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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
Over the top Western that hits all the tropes (because it originated them all). Swashbuckling, very descriptive of landscape, hero fantasy.
Jane Withersteen lives in Utah in the late 1890s and has the distinction of being one of the richest people in her town. When her father died, he left everything he owned to her. Although Jane is a devout Mormon, she doesn't agree with the leaders of her Mormon group and definitely does not want to marry them. Jane is "pure" of heart and wants to help everyone, Mormon and Gentile alike, which is what leads her to have trouble with the villains in the story. One afternoon, a rugged, handsome gunslinger rides into town and starts fighting for Jane and, of course, they fall in love despite their differences in religion (she's a Mormon and he's a Gentile).
In my mind, when one refers to the western genre, they're almost always referring to either a Louis Lamour or Zane Grey novel; but, I don't recall ever reading a Zane Grey novel before. The introduction to this novel calls Riders of the Purple Sage both the most popular western novel of all time and also one of the pioneering and definitive works of western literature. I must admit that there were some very compelling parts in this book. I can see how Zane Grey defined the genre. I feel like the characters could have been better developed but, it was 1912 and I'm not sure just how much character definition existed in novels then. I'm definitely glad I read the book although I don't think I'll be reading very more in the genre.
In my mind, when one refers to the western genre, they're almost always referring to either a Louis Lamour or Zane Grey novel; but, I don't recall ever reading a Zane Grey novel before. The introduction to this novel calls Riders of the Purple Sage both the most popular western novel of all time and also one of the pioneering and definitive works of western literature. I must admit that there were some very compelling parts in this book. I can see how Zane Grey defined the genre. I feel like the characters could have been better developed but, it was 1912 and I'm not sure just how much character definition existed in novels then. I'm definitely glad I read the book although I don't think I'll be reading very more in the genre.
Melodramatic story of hair-breadth escapes from Mormon vengeance in southwestern Utah in 1871. This novel offended many members of the LDS church because of the author's depictions of Mormons and his negative comments about polygamy. I just figured it was a product of its time and was not offended. I rather liked the story. The sequel is The Rainbow Trail.
Jane Withersteen is a single woman who wields power despite her Mormon faith. She should be married, have given up control of her ranch and her property to her husband, but she has remained stubbornly single. Her bishop is not happy. Her father was a good Mormon, Jane is often told, he would not be happy to see how she behaves. In all other ways however she is devout Mormon, although perhaps a bit too charitable to non-Mormons for the elders of her church.
But her life is about to change; the elders have decided that enough is enough, and moves are being made against her, to bring her back in line with her religion.
When she interferes in the “whipping” of a non-Mormon who continues to work for her after being warned off she goes a step too far. Luckily, just in time to save the man, Venters, comes Lassiter. The Mormon-hater.
I added this book to Mount TBR way back in 2010 and it has obviously sat on my shelves for long enough, 4 years isn’t that long is it?
Supposedly this is one of Grey’s most famous novels, and my edition has an introduction by Jane Tompkins, who has written quite a bit on American fiction. I’ve skimmed through it and it seems quite a scholarly article, with a bit of a biography of Grey. Interesting enough, but something for another time perhaps.
I seem to be reading quite a few westerns this year, well, more than is usual for me anyway, but this one seems to be the most classically western of them all. If has the damsel in distress, rescued by the stranger who rides into town , there is cattle rustling and a stampede, love and secrets.
And lots of purple.
That’s what stood out when I first started reading the book, how many times the word purple was used in the opening few pages. But I guess Grey just wanted to ensure that the readers were fully sure that they were reading about a purple countryside. And as he has long descriptive passages it makes sense that the purple-ness should be emphasised.
The writing style is somewhat dated, but I still found it an entertaining read. It is strangely full of emotion and romance for a classic western. I sort of expected them to be colder and more distant, emotion-wise, but if I recall the only other Grey I’ve read there was a similar passion described.
I will also say that the constant mention of the religion of the antagonists struck me as odd. Religious tolerance and all that being important, or at least, it is in the fiction I read. I know that in quite a bit of pop-culture religion is a quick signifier of the bad-guy, but usually not with Mormons. All I know about the Mormons I’ve learned from South Park, so really, I know nothing about them apart from the fact that they are big into genealogy. But although the baddies here are all Mormons so is one of the heroines, and while she does, in a way, turn her back on her religion, it isn’t her faith that she renounces, but the manner of its enforcing.
So it seems to me, at least, that Grey isn’t a fan of Mormons, but I think he may mean religion in general, or at least religion interfering in what should be secular matters.
But her life is about to change; the elders have decided that enough is enough, and moves are being made against her, to bring her back in line with her religion.
