“At the same time, Glass sensed that his body was marshalling itself for another, decisive battle. Not at the surface, but deep within.”
The term reve“At the same time, Glass sensed that his body was marshalling itself for another, decisive battle. Not at the surface, but deep within.”
The term revenant is defined as “one who returns after death,” a fitting title given the predicament and remarkable story of trapper Hugh Glass.
I’m sure all are aware of the Leonardo DiCaprio film from a while back that is the adaptation of this novel, and specifically the famous (infamous) “grizzly bear” scene. I feel as though, while both are powerful stories, the novel gives more emphasis on the psychology of Glass’ dire life or death situation and the lengths to which he had to “come back from death.”
The author sets the scene early in the novel. In the early part of the 1800s, the Rocky Mountain Fur Company is in the midst of a brutal and often dangerous mission. One of the more experience of the bunch, Hugh Glass, is preforming a scouting duty when a vicious encounter with a grizzly bear puts him at death’s edge as the rest of men decide how to proceed.
This novel is called a “revenge” novel or “revenge” story, and while revenge is certainly a player and theme—and largely the basis and fuel for the protagonist’s motivations—the survival element was far more important, thought-provoking, and interesting.
And, as a survival story, The Revenant is top notch and engrossing. The author does a superb job placing the reader right square in the point of view from Hugh Glass’ perspective after he is abandoned by two of the men in his group, his supplies taken, and his wounds severe and life-threatening. There is a rawness and brutality to the depiction of Glass efforts to go from the brink of death to try to muster up enough energy to go into full survival mode.
I cannot write it without maybe giving away some spoilers, but there is a great quote from one of the characters near the end who basically gives such great insights into his thoughts on Glass’ quest for revenge.
In this edition, there is an “Historical Note” from Punke where he details the historical elements and certain fictionalized parts of the novel, and sheds some light on the book itself and gives some context.
The Revenant is a gripping and fascinating historical fiction, looking into one man’s brutal quest to survive and make it to the next day in the harshest of conditions.
Definitely recommended, especially for those who love survival or man vs. nature type stories, or stories of overcoming odds.
In Larry McMurtry’s 1985 modern classic Lonesome Dove, McMurtry creates a western that is both epic and grand, and that covers quite a bit of ground, In Larry McMurtry’s 1985 modern classic Lonesome Dove, McMurtry creates a western that is both epic and grand, and that covers quite a bit of ground, both literally and figuratively. I think one of the more remarkable traits is the author’s ability to take so many different individual stories and pack and blend them into one sprawling, long-standing journey.
At its definitive core, Lonesome Dove explores a great many characters—flawed and human—and their perennial and continual search, whether that search be internally or externally. It feels like the characters are always looking for something better and to gain a better meaning or place in life.
In the case of two of our principle characters, Captain Woodrow Call and Augustus “Gus” McRae, this comes in the form of an exodus from the small town of Lonesome Dove across state lines. When the two are not exchanging verbal jabs at each other, Call and Gus are leading members of the Hat Creek Outfit and others across states towards their destination of Montana in the hopes of grander prospects. However, along the way, they encounter conflicts and dangers, trials, and obstacles, from Mother Nature, nefarious individuals, villains, and rogues of all sorts.
I feel like this is a work whose sum and totality are more impactful than some of its smaller parts and episodes. We have various episodic character subplots that are revolving and happening simultaneously, and McMurtry allows these subplots to often converge so seamlessly.
However, I just felt like there were a few character threads that I was less than enthusiastic about (either because the characters were unremarkable or not that impactful for the entirety of the story). I felt like we were zeroing in on these characters too much, and they were getting too much “airtime.” (July’s wife Elmira is one such example.) I felt tempted to skim over these sections because I wasn’t very invested in the characters, or didn’t think these segments were that critical.
That being said, a couple of the characters who I felt were interesting were Newt Dobbs and Joshua Deets. Newt is a young man who joins the trek with others, but his ignorance into this rugged lifestyle is an eye opening, coming of age and sometimes painful experience as he learns many harsh life lessons. Another impactful character in the novel was Deets, who is a lifetime member of the Hat Creek Outfit. As the only Black man who is member of the group, he does face difficulties and unfair treatment at points (which, unfortunately, was a product of the times). He is a strong, principled character who is important to Newt during this journey as well as the others for his knowledge and experience.
In this massive exodus we embark on, Lonesome Dove explores many prevalent themes, including duty and honor, faithfulness, the changing of the guard, romance, coming of age and death. The story and volume of the work is vast in its scope, and it is an enduring and memorable expedition for the characters as well as the readers....more
“It never occurred to them that their search was stretching out into a great extraordinary feat of endurance; an epic of hope without faith, of fortit“It never occurred to them that their search was stretching out into a great extraordinary feat of endurance; an epic of hope without faith, of fortitude without reward, of stubbornness past all limits of reason. They simply kept on, doing the next thing, because they always had one more place to go, following out one more forlorn-hope try.”
Most people will have heard of this title as this novel is the basis for the vastly popular John Ford film starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, and Natalie Wood).
At the very core of this novel, as the title suggests, is the quest and search for a missing family member. Le May thrusts the reader right into the heart of the conflict with families are brutalized and raided in a deadly attack and left to pick up the pieces. After helping to bury the dead and realizing that two of the girls in the family are missing, Martin Pauley and Amos Edwards set off on a long, time-consuming path and journey to try to find them.
I think what Le May captures is the feeling of the old-time Western with picturesque descriptions of the landscape coupled with the harsh realities of bitter conflicts and brutalities. Upon viewing the film after reading the novel, I realize how much toned down the violence is in the film compared to the novel (which stands to reason, of course). There are some pretty uncomfortable and violent scenes in the novel, and Le May does not really sugarcoat much. Still, I think there is a raw portrayal he is able to capture, even making his two lead characters human and flawed.
If there was an element I was disappointed about in this particular edition of the novel, it is that there is an introduction that is dedicated entirely to the film adaptation with nothing said whatsoever about the novel. This is a pity because I felt as though the novel was much better in comparison.
At the core of the novel Giant is the story of Leslie Lynnton and Jordan “Bick” Benedict, Leslie from Virginia, and Bick from Texas. The two differentAt the core of the novel Giant is the story of Leslie Lynnton and Jordan “Bick” Benedict, Leslie from Virginia, and Bick from Texas. The two different worlds and settings converge when Leslie, after marrying Bick, comes to learn the Texas way of life.
I think that Ferber succeeds in creating a sweeping epic in some ways, as the book has the feeling of being generational and I suppose there is a grandness in how the story unfolds in present and past. This, as well as the many picturesque depictions of the setting in the prose were two of the plusses in reading this novel.
However, I just never could really connect to the characters very much nor cared much for how certain parts of the book were structured. We begin with a key event that we will come back to near the end of the novel, and then go through this long flashback to understand how Leslie and Bick met and married. There were points where the backstory stalled and dragged a little and there was not much to bring the characters to life. I also believe that one of the more distracting aspects to Giant is how the author beats us over the head with “well, this is how it is in Texas”, “Texas is a whole country in itself”, “we are Texas here” etc. Moreover, another downfall was a rather anticlimactic ending to the novel, which seemingly just ends, period.
I went back after reading and watched the lavish film adaptation with Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, and Dennis Hopper and I think it handles the time sequences and structure better and gives more vitality to the characters. So, I guess this is one of the rare cases where I prefer film over book.
It seems Ferber has written quite a few classics turned into films, so I am still interested in checking out either Saratoga Trunk, Cimarron, or So Big....more
“This land was no longer something apart from him, it was part of him like his arms and legs. His sweat and his blood were soaked into it. Like an old“This land was no longer something apart from him, it was part of him like his arms and legs. His sweat and his blood were soaked into it. Like an old tree, his roots went too deeply into their ground for him to ever be transplanted…A man had to make his try, and when that didn’t work he had to try something else. Try and keep trying. Endure and try again.”
Based on the historical Texas drouth in the 1950s, Elmer Kelton’s The Time It Never Rained is a realistic and powerful portrayal of a protagonist (Charlie Flagg) and others trying to make it and survive amid external circumstances and forces that seemingly are stripping them of both their livelihoods and their resources. I felt like Kelton’s book and story was so similar to The Grapes of Wrath thematically, as Charlie and the other farmers’ plight is very indicative of the Joads’ plight in Steinbeck’s novel. In The Time It Never Rained, Charlie has to contend with not only Mother Nature, but the government.
I think one of the first things that stood out about Kelton’s novel is his well-drawn and realistic characters. Charlie Flagg is like that stubborn, tough as nails uncle who is unwilling to bend and give in, but is a person of conviction and principles. He does not want a free handout from the government and sticks to his guns throughout. The other characters were also very well drawn, and I thought that Manuel Flores was one of more interesting characters, as we see a coming of age throughout the novel.
As stated earlier, Kelton’s work is heartfelt and he makes it very personal for the reader, and I think this is why we can readily get invested and care about their stories, particularly when they must deal with devastation and heartbreak in particular moments.
The Time It Never Rained was a powerful read about the struggle and fight to survive despite setback after setback. I’m glad this book was brought to my attention and look forward to more reads from Kelton in the future. ...more
I always find McCarthy books very difficult to review for some reason, even though each one has been powerful in their own way and a thoughtful experiI always find McCarthy books very difficult to review for some reason, even though each one has been powerful in their own way and a thoughtful experience. I’ve enjoyed every Cormac McCarthy book I’ve read (The Crossing being my fourth read) and feel like there are some signature McCarthy staples that a reader experiences when venturing forth into one of his novels.
The novel here is aptly named because in The Crossing we have a focus on various journeys of sorts, both literal and figurative, that are experienced namely by our protagonist, Billy Parham. Within the novel, there are a total of three literal crossings, one of which is Billy’s journey into Mexico after capturing a she-wolf that was terrorizing the father’s livestock. Along this path, Billy encounters allies, foes, dangers, and insights into the land.
One of the most notable qualities of McCarthy (alongside the lack of quotations for dialogue) is his stream of conscious dreamlike prose that seems to go in line with the mythical effect of the plot. I felt like I could literally get lost in the prose (I mean, in an effective way). And this adds to the literary experience, as in The Crossing themes such as coming of age, loss of innocence, facing the harsh realities of life. There is a constant prevailing commentary on the human existence that is focus.
This novel has less a linear styled plot but works instead more so as a series of connected episodes or parts that take us to one larger conclusion. Another notable aspect is McCarthy’s distinct ability to use the oral tradition of storytelling as part of both the literal and symbolic journey. In this way, we are given a story within a story, and I think this adds to the mythical, ponderous quality that The Crossing establishes.
This was yet another powerful reading experience from McCarthy, and I look forward to finishing with the last in the Border trilogy, Cities of the Plain.
Paulette Jiles’ Simon the Fiddler takes place during the Civil War. As the war is ending, Simon Boudlin, a fiddler, is playing with his bandmates at aPaulette Jiles’ Simon the Fiddler takes place during the Civil War. As the war is ending, Simon Boudlin, a fiddler, is playing with his bandmates at a dinner. While there, is sees and is captivated by Doris, a young Irish woman who is governess to a Union colonel’s daughter.
After the war end, he and Doris are separated. From here, the book follows the adventures of Simon and band of buddies going from place to place trying to find a gig or work to make ends meet, but many times finding various troubles and other shenanigans at various bars and other places (sometimes due to Simon’s temper). While they are trying to find work, Simon continues his quest to find Doris.
I felt like this was mostly a mediocre reading experience. I could not get invested in the characters at all, as they seemed to lack any real depth. As a result, there was a disconnect here. So, this made it difficult to have any attachment to how things panned out for them. As far as Simon’s love interest with Doris, I didn’t buy it; it also didn’t really ring true and seemed forced and a little too Hollywood for me. And the ending also seemed a little forced as well.
What I did like about the book was the writing and the music theme. I think that Jiles does a fantastic job of capturing the time and place and setting during the Civil War, and the fiddling aspect and music in the background of the story was interesting.
So, while I did enjoy certain aspects, overall this was a fairly so-so reading experience here. However, I have heard that Jiles’ other novels are more impressive, so I am still interested in reading other works from this author ...more
Reading Ambush makes me realize that is it high time I read more Westerns. I appreciate how Luke Short’s western novel Ambush is not a traditional “shReading Ambush makes me realize that is it high time I read more Westerns. I appreciate how Luke Short’s western novel Ambush is not a traditional “shoot em up” styled Western. It is a little bit of a slow burn in the first portions of the plot as we learn some of the story, but I really liked how the author makes the novel character and theme driven, letting us get to know the characters and their stories.
As a central character, Ward Kinsman is sort of an antiheroic type; he is a flawed, moody, solitary but driven character who takes pride and honor seriously. He has a sort of “street smart” capability that helps him gain trust among the men. He has the wits, brains, and experience about him to strategize and produce a game plan for an impending confrontation. He is called on to lead a group of soldiers to help to try to rescue Mary Carlisle from an Apache tribe. However, to do so, they must deal with one of the infamous leaders of the Apache, Diablito.
It is interesting how there were several subplots of romance in the novel. I did not find these too distracting at all, and I thought they added a little bit more realness, dimension and depth to the characters and overall plot. Short aptly balances out these subplots with a final confrontation and skirmish between the band of soldiers and Diablito’s men in the book’s final parts.
As mentioned earlier, I really liked how Short emphasizes certain themes within the plot. Honor, loyalty, sense of duty, responsibility, valor, and a code of ethics are all explored and prevalent within the novel.
A very enjoyable first read from Luke Short. I hope to read more of his works in the future....more
This is one of those books that started off with a bang and ended with a whimper. I really was hooked for the first two parts of The Big Sky. The noveThis is one of those books that started off with a bang and ended with a whimper. I really was hooked for the first two parts of The Big Sky. The novel opens with Boone Caudill, a teenager, running away from his abusive pap and trying to make it on his own out into the world. He has a series of adventures and episodes, meeting some foes, some allies, as he tries to find his footing away from home and out under the big sky. It at times almost felt like a Western version of Huckleberry Finn, with Boone running away and having to make it away from civilization much in the same way as Huck does in Twain’s novel. These moments, Guthrie really captures the essence and feel of high adventure and of the West.
However, the book does not keep this momentum going.
I think one of the aspects that I didn’t care for was, well, Boone. Starting with Part 3, and then beyond, he becomes less and less the intriguing character. While there is a slight character arc, as Boone does change, he seems to only changes for the worse. I’m not asking for an antihero to be warm and fuzzy, but there was an inconsequential aspect to his nature, something missing, that made me lose some interest in his fate or life journey. I actually felt like the co-stars of the novel, his two partners, Jim and Dick Summers, had more character depth. I suppose that Jim is somewhat of a contrast to Boone, but I guess this helps to balance these two characters out as the plot advances.
Alongside this, and I know that this book is written from the perspective of the Old West, but there were too many problems with the depiction of other characters. The Native Americans are stereotyped to the lowest common denominator for the most part: the men are often wild, untamed, and drunk, and the women in the tribes only serve as vessels for Boone and his buddies’ lust.
Moreover, the adventures of Boone and his buddies seem to get a tad repetitive, especially in the second half, which tends to drag and get muddled and meandering despite the many conflicts that consume Boone.
Still, I did enjoy certain aspects of The Big Sky. The writing and description of nature, the great outdoors and certain points of the plot were picaresque and illustrative. Guthrie often puts the reader right there in time and place, under the Western skies.
That being said, while Guthrie’s book certainly has the feel of a Western, and certainly presents the mythological aspect of “roughing it” and the creation of the mountain man, at the end of the day his main star, Boone Caudill, is somewhat lacking in substantiality, unless being irritable or ornery qualifies for character depth.
Interesting read at points, but I do not think I’ll move on in the series. ...more
One cannot help reading The Ox Bow Incident without thinking of the term mob mentality. This novel reminds me of a morality play disguised in a WesterOne cannot help reading The Ox Bow Incident without thinking of the term mob mentality. This novel reminds me of a morality play disguised in a Western’s clothing, because the true essence of the novel is simply the aftermath of an event, where judgements are rendered, and individuals must live with the repercussions of those judgements.
There are some minor set backs to this book. The beginning is a bit of a slow crawl, and it seems like we have the same points and conflicts retread and repeated over and over again. I felt like the book was a tad overwritten at times for this reason, as it takes way too long for the plot to move forward. Also, there are many inconsequential minor characters who are carbon copies of each other. The narrator himself, for most of the plot, narrates but it rather a blank piece of paper without much input other than just describing what takes place (however, perhaps that was the author’s intention, to make him an everyman amongst the group). However, once we get the full conflict where the three men face their accusers, events move forward and tension builds.
I didn’t mind the “talky” feel to the western. In fact, this is the best part, and gives the book the vehicle to explore one of its prominent theme: justice vs injustice. Once the sense that the mob mentality has enveloped the group, it is difficult to break. Others have noted that the philosophical approach feels strangely out of place, but I think it was certainly for effect and purpose.
What I loved about this classic is simply the picturesque setting that the author describes and the build up to a high-tensioned conclusion where the definition of law becomes muddled. There is a bit of philosophy and wisdom in Clark’s novel, a search for a scapegoat seems to fog the minds of the masses, and there are overriding questions about how one should go about handling justice when there are apparently no parameters or rules. What is justice? Who is the one who should decide? What makes one man override another in the search for truth? What happens when a group mentality takes over an entire judgement?
This is essentially about the nature of a mob mentality, and individuals who must come to terms with the decisions and actions they carry out, and live with them to their grave. Some characters have a moral compass and conscience with which to gauge themselves before, during and after key actions are taken against three accused of being “rustlers”; other characters, not so much.
In the end, The Ox Bow Incident is essentially a thought-provoking read. ...more
**spoiler alert** There are two sides to Valdez. One side is Bob Valdez, a respectable constable, business like in his approach to handle conflicts in**spoiler alert** There are two sides to Valdez. One side is Bob Valdez, a respectable constable, business like in his approach to handle conflicts in town. This is a peaceful, calm and reasonable Valdez, one who will talk and listen and reasonably work things out. Then there’s Roberto Valdez. There’s a little bit of Charles Bronson and Rambo in Roberto Valdez. His knowledge of battle tactics, weaponry and vigilantism might make these two green with envy. I also see a little of the Hulk in Roberto Valdez. No, he doesn’t turn into a mild mannered town constable to a seven foot green raging beast. I could almost envision Valdez quietly whispering with repressed rage to villain Frank Tanner at the book’s outset: “Mr. Tanner, don’t make me angry. You won’t like it when I get angry.” This side of Valdez, the one you don’t want to mess with, comes to dominate much of the story.
The novel’s main conflict comes early on when Valdez is forced to kill a man after a standoff negotiation goes wrong. To make matters worse, this man it seems is the wrong guy, not the one wanted. Frank Tanner and his posse, who are also there, take no responsibility for what has happened. Valdez, it seems, might have been set up as the fall guy for this situation. Wanting retribution and compensation for to give to the dead man’s wife, Valdez sets out to discuss the matter with Frank Tanner. Not only does Frank Tanner not listen to Valdez, but he humiliates him and leaves him for dead. However, Frank Tanner will learn that Valdez is not that easily discouraged…
While Leonard’s Valdez is Coming is an entertaining and quick read, I thought the characterization was, for the most part, underdeveloped and thin. The characters were mostly stereotypes and we get little in the sense of what really drives them or makes them tick. Frank Tanner is cartoonishly villainous, as are most of his sadistic henchmen. Still, for the most part, character motivations aren’t very clear. What originally seems to be a duty of honor for Valdez in getting money for a dead man’s wife becomes a bit more about saving face and exacting individual pride when he is laughed at, ignored and then left for dead. Much of the novel’s focus, in turn, seems to be public displays of individual machismo rather than revenge or fulfilling a noble quest. That being said, I think that Gay Erin’s character is more fully developed than some others, even as a minor character, as we understand her past situation. Over all, though, I found the characters to be rather underwhelming.
Some have complained about the ending, which is rather abrupt and sudden, but I didn’t have a problem with it. There’s a sense that you can infer what is going to take place next.
Valdez is Coming is a quick and engaging read, one that will remind you of classic revenge westerns from the past. Valdez’s story is the one you might tell while sitting around the campfire. ...more
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