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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
I loved this book! I came into it having already seen the most recent film adaptation (twice), so I knew I would enjoy the premise. However, I was aware that the movie was made in 2010 while the book came out in the 1960s, and was therefore prepared for the elements I loved most about the story (the strength and badass nature of the young female protagonist, the humor, etc) to be more subtle or even nonexistent. I was so happy to learn that the film had not taken any liberties at all! In fact, it seems to have used the book directly as a script, much like a Cormac McCarthy novel.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Donna Tartt, who did a great job. She also included an essay that she had written about her love for the book. I agree with her that it is truly a masterpiece, something special, and that it has the potential to appeal to an incredibly wide audience. Despite the ultimate simplicity of the plot, this story has drama, humor, detailed historical info, female empowerment, suspense, and a bit of heartache. It's short and a quick read (mostly because you won't be able to put it down) but by the end of it you will feel completely immersed in the world and utterly familiar with the main characters.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Donna Tartt, who did a great job. She also included an essay that she had written about her love for the book. I agree with her that it is truly a masterpiece, something special, and that it has the potential to appeal to an incredibly wide audience. Despite the ultimate simplicity of the plot, this story has drama, humor, detailed historical info, female empowerment, suspense, and a bit of heartache. It's short and a quick read (mostly because you won't be able to put it down) but by the end of it you will feel completely immersed in the world and utterly familiar with the main characters.
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
This is another book I can thank the brilliant critics on the #NewYorkTimesBookReview podcast for recommending. Westerns are not my usual genre, but I loved the voice of the narrator, spinster Mattie Ross telling the story of avenging her father’s murder when she was just 14 years old. She hires a one-eyed marshal named Rooster Cogburn, a man with “true grit,” and insists on joining the hunt for the killer across the wilderness of Arkansas and Texas.
If you’ve heard critics talk about “voice” and wondered what they meant, this book is a perfect example. The style is stilted in a way that gives it historic authenticity, and Mattie’s strong, independent personality – confident to the point of cockiness -- shines through in every well-chosen word.
If you’ve heard critics talk about “voice” and wondered what they meant, this book is a perfect example. The style is stilted in a way that gives it historic authenticity, and Mattie’s strong, independent personality – confident to the point of cockiness -- shines through in every well-chosen word.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
On its face, this is a fucking romp, an absolute rooting tooting six-shooter shooting adventure.
Unfortunately, for every high of action or dialogue, there is a surprise bit wild racism that just comes out of left field. The discourses on Republicans vs Democrats seem out of place, especially considering one of those parties at the time was just the pro slavery party. The veneration of civil war confederates seems needless. Not that you have to fictionalize a stauch abolitionist 14 yr old (although that wouldn't be the end of the world) but you don't need to make your fictional 14 yr old say "darkies" or lament the savage nature of indigenous people or people of mixed backgrounds just to name a few examples.
As much fun as parts of it was, it was probably not worth reading.
Unfortunately, for every high of action or dialogue, there is a surprise bit wild racism that just comes out of left field. The discourses on Republicans vs Democrats seem out of place, especially considering one of those parties at the time was just the pro slavery party. The veneration of civil war confederates seems needless. Not that you have to fictionalize a stauch abolitionist 14 yr old (although that wouldn't be the end of the world) but you don't need to make your fictional 14 yr old say "darkies" or lament the savage nature of indigenous people or people of mixed backgrounds just to name a few examples.
As much fun as parts of it was, it was probably not worth reading.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced