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applegnreads's review against another edition
3.0
A Western by Parker. Interesting. I like his other stuff better I think but this was still ok.
papidoc's review against another edition
3.0
Since my childhood, I've been intrigued with Wyatt Earp. My understanding of him has changed during that time from hero worship to something a little less and a little more. Like most of us, Earp was some combination of good and bad, earthy and celestial, hard and soft. He made mistakes and did some terrible things that were not mistakes, but he also did much that was good, and mostly that which was simply human. Most of the details of what he really thought, said, or did is now lost in the shadowy mists of time, or obscured by the recollections of self-serving friends and family, shrouded in forgotten memories or retrospective sense-making. Thus, a fictional account of the historical events of those days is only somewhat less interesting than the so-called historical accounts.
Gunman's Rhapsody (where in the world did they get that title?) is a view of Wyatt Earp and the events surrounding his time in Tombstone, AZ that is vintage Parker. In his spare style, it is almost as if he took Spencer and Hawk (from another of his unique characters), and placed their essential characters into Wyatt Earp. And yet, from what I know of Earp, it somehow fits pretty well. For fans of Parker's work, and for those interested in Wyatt Earp, this is a good read...for others, maybe not.
Gunman's Rhapsody (where in the world did they get that title?) is a view of Wyatt Earp and the events surrounding his time in Tombstone, AZ that is vintage Parker. In his spare style, it is almost as if he took Spencer and Hawk (from another of his unique characters), and placed their essential characters into Wyatt Earp. And yet, from what I know of Earp, it somehow fits pretty well. For fans of Parker's work, and for those interested in Wyatt Earp, this is a good read...for others, maybe not.
meghan111's review against another edition
2.0
This book allowed me to get in the head of Wyatt Earp. Reading the short, spare sentences, you get a feel for Wyatt Earp's code of honor, his quiet confidence and the few things he holds dear. Those things are his brothers and a woman named Josie Marcus. Set in Tombstone, Arizona Gunman's Rhapsody follows Earp through the famous battle at the OK Corral. The writing reminded me of Hemingway; there are few adjectives but every one of them counts. There's a bit of romance to this book, too, but a lot of action and a slow buildup of suspense.
aehsan's review against another edition
3.0
A different take on the legend of Wyatt Earp. I can't say its better or worse than others its just different focusing on the relationship between Wyatt, his love interest Josie and his elder brother Virgil. The book suffers in 2 critical ares though for me which meant it wasn't as good as it could have been. Firstly there is a lot of build up to the OK Corral, and while build up is good you then want a strong payoff and sense of Catharsis. Here however MOST of that happens off-screen/off-page.Then the other part of Parker's work is his crackling dialogue - its often great in the Resolution series but here its distinctly lacking. You end up with great build up but littel payoff then throughout the book, no great memorable dialogue or pages of violent pay-off.
jurassicreader's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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
2.75
gon8go's review against another edition
4.0
Wyatt I need to see you.
You gonna see me one too many times Johnny!
So detailed and full of great lines like that, even if you don't like westerns read this one.
You gonna see me one too many times Johnny!
So detailed and full of great lines like that, even if you don't like westerns read this one.
mhall's review against another edition
2.0
This book allowed me to get in the head of Wyatt Earp. Reading the short, spare sentences, you get a feel for Wyatt Earp's code of honor, his quiet confidence and the few things he holds dear. Those things are his brothers and a woman named Josie Marcus. Set in Tombstone, Arizona Gunman's Rhapsody follows Earp through the famous battle at the OK Corral. The writing reminded me of Hemingway; there are few adjectives but every one of them counts. There's a bit of romance to this book, too, but a lot of action and a slow buildup of suspense.
papi's review against another edition
3.0
Since my childhood, I've been intrigued with Wyatt Earp. My understanding of him has changed during that time from hero worship to something a little less and a little more. Like most of us, Earp was some combination of good and bad, earthy and celestial, hard and soft. He made mistakes and did some terrible things that were not mistakes, but he also did much that was good, and mostly that which was simply human. Most of the details of what he really thought, said, or did is now lost in the shadowy mists of time, or obscured by the recollections of self-serving friends and family, shrouded in forgotten memories or retrospective sense-making. Thus, a fictional account of the historical events of those days is only somewhat less interesting than the so-called historical accounts.
