrayedwithsuchimmediacy.AndforthefirsttimethestoryistoldnotjustfromtheperspectiveoftheAmericandefendersbutfromthatoftheMexicanattackersaswell.WefollowBlasMontoya,asergeantinanelitesharpshootercompany,ashefightstokeephismenalivenotonlyintheinfernoofbattlebutalsoduringthelongforcedmarchnorthfromMexicopropertoTexas.AndthroughtheeyesoftheambitiousmapmakerTelesforoVillasenor,wewitnessthecolddeliberationsofGeneralSantaAnna.Filledwithdramaticscenes,aboundinginfictionalandhistoricalpersonalities--amongthemJamesBowie,DavidCrockett,andWilliamTravis--TheGatesoftheAlamoenfoldsusinhistory,andthroughitsremarkableandpassionatestorytellingallowsustoparticipateatlastinanAmericanlegend.