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awen_32's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mierzmark's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
augustreadsallmonth's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
christine_exlibris's review against another edition
5.0
When I started reading the first few pages, I had to remind myself that this novel was originally published in 1967 and that it was set in 1924-1925. The vernacular and colloquialisms are specific to the landscape of Montana, but also to the era. Initially, it took some getting used to but once I'd begun to decipher Savage's language of place, this was hard to put down. Savage weaves lyrical beauty in the landscape and a character study of the human condition. There is drama and there is tension. But no word is wasted. It's a tragic shame this writer never got his due when he was still among the living.
If you're a fan of Larry McMurtry's novels, I think you'll enjoy this. The good news for us is that this about to be released as a feature film by Netflix on December 1st. Do yourself a favour and read this before you see the film! I can't recommend this enough.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10293406/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
If you're a fan of Larry McMurtry's novels, I think you'll enjoy this. The good news for us is that this about to be released as a feature film by Netflix on December 1st. Do yourself a favour and read this before you see the film! I can't recommend this enough.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10293406/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
otto58's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jared_the_jerry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
j_laws_tagg's review
5.0
Stellar prose. Phil is one of the best written characters. So much more subtle than the film adaptation but still as potent.
wiccad's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliant, especially for a novel from 1967. A psychological study of repressed homosexuality in the American West. A strong and intelligent work of art that I very much enjoyed
spacemanchris's review against another edition
4.0
[Phil] is also a high-tempered bully, a harping critic of all around him; he knows unerringly the cruel thing to say, relishes getting people’s goats. He is, in fact, a vicious bitch.
- Annie Proulx, Afteword
And he really is. He's such a terrible, loathsome character that it's not until close to the end where you realise why he's like that, and it elicits a small amount of sympathy.
This book reminds me a lot of Red Dead Redemption (stay with me here) in that it feels very much about the decline of the old west to some degree. A way of life that in a couple more decades simply won't exist as it once did.
The relationships between the characters are quite compelling, I was often left wondering the motivations for each character and it wasn't until the end where things suddenly clicked into place.
I found the undercurrent of homosexuality throughout a really interesting take, particularly considering the time period it was written. It's not overt and would be easy enough to miss but it's done in a pretty even-handed way for 1967.
I don't want to go into too much detail because I feel like the less you know the more impact the book has on the reader but it's a quick, easy read.
- Annie Proulx, Afteword
And he really is. He's such a terrible, loathsome character that it's not until close to the end where you realise why he's like that, and it elicits a small amount of sympathy.
This book reminds me a lot of Red Dead Redemption (stay with me here) in that it feels very much about the decline of the old west to some degree. A way of life that in a couple more decades simply won't exist as it once did.
The relationships between the characters are quite compelling, I was often left wondering the motivations for each character and it wasn't until the end where things suddenly clicked into place.
I found the undercurrent of homosexuality throughout a really interesting take, particularly considering the time period it was written. It's not overt and would be easy enough to miss but it's done in a pretty even-handed way for 1967.
I don't want to go into too much detail because I feel like the less you know the more impact the book has on the reader but it's a quick, easy read.
jeffammons's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, decently interesting read. And the characters are interesting. The story wanders all over the place and is intentionally obtuse at times, sometimes to good effect of the story and sometimes just annoyingly.
As someone who grew up in Montana, I found the historical snapshots kind of fun, even if sometimes they feel like overdone tropes.
As someone who grew up in Montana, I found the historical snapshots kind of fun, even if sometimes they feel like overdone tropes.