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rob_reitz's review against another edition
3.0
Finally finished this book!
I took a LOT of reading breaks on this one. Not that its a long book or anything, it just didn't hold my interest that much.
I can appreciate the quality of the writing, it might be one of the most vividly written books I've ever read but it just wasn't for me.
As writing goes: 5 of 5. As it relates to my needs as a reader: 2/5. (Hence 3/5)
I took a LOT of reading breaks on this one. Not that its a long book or anything, it just didn't hold my interest that much.
I can appreciate the quality of the writing, it might be one of the most vividly written books I've ever read but it just wasn't for me.
As writing goes: 5 of 5. As it relates to my needs as a reader: 2/5. (Hence 3/5)
kstephensreads's review against another edition
4.0
Started this one with the Radio Read Along podcast, got sucked into the story, and finished the audiobook on my own. Not my usual genre or one I would have stuck with on my own past the first quarter, but I enjoyed the story. It was an entertaining romp through the sage.
ominubbs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
davidgull's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
Classic Western. Gunsilnin', lady riders, evil Mormons... And love!
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital audiobook read by John Bolen.
From the book jacket: Cottonwoods, Utah, 1871. A woman stands accused. A man, sentenced to whipping. In … rides … Lassiter, a notorious gunman who’s come to avenge his sister’s death. It doesn't take Lassiter long to see that this once-peaceful Mormon community is controlled by the corrupt Deacon Tull – a powerful elder who’s trying to take the woman’s land by forcing her to marry him, branding her foreman a dangerous “outsider.” Lassiter vows to help them. But when the ranch is attacked by horse thieves, cattle rustlers, and a mysterious Masked Rider, he realizes they’re up against something bigger, and more brutal, than the land itself…
My reactions
I hardly know what to write about this classic of the Western genre. It’s full of adventure, violence, strong men and women, tenderness, brutality and an abiding sense of justice. And, of course, there is the landscape, which Grey paints so vividly it is practically a character.
Yes, the story line and dialogue are a bit melodramatic. But Grey’s story still captured this reader’s imagination with its sense of drama, almost non-stop action, and bold characters. I was reminded of the many western movies I watched with my Daddy in the ‘50s and ‘60s. They were exciting and the good guys always won. Clearly those movies (and other books of the genre) had Grey’s strong foundation on which to build. I’m glad I finally read it.
The digital audio available through my library’s Overdrive system was read by John Bolen. I was not a great fan of his delivery, which seemed overly dramatic to me. I might have enjoyed this better had I read the text.
UPDATE on second reading, January 17, 2020: I chose to read the text in preparation for my F2F book club discussion. If anything the chase scenes were even more thrilling. And the descriptions of the landscape! The melodramatic - "bodice-heaving" - dialogue was also more evident and I found myself laughing at the ridiculousness of some of the "love" scenes. Still, now that I know there is a sequel ... well I may just have to read it.
From the book jacket: Cottonwoods, Utah, 1871. A woman stands accused. A man, sentenced to whipping. In … rides … Lassiter, a notorious gunman who’s come to avenge his sister’s death. It doesn't take Lassiter long to see that this once-peaceful Mormon community is controlled by the corrupt Deacon Tull – a powerful elder who’s trying to take the woman’s land by forcing her to marry him, branding her foreman a dangerous “outsider.” Lassiter vows to help them. But when the ranch is attacked by horse thieves, cattle rustlers, and a mysterious Masked Rider, he realizes they’re up against something bigger, and more brutal, than the land itself…
My reactions
I hardly know what to write about this classic of the Western genre. It’s full of adventure, violence, strong men and women, tenderness, brutality and an abiding sense of justice. And, of course, there is the landscape, which Grey paints so vividly it is practically a character.
Yes, the story line and dialogue are a bit melodramatic. But Grey’s story still captured this reader’s imagination with its sense of drama, almost non-stop action, and bold characters. I was reminded of the many western movies I watched with my Daddy in the ‘50s and ‘60s. They were exciting and the good guys always won. Clearly those movies (and other books of the genre) had Grey’s strong foundation on which to build. I’m glad I finally read it.
The digital audio available through my library’s Overdrive system was read by John Bolen. I was not a great fan of his delivery, which seemed overly dramatic to me. I might have enjoyed this better had I read the text.
UPDATE on second reading, January 17, 2020: I chose to read the text in preparation for my F2F book club discussion. If anything the chase scenes were even more thrilling. And the descriptions of the landscape! The melodramatic - "bodice-heaving" - dialogue was also more evident and I found myself laughing at the ridiculousness of some of the "love" scenes. Still, now that I know there is a sequel ... well I may just have to read it.
hodges_wt's review against another edition
1.0
Well, this is a classic of the Western genre. Without it, we wouldn't have Lonesome Dove, or the Searchers, or any other western book dear to my heart.
We wouldn't have 3:10 to Yuma, and we wouldn't have The Magnificent Seven. (On that last one, I guess I'd have to settle for Seven Samurai).
Without this book, I would have been a much happier camper.
I DNFd this book somewhere around 15 or 20%, I don't even remember.
I feel like I could have written better dialogue and prose when I was twelve. There's just too much sage, and too much dialogue that sounds like something out of a kid's TV show.
For a classic western, I expected more. Sorry, Zane Grey, maybe you should have stayed a dentist. Or maybe I just shouldn't have read your book.
We wouldn't have 3:10 to Yuma, and we wouldn't have The Magnificent Seven. (On that last one, I guess I'd have to settle for Seven Samurai).
Without this book, I would have been a much happier camper.
I DNFd this book somewhere around 15 or 20%, I don't even remember.
I feel like I could have written better dialogue and prose when I was twelve. There's just too much sage, and too much dialogue that sounds like something out of a kid's TV show.
For a classic western, I expected more. Sorry, Zane Grey, maybe you should have stayed a dentist. Or maybe I just shouldn't have read your book.
popslamdunk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
loki728's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75