Reviews

Monte Walsh by Jack Schaefer

pate_hubbard's review against another edition

5.0

Not only my favorite western of all time, but probably my favorite book of all time. Monte Walsh is a criminally underrated western which I think every one should read. The way in which the chapters are formatted, with every chapter almost being a self contained story, gives the reader a sense of scope and allows the book to easily skip around the life of Monte Walsh. We see Monte and his fellow cowboys at Slash Y go through the ups and downs of ranch life in the old west and really get to know the characters. By the end of the book, I felt like I had really witnessed Monte's life unfold before my eyes and the ending brought tears to my eyes. I Highly recommend reading this book.

woody1881's review against another edition

5.0

This is the best western book I have ever laid hands on. I recommend this book to everyone.

immcreads's review against another edition

3.0

Unfortunately, there is a massive Lonesome Dove shaped hole in my heart that this just couldn't fill.

tiny_artificer's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Animal death

Minor: Racism and Misogyny

bundy23's review against another edition

DNF. 18%. Monte is unlikeable and more than a little dull. The story goes nowhere.

amandagstevens's review

5.0

There's nothing like a Western, and this one was my favorite fiction read of 2014. It isn't a quick read by any means; Schaefer loves his wide open West and takes every opportunity to describe it as well as the various towns, buildings, and minor characters who populate it and give it its soul. A faster pace would rob the epic. The larger-than-life writing style fits the story well.

I love reading about this rugged time when cattle rustling was a capital offense and men lived and died for land and loyalty. But this isn't only a story of the West. It is also the carefully detailed portrait of one man: tough, stubborn, loyal, mischievous, independent, a good friend and a good man with a horse.

thesubmariner's review

adventurous lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

We meet Monte as a fifteen-year-old in 1872 after running away from his stepfather who beats him. His real father was a reb. Monte runs into Hat Henderson who takes him as a young cowhand. After that we jump forward in time to 1879 where Monte meets Chet Rollins with whom he is going to make a perfect partnership. Chet is an expert with the rope and Monte is a horse expert. Together they will settle at the Slash Y and work under Cal Brