Scan barcode
mysteriousnorse's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful and brutal.
I genuinely wasn't sure what to expect here, but this has spectacular character development and a harrowing story. Surprisingly effective and harrowing with moments of quiet beauty and stark terror side by side.
I genuinely wasn't sure what to expect here, but this has spectacular character development and a harrowing story. Surprisingly effective and harrowing with moments of quiet beauty and stark terror side by side.
jmarkows's review against another edition
5.0
I had been interested in reading this book for a while due to all the high praise it has received. I can't say I have ever been particularly drawn to Westerns but had to see what the hype was about. I started having doubts when I still wasn't vibing through the first 100ish pages. However, I am glad I stuck with it because soon after I could not put it down.
Over the 850+ pages, I really gained an appreciation for what it was like on the frontier and the way McCurty captured the brutal realities of post-civil war Rangering. I loved being immersed in the adventure of it all (while also holding appreciation for my warm bed and lack of snakes).
My favorite part, however, was the characters. No one who knows me is probably surprised by this but let me just say every character in this book felt so intentional and real. Gus and Captain Call are perhaps in the top ten literary duos in my eyes. Sweet baby Newt made me cry on multiple occasions and Clara is queen. I will always love a book whose characters worm their way so deep in my heart that I’m thinking about them long after I finished the story.
In sum: Long book, worth the read.
Over the 850+ pages, I really gained an appreciation for what it was like on the frontier and the way McCurty captured the brutal realities of post-civil war Rangering. I loved being immersed in the adventure of it all (while also holding appreciation for my warm bed and lack of snakes).
My favorite part, however, was the characters. No one who knows me is probably surprised by this but let me just say every character in this book felt so intentional and real. Gus and Captain Call are perhaps in the top ten literary duos in my eyes. Sweet baby Newt made me cry on multiple occasions and Clara is queen. I will always love a book whose characters worm their way so deep in my heart that I’m thinking about them long after I finished the story.
In sum: Long book, worth the read.
ijb5094's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
beesquestionmark's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t find anything more to say other than I loved it. I loved every page and every character. Deaths hit like a kick in the guts. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
maleahcole's review against another edition
5.0
I’d say this is probably my top favorite read of all time. I didn’t want it to end. I loved all the characters and felt attached to them all. I can see myself rereading this in the future.
lvbopeep's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know how to review this book. While I'm a horse-y kind of person and actually know honest-to-god buckaroos and cowboys on a first name basis (NOT team ropers! LOL), westerns are not exactly my cup of tea. However, this book,nearly 10 years I read it for the first time, remains the most influential book I've ever read. I think of Gus and Company probably every..single..day. I think it's been a year since I re-read it, but I still think of the characters often with laughter, regrets and (over the series) bitter irony.
Every character in this book is sharply drawn and provided with a detailed history that makes their motivations clear. After introduction, these characters may not surprise you, but the rough circumstances of western life surely does. The plot flies, 900+ pages fall away and end too soon. If you love a good story with action, suspense and brutal realism, this book is a must-read.
Every character in this book is sharply drawn and provided with a detailed history that makes their motivations clear. After introduction, these characters may not surprise you, but the rough circumstances of western life surely does. The plot flies, 900+ pages fall away and end too soon. If you love a good story with action, suspense and brutal realism, this book is a must-read.
bmarie82's review against another edition
2.0
Overall I didn't hate it but there's stuff that is a bit problematic. A little rambly and the cast was just too large to allow for interesting development and representation of the characters