Gunman's Rhapsody (where in the world did they get that title?) is a view of Wyatt Earp and the events surrounding his time in Tombstone, AZ that is vintage Parker. In his spare style, it is almost as if he took Spencer and Hawk (from another of his unique characters), and placed their essential characters into Wyatt Earp. And yet, from what I know of Earp, it somehow fits pretty well. For fans of Parker's work, and for those interested in Wyatt Earp, this is a good read...for others, maybe not.
Gunman's Rhapsody (where in the world did they get that title?) is a view of Wyatt Earp and the events surrounding his time in Tombstone, AZ that is vintage Parker. In his spare style, it is almost as if he took Spencer and Hawk (from another of his unique characters), and placed their essential characters into Wyatt Earp. And yet, from what I know of Earp, it somehow fits pretty well. For fans of Parker's work, and for those interested in Wyatt Earp, this is a good read...for others, maybe not.
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
Decades ago, I went through a western phase. Max Brand, Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey, Owen Wister (I once lived in the Wister house in Germantown, PA, and I still think The Virginian is one of the great western novels along with Shane by Jack Schaeffer,); all could be counted on for a reliable and consistent story with good (always slightly flawed) triumphing over evil. Then came writers like Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove, a classic that, with prequel and sequel, raised violence and ambiguity to an art. Robert B. Parker is now writing a series that's equally fine.
Robert Parker is author of the Spenser P.I. series (classic westerns in a different setting, really, but which went downhill when Susan entered the picture,) the Jesse Stone series (excellent) and recently a series of westerns that rival some of the best. I have listened to Appaloosa (well-read by Titus Welliver) and now Gunman's Rhapsody (rather amateurishly narrated by Ed Begley - he just doesn't have the grave and gravely voice of other better western narrators), a moody novel about events at the OK Corral that turn Hollywood black and white into multiple shades of gray.
The Earps are a family with typical family problems, and they are integrally part of political corruption and deceit in which they are willing participants. The catalyst for the shootout was Wyatt's interest and consummation of a love affair with Josie who just happened to be his friend the sheriff's girl. (The ultimate result was a county posse chasing a federal posse.) Throw this in with lingering Union versus Confederate sympathies, lots of guns, and a recipe for disaster was cooking. It's always difficult writing about events that have achieved mythic status; Parker does a credible job.
Some reviewers have suggested that the brooding Earp bears some resemblance to Spencer, Parker's hero of the long-running series. I didn't sense that although I might be myopic to the connection, certainly not the Spenser of Susan years.
Parker intersperses in the story actual news stories and letters, of questionable value to the story, but which I found historically interesting if not pertinent. An epilogue lists the deaths of the participants. Surprisingly, Josie lived until 1944. I suggest reading the Wikipedia entry for Wyatt to place everything firmly in historical perspective
Robert Parker is author of the Spenser P.I. series (classic westerns in a different setting, really, but which went downhill when Susan entered the picture,) the Jesse Stone series (excellent) and recently a series of westerns that rival some of the best. I have listened to Appaloosa (well-read by Titus Welliver) and now Gunman's Rhapsody (rather amateurishly narrated by Ed Begley - he just doesn't have the grave and gravely voice of other better western narrators), a moody novel about events at the OK Corral that turn Hollywood black and white into multiple shades of gray.
The Earps are a family with typical family problems, and they are integrally part of political corruption and deceit in which they are willing participants. The catalyst for the shootout was Wyatt's interest and consummation of a love affair with Josie who just happened to be his friend the sheriff's girl. (The ultimate result was a county posse chasing a federal posse.) Throw this in with lingering Union versus Confederate sympathies, lots of guns, and a recipe for disaster was cooking. It's always difficult writing about events that have achieved mythic status; Parker does a credible job.
Some reviewers have suggested that the brooding Earp bears some resemblance to Spencer, Parker's hero of the long-running series. I didn't sense that although I might be myopic to the connection, certainly not the Spenser of Susan years.
Parker intersperses in the story actual news stories and letters, of questionable value to the story, but which I found historically interesting if not pertinent. An epilogue lists the deaths of the participants. Surprisingly, Josie lived until 1944. I suggest reading the Wikipedia entry for Wyatt to place everything firmly in historical perspective