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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An interesting read if dated.
The novel shows it age in many ways. Its melodramatic, slow-paced and never shy of using 20 words to describe something that could have been achieved in two.
I came to this after searching for novels with a similar setting to American Primeval. In tone, they couldn't be more different. While the TV show is all action, all the time for our modern attention spans, this is a real slow burn. We get extended descriptions of the landscape and flora/fauna. It is a love letter to the plains and canyons of Utah and also the lifestyle and horses that make it possible. It is also heavy on romance.
While a slog in places, the story does ramp up near the end and concludes in a satisfying way. I was invested in the characters' fates. And as a time-capsule of people's views at the time (correct or not) of the West and the Mormons its very interesting.
The novel shows it age in many ways. Its melodramatic, slow-paced and never shy of using 20 words to describe something that could have been achieved in two.
I came to this after searching for novels with a similar setting to American Primeval. In tone, they couldn't be more different. While the TV show is all action, all the time for our modern attention spans, this is a real slow burn. We get extended descriptions of the landscape and flora/fauna. It is a love letter to the plains and canyons of Utah and also the lifestyle and horses that make it possible. It is also heavy on romance.
While a slog in places, the story does ramp up near the end and concludes in a satisfying way. I was invested in the characters' fates. And as a time-capsule of people's views at the time (correct or not) of the West and the Mormons its very interesting.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
all things considered it was surprisingly not bad. a prime example of why men should not be allowed to write women. i don't regret spending time reading it so that is absolutely a bonus.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a classic, old western. It brought to life the cowboys and rustlers of the old west as they are shown in black and white movies. The 4 main characters were fun to follow and the love stories were typical of the genre.
Where I had trouble with this was the stereotype of Mormons and Utah. I know that many people believed this was how all “Mormons” were, just like all stereotypical characters they only related to a small minority.
Where I had trouble with this was the stereotype of Mormons and Utah. I know that many people believed this was how all “Mormons” were, just like all stereotypical characters they only related to a small minority.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Gun violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail
A classic western tale. Zane Grey brings to life the cowboys and the west. The development of the characters as they learn how much they mean to each other and face things together is endearing.
I would argue that this story takes some liberties and some stereo typing for the time it was written. It contradicts other writings about Utah and the Mormons yet that doesn’t take away from the story.
I would argue that this story takes some liberties and some stereo typing for the time it was written. It contradicts other writings about Utah and the Mormons yet that doesn’t take away from the story.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read for my Genre Fiction Book Club since it is widely considered the book that created the Western. In the borderlands of Utah, a Mormon woman who is a good Christian neighbor to the "Gentiles" is being manipulated to marry against her will until a gunman rides into town. One of the most surprising things is how often the women (there are two who feature) are considered to be the equals of the menfolk. (Bess is a better rider than Venter!) Some stereotyping of Mormons but a remarkable lack of nonwhite folks. Lots of descriptions of purple sage, canyons, and riding.
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
One of the all time classics in Western literature. The strength of the characters as they come to learn what they all mean to each other, and how their lives are changing drives this forward and makes you want to see it through to the end. I'm not sure that I truly trust the depictions of the time, but it seems to be what most people thought about Utah and the Mormons when this was written. The way it treats the people of Utah seems to contradict stories that i've read from people who in the West and trading, but even so it doesn't diminish from the actual story, both the love story and the cowboy story.
Four and a half stars.
Really, quite good. My first Zane Grey book.
Action, lively, good characters, deep story.
I was surprised that it had a strong anti-Mormon element.
When you read it, you can understand why it is so popular. As an early Western novel, it created lots of the memes in novels and films of that genre. It has lots of heart.
The only reason I would give it 4.5 instead of 5 is that it gets somewhat heavy on descriptions of the sage, the canyons, the trees, etc.
I'd recommend it for a first Western.
Really, quite good. My first Zane Grey book.
Action, lively, good characters, deep story.
I was surprised that it had a strong anti-Mormon element.
When you read it, you can understand why it is so popular. As an early Western novel, it created lots of the memes in novels and films of that genre. It has lots of heart.
The only reason I would give it 4.5 instead of 5 is that it gets somewhat heavy on descriptions of the sage, the canyons, the trees, etc.
I'd recommend it for a first Western.