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bookhawk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In typical Robert B. Parker style, Resolution communicates many principles and messages in an economy of words. This book moved quickly yet covered a lot of ground including philosophical concepts like Rousseau’s social contract using the western novel as a canvas to express such notions as well as acting like a man versus a boy or spousal abuse. Parker was a thoughtful writer. 4 stars.
papidoc's review against another edition
1.0
I took a look at this, hoping it would be an improvement on his first book about these characters, found in Appaloosa. It was, if possible, even worse. I'll simply quote from my review of that book. Almost no plot, intrigue, or character development and replete with foul language (seemed like every other word, way beyond what I even hear in high schools these days!). It seemed to exist simply as a slow moving vehicle for bad behavior, brutal violence, and the worst that can be offered in the way of anti-heroes.
And these were the most positive things I could think to write about it. Definitely way below Parker's normal standards of fiction...I'm amazed he was willing to put his name on it.
And these were the most positive things I could think to write about it. Definitely way below Parker's normal standards of fiction...I'm amazed he was willing to put his name on it.
ericbuscemi's review against another edition
5.0
Unlike most middle books in a trilogy, which are usually the weakest of the whole, this book -- the middle book in the Virgil Cole/Everett Hitch trilogy -- is the strongest of Parker's western trilogy, all three of which are so enjoyable that I read each in a single sitting.
I didn't actually know that [a:Robert B. Parker|397|Robert B. Parker|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1354149354p2/397.jpg] had written a sequel to [b:Appaloosa|297478|Appaloosa (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #1)|Robert B. Parker|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309286254s/297478.jpg|22710] until my father told me he read this book, and mentioned how much he liked Virgil Cole's character, which made me realize it must be related to [b:Appaloosa|297478|Appaloosa (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #1)|Robert B. Parker|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309286254s/297478.jpg|22710] in some way.
I didn't actually know that [a:Robert B. Parker|397|Robert B. Parker|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1354149354p2/397.jpg] had written a sequel to [b:Appaloosa|297478|Appaloosa (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #1)|Robert B. Parker|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309286254s/297478.jpg|22710] until my father told me he read this book, and mentioned how much he liked Virgil Cole's character, which made me realize it must be related to [b:Appaloosa|297478|Appaloosa (Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch, #1)|Robert B. Parker|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309286254s/297478.jpg|22710] in some way.
jjohnsen's review against another edition
4.0
Another western by Robert Parker, and this one is almost as fun to read as Appaloosa was. It has the same two great main characters. Virgil who doesn’t say much and is trying to figure out what is honorable and/or legal, and Everett who is loyal to Virgil no matter what happens.
Everett comes to Resolution after the events in the last book. He’s quickly recruited to help keep the peace by a man who seems to own everything and everyone in town. This pays the bills, and gives him something to do, but it starts to turn bad quickly when people start to lose their property and can no longer afford food for their families.
Virgil comes to town to help, and they’re forced to decide whether they go along with their employer, or change loyalties and start to help everyone else.
Just like the last book with these characters, this one is a quick read. The story is simple, and the dialogue is usually snappy and to the point. There’s fun gunfights and lots of male bonding over discussions of shooting people. The two characters aren’t close to being perfect, and are always interesting while they try and find their way in the old West.
Everett comes to Resolution after the events in the last book. He’s quickly recruited to help keep the peace by a man who seems to own everything and everyone in town. This pays the bills, and gives him something to do, but it starts to turn bad quickly when people start to lose their property and can no longer afford food for their families.
Virgil comes to town to help, and they’re forced to decide whether they go along with their employer, or change loyalties and start to help everyone else.
Just like the last book with these characters, this one is a quick read. The story is simple, and the dialogue is usually snappy and to the point. There’s fun gunfights and lots of male bonding over discussions of shooting people. The two characters aren’t close to being perfect, and are always interesting while they try and find their way in the old West.
xmenji's review against another edition
3.0
Took me a while to get through but not because of the book but because of summer class finals, headed off to vacation for a week, then started fall classes so I haven't been able to get through this one quickly.
Anyways....
It was a pretty good book. I have never read a western novel until my dad shared this one with me so I decided to give it a go. This book is apparently the sequel to another book, Appaloosa, which I haven't read so I didn't know any of the character's backstories or context of the story. This book does a pretty good job alluding references from the first story so I don't feel like I missed too much. This book alone seems like an entirely different story on it's own so it was easy to jump in and get into it.
The chapters are very short, easy to read, the dialogue is cut and dry to match the no nonsense personalities of the cowboys we follow in this story. We start off by meeting Everett Hitch, who is an 8-gauge shotgun toting badass who becomes a hired hand to protect order in the town of Resolution. He is an unmatched shooter. That is, until Virgil Cole comes into the story. A long time friend of Everett and former sheriff, he can out shoot just about anyone. He is a natural born leader and everyone ends up looking up to him. Here, we start to see where Cole begins to overshadow our main hero. It is an interesting transition, maybe because I'm so used to the main character always essentially being the "demi-god" over everyone else.
Overall, I did enjoy the book even though it isn't "thrilling" by any means. It reads as a simple western so it is good enough for me to be curious enough to want to read the first book.
Anyways....
It was a pretty good book. I have never read a western novel until my dad shared this one with me so I decided to give it a go. This book is apparently the sequel to another book, Appaloosa, which I haven't read so I didn't know any of the character's backstories or context of the story. This book does a pretty good job alluding references from the first story so I don't feel like I missed too much. This book alone seems like an entirely different story on it's own so it was easy to jump in and get into it.
The chapters are very short, easy to read, the dialogue is cut and dry to match the no nonsense personalities of the cowboys we follow in this story. We start off by meeting Everett Hitch, who is an 8-gauge shotgun toting badass who becomes a hired hand to protect order in the town of Resolution. He is an unmatched shooter. That is, until Virgil Cole comes into the story. A long time friend of Everett and former sheriff, he can out shoot just about anyone. He is a natural born leader and everyone ends up looking up to him. Here, we start to see where Cole begins to overshadow our main hero. It is an interesting transition, maybe because I'm so used to the main character always essentially being the "demi-god" over everyone else.
Overall, I did enjoy the book even though it isn't "thrilling" by any means. It reads as a simple western so it is good enough for me to be curious enough to want to read the first book.
kittypaws9's review against another edition
2.0
“Resolution” was a quick read. I don’t usually read westerns, but I have read some Parker in the past and enjoyed it.
He does a really good job with dialogue — which is actually what most of the book is. You’ll love the main character, but I felt the book was too short. It is really predictable, but still a fun ride.
I didn’t know this at the time but these are characters that Parker is revisiting from a previous book. I think perhaps if I had read the first one, I would have gotten more out of this one.
Final decision: Read only if you love Robert B. Parker.
He does a really good job with dialogue — which is actually what most of the book is. You’ll love the main character, but I felt the book was too short. It is really predictable, but still a fun ride.
I didn’t know this at the time but these are characters that Parker is revisiting from a previous book. I think perhaps if I had read the first one, I would have gotten more out of this one.
Final decision: Read only if you love Robert B. Parker.
blevins's review against another edition
3.0
The western Appaloosa came out last year--it was old school and I liked it as I'm a fan of westerns. Resolution is the sequel to that. I wish there were more literary westerns but there's just a lot of crap out there in that genre. Too bad. This is a fun, no frills, lots of dialogue story of Hitch and Cole getting into more trouble and having to shoot their way out of it.
mark_amann's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
2.75
greenldydragon's review against another edition
2.0
I deducted a star for the sheer number of “I said, he said” that really stuck out when listening to it on audio.