"Doc" by Mary Doria Russell

This book was a slow start to me, but I was intrigued by the very first line. I read it slower I think because it had so much detail and so much information that I was afraid to miss it. I always thought of Doc Holliday as a fictional character - but this story made him a little more believable than that of all the legends. I never knew that Doc fought consumption his whole life and I was stumped as to how he allowed himself to simply thrive on not caring about his next day or next meal. That is how he survived, by living life without fear. He tried to teach that to his friends and his lover because they worried more about him than he did himself. I thought that last page to be the most intriguing because it said that Calypso did all that she could. I always thought Doc called Kate Athena. So why would she refer to herself as Calypso - or is it Sophie who added that last line? Just something to chew on. I loved the way that they made the Earps appear. It wasn't until I heard the playaway version of this book that it all came alive to me. Doc was attracted to Kate because she was learned and he had enough of stupid people surrounding him - it was better to him to be seen with a learned prostitute than a naive, stupid woman. He knew her story and that gave him more reason to trust her to a point. I think what Kate and Doc had was honesty. He knew the woman she was; just as she knew the man he was - it was no more than that. He didn't really trust her with his money - no more than she trusted him with hers. But they cared for each other, and knew each other's true colors - can't ask for much more than that. All in all the book was a winner for me, especially since I ususally steer clear of any and all westerns! A good read and a great change from the Juvenile Fiction and Teen Fiction I usually have on my plate!