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angelsrgorgeous's review
3.0
While it moves quite slowly, it is a great study of people and their decision making processes, group think, and the power a mob can exert on individual opinions.
dustysummers's review
4.0
"Most men are more afraid of being thought cowards than of anything else, and a lot more afraid of being thought physical cowards than moral ones."
slichto3's review
5.0
Stunning. Absolutely stunning. It started slowly but built into one of the best books I have ever read. It has the most realistic and multi-faceted characters, all while at first seeming like a conventional Western (which, in my experience, are mostly filled with caricatures). A deeply rewarding and yet painful reflection on morality wrapped in a compelling story. It answers, but mostly asks, many questions about what law, order, justice, and ethics are, how they are viewed, and how they are practiced. In particular, it looks at how morality is weighed in the minds of ordinary men against other concerns and how that affects them when those other concerns trump their morality. Very, very worth the read, but while the picture of human beings is accurate and layered, it makes you realize how like animals we all are.
zenithharpink's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is haunting and excellent. Less about what happens - that info is given in the blurb for this book - and more about how things unfold and the lynch mob's mind set. Set off by gossip, this was like watching a car accident in slow motion. Worse, it was like watching a drunk driver drink himself into a stupor and drive.
I recommend this book to fans of English literature and those that enjoy Westerns - albeit one with more gravitas than most.
I recommend this book to fans of English literature and those that enjoy Westerns - albeit one with more gravitas than most.
emmacspoor's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tstuppy's review
5.0
Great western, great book, great demonstration of humanity; I loved this and would recommend to fans of the genre and fans of literature.
phantomgecko's review
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don't like Westerns. They don't appeal to me generally. But the fun thing about this novel is it is a thoroughly unWestern Western.
It's not about glory and conquest and adventure. It is about consequences.
It raises great ethical questions, good psychology questions, and good social questions. And the answers to the questions are largely up to the reader.
So while it is an intriguing book about humanity, it was also really slow and kinda boring. Thus 4 stars.
It's not about glory and conquest and adventure. It is about consequences.
It raises great ethical questions, good psychology questions, and good social questions. And the answers to the questions are largely up to the reader.
So while it is an intriguing book about humanity, it was also really slow and kinda boring. Thus 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Alcohol, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism
rschmidt7's review
5.0
Chilling in its stark portrayal of human nature and the frailty of human justice, in its examination of cowardice disguised behind a mask of machismo. An excellent read and highly recommended! This is one of those classics that deserves its place on the list.
13iscute's review
2.0
2022 Reading Challenges
• ATY #11 A book from historical fiction genre [published in 1940, but set in 1885]
• Back to the Classics #6 Mystery/Detective/Crime Classic
• Popsugar #36 A book you know nothing about [I've had this on my TBR for so long but can never remember what it's about and have to keep looking at the summary]
How I selected this book
I don't know why I put this on my TBR! But here we go.
Plot summary
Cowboys in Nevada form a posse to go after cattle rustlers who have killed a local man named Kinkaid.
Likes
• The general concept that this isn't supposed to be a "typical" Western with heroes and bad guys and full of action, but a grittier Western with a more realistic, psychological exploration of life in the American West.
Dislikes
• This was a boring read... too much time spent with almost nothing happening. And I don't need a lot of action, just even the character exploration was boring.
• Too many characters and they weren't distinct enough. They all blended together.
• Racism which isn't surprising for a book written in the 1940's, but unflattering portrayals of black men and a Mexican character. I can't abide dialogue written in stereotypical vernacular.
Final thoughts
There is a Henry Fonda movie version from 1943... maybe that's more enjoyable than this book?
• ATY #11 A book from historical fiction genre [published in 1940, but set in 1885]
• Back to the Classics #6 Mystery/Detective/Crime Classic
• Popsugar #36 A book you know nothing about [I've had this on my TBR for so long but can never remember what it's about and have to keep looking at the summary]
How I selected this book
I don't know why I put this on my TBR! But here we go.
Plot summary
Cowboys in Nevada form a posse to go after cattle rustlers who have killed a local man named Kinkaid.
Spoiler
They find them in a valley around the curve of a river (the "ox-bow") and hang them. The posse is convinced they are the right men, because they have cattle without a bill of sale, and one of them has Kincaid's gun. So they hang the men. But, when they get back to town, they find out the cattle sale was legitimate, and Kincaid is still alive. So, they murdered innocent men. One of the young men who was in the posse hung himself, then his father killed himself tooLikes
• The general concept that this isn't supposed to be a "typical" Western with heroes and bad guys and full of action, but a grittier Western with a more realistic, psychological exploration of life in the American West.
Dislikes
• This was a boring read... too much time spent with almost nothing happening. And I don't need a lot of action, just even the character exploration was boring.
• Too many characters and they weren't distinct enough. They all blended together.
• Racism which isn't surprising for a book written in the 1940's, but unflattering portrayals of black men and a Mexican character. I can't abide dialogue written in stereotypical vernacular.
Final thoughts
There is a Henry Fonda movie version from 1943... maybe that's more enjoyable than this book?
gagnedouze's review
3.0
A hard one to review. I didn't dislike it but didn't love it. The story and writing was excellent and the characters were nicely fleshed out inline with the books length. Written during the height of fascism, you can see the comparison with the books main theme, pack mentality and how we react when part of a group. I don't mind a slow burner at all but I felt this book lulled between half way and 2/3 through but picked up during the round up of the three accused men. That was fantastically tense.