When she interferes in the “whipping” of a non-Mormon who continues to work for her after being warned off she goes a step too far. Luckily, just in time to save the man, Venters, comes Lassiter. The Mormon-hater.
I added this book to Mount TBR way back in 2010 and it has obviously sat on my shelves for long enough, 4 years isn’t that long is it?
Supposedly this is one of Grey’s most famous novels, and my edition has an introduction by Jane Tompkins, who has written quite a bit on American fiction. I’ve skimmed through it and it seems quite a scholarly article, with a bit of a biography of Grey. Interesting enough, but something for another time perhaps.
I seem to be reading quite a few westerns this year, well, more than is usual for me anyway, but this one seems to be the most classically western of them all. If has the damsel in distress, rescued by the stranger who rides into town , there is cattle rustling and a stampede, love and secrets.
And lots of purple.
That’s what stood out when I first started reading the book, how many times the word purple was used in the opening few pages. But I guess Grey just wanted to ensure that the readers were fully sure that they were reading about a purple countryside. And as he has long descriptive passages it makes sense that the purple-ness should be emphasised.
The writing style is somewhat dated, but I still found it an entertaining read. It is strangely full of emotion and romance for a classic western. I sort of expected them to be colder and more distant, emotion-wise, but if I recall the only other Grey I’ve read there was a similar passion described.
I will also say that the constant mention of the religion of the antagonists struck me as odd. Religious tolerance and all that being important, or at least, it is in the fiction I read. I know that in quite a bit of pop-culture religion is a quick signifier of the bad-guy, but usually not with Mormons. All I know about the Mormons I’ve learned from South Park, so really, I know nothing about them apart from the fact that they are big into genealogy. But although the baddies here are all Mormons so is one of the heroines, and while she does, in a way, turn her back on her religion, it isn’t her faith that she renounces, but the manner of its enforcing.
So it seems to me, at least, that Grey isn’t a fan of Mormons, but I think he may mean religion in general, or at least religion interfering in what should be secular matters.
This is a classic western tale gifted to me by a friend who lives far away. A wealthy, Mormon woman gets in trouble with the religion elders for associating with Protestants and not marrying when told. Enter 2 stoic, sharpshooting cowboys with troubled pasts, both of whom fall in love with her (because YA didn’t invent stupid love triangles). There are political and gun battles, swooning, injuries, horses, cattle, nature, and redemption. It basically fulfills all of the requisite western cliches. If this review seems negative, it is not because this was a bad story, it just is not my preferred genre.
Not for me - didn't appreciate the writing style. Sentences were too convoluted and hard to follow. I don't mind rereading a sentence to absorb the beauty or thought, but rereading just to understand what the author is trying to say.....not for me. AND, can I just say, the words sage or purple sage appeared on every other page!!!
It's hard to put to words what westerns are, I feel, though god knows I've tried. I've been reading more famous westerns in an attempt to figure it out and since this is such a touted classic I had to pick it up. This one is hits my imaginings in a few ways—the chasing of desires, the surprise pleasure of a pocket of beauty in a harsh land, for characters made both dangerous and raw by a difficult lives they've lived. There are moments certainly when I felt moved, but they weren't moments I felt transported. Perhaps its the language—poetic in its own way with human emotion but blunt and unsubtle in the way they move. Instead of being told of a person's love, I want to see it, y'know?
There's a long introduction to this edition which discusses gender and sexuality in the novel and how they relate to its enduring popularity. At one point the essayist wonders why the initial audience included such a high proportion of women. This seems obvious to me; the story consists of two romances! There's been a female audience for novels of romance ever since they were invented.
So I was not really expecting romance, more a written version of the film High Plains Drifter or some such. Well, there's lots of mysterious strangers, injustice, desire for revenge, riding of horses and landscape worship and some gunplay, too, but it's inescapably a character-driven romantic tale. Fun, too, for the most part. The way things play out, the story is also the Fall of Adam and Eve, in reverse, which is a trifle weird.
It's surprisingly well written, apart from the occassions when the landscape description turns purple to match the sage and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to find out what the "formula Western" novel was all about back in 1912.
Deeper than expected.
So I was not really expecting romance, more a written version of the film High Plains Drifter or some such. Well, there's lots of mysterious strangers, injustice, desire for revenge, riding of horses and landscape worship and some gunplay, too, but it's inescapably a character-driven romantic tale. Fun, too, for the most part. The way things play out, the story is also the Fall of Adam and Eve, in reverse, which is a trifle weird.
It's surprisingly well written, apart from the occassions when the landscape description turns purple to match the sage and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to find out what the "formula Western" novel was all about back in 1912.
Deeper than expected.