The author uses the journal as another way to add depth to the characters, and he begins almost every chapter with the journal. It helps center the reader so they know what they will see in the upcoming pages. It also speaks in a language that would not be appropriate for the entire novel. Instead, it is simply little gems of wisdom scattered throughout the book that the reader looks forward to seeing like an old friend. Starting each chapter with Gideon's words helps keep the novel focused, too. Finally, Gideon is a thoughtful man. That comes through in his dealings with the other characters, but it becomes even clearer when the reader sees the words of his journal. He has an eye for detail. For example, he writes of the emptiness and sprit-filled plains, "Even now - out on the wide Staked Plain - one can hear the parting testimonies of those who came before. That cold keening whine, the endless low moan that stirs dust is not the wind" (Wier 663). Gideon's voice is almost poetic, and much of that came from his teachings by Colonel Powell-Hughes. The journal also indicates how important Colonel Powell-Hughes was in influencing Gideon's life. Early in the book he notes, "Colonel Powell-Hughes told me the beginning words of everyone's story are the seeds containing his story's end" (Wier 121). Gideon is also a storyteller, and that becomes clear as his journal unfolds. Not only does he...

It is not the normal "western" novel; it is much more than that. Wier's rich characters and prose make this novel different from just about any other novel in the western history section. Gideon is a complex character, and his journal proves just how complex he is. It is written beautifully, and adds another dimension to the novel. It weaves the lives of the characters together effectively, and beginning nearly every chapter as it does, it is the glue that binds the book and the characters together. It also makes the diversity and colorful characters of the West clearer to the reader, and shows how different the people were who settled the land. Wier uses the journal quite effectively to add a certain charm to the book, and it makes the novel more interesting for the reader. Without the journal, the book simply would not be the same, and the reader would not have as clear a picture of Gideon and the other characters.
References

Wier, Allen. Tehano. Dallas, TX: Southern…