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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gun violence, Racial slurs
The racial slurs are said in casual conversation. It probably depends on the reader what level of shocking this may be. Still worth including in content warnings.
There some some brief mentions of horse mistreatment. Rooster stops some boys from choking a donkey. Rattlesnakes are shot at. There is one extended period of animal brutality Blackie, Mattie's faithful pony, is driven to exhaustion by Rooster in order to save Mattie's life. He cuts the horse to keep it running and rubs salt in the wound.
The scene is brief but it is brutal and sad and ends with Blackies death by exhaustion.
More like 2.5 stars. I enjoyed the feisty protagonist and distinct first-person voice, but several parts of the book just dragged for me.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Crying
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
A fun palette cleanser book. One of the better westerns just based off of sheer readability and enjoyment received.
A short book packed with sooooo much! Economical writing, political history, Civil war stories, indigenous history and real characters such as Judge Parker. Then there is the revenge that Mattie pursues with such singular focus.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed reading this little masterpiece so much ❤️ I can’t believe I had never heard of this book or author until yesterday! I saw this book posted on someone’s Instagram stories and I got curious. I’m glad I did coz 🤩 this book surprised me by how good it was, I couldn’t put it down.
I really need to stop reading amazing books -- I mean, not actually, it's just that, the more I love a book, the harder it becomes to express my love for said book, particularly by way of a goodreads review.
My first introduction to True Grit was the Coen Brothers film (I haven't seen the John Wayne version), which I loved, loved, loved. As someone who grew up in the west, lost their father at a young age, and grew up watching dry British humor, I was pretty much predisposed to love a film about a headstrong young girl who hires a reckless marshall to help her track down and execute revenge on a man who killed her father.
The whole time I was reading about the film, I heard great things about the novel, so when I saw it at a book sale, I snatched it up.
I have to say, this is one of those rare instances where the film pretty well captured the spirit of Portis' original work. The book is, of course, more fleshed out, and even funnier because of the deadpan nature of Mattie's delivery.
Portis' writing is clear and sharp, not a single word wasted, and in that way reminds me of a funnier, more grammatically correct Cormac McCarthy. Portis' characters and plot never once lagged or meandered, the story was never dry or boring, and reading it never felt like a race or a chore.
It's refreshing to see a story that centers around a woman in a domain where men are typically heroes and women are just sort of around the periphery. Mattie is, in so many ways, her own hero in this story, despite the deeds done by Rooster and LeBoeuf (pronounced "La Beef," ahahaha). If I ever have a niece or a daughter I could see myself passing this book onto them.
Certainly a new favorite, and will be on the lookout for other Portis books to pick up.
My first introduction to True Grit was the Coen Brothers film (I haven't seen the John Wayne version), which I loved, loved, loved. As someone who grew up in the west, lost their father at a young age, and grew up watching dry British humor, I was pretty much predisposed to love a film about a headstrong young girl who hires a reckless marshall to help her track down and execute revenge on a man who killed her father.
The whole time I was reading about the film, I heard great things about the novel, so when I saw it at a book sale, I snatched it up.
I have to say, this is one of those rare instances where the film pretty well captured the spirit of Portis' original work. The book is, of course, more fleshed out, and even funnier because of the deadpan nature of Mattie's delivery.
Portis' writing is clear and sharp, not a single word wasted, and in that way reminds me of a funnier, more grammatically correct Cormac McCarthy. Portis' characters and plot never once lagged or meandered, the story was never dry or boring, and reading it never felt like a race or a chore.
It's refreshing to see a story that centers around a woman in a domain where men are typically heroes and women are just sort of around the periphery. Mattie is, in so many ways, her own hero in this story, despite the deeds done by Rooster and LeBoeuf (pronounced "La Beef," ahahaha). If I ever have a niece or a daughter I could see myself passing this book onto them.
Certainly a new favorite, and will be on the lookout for other Portis books to pick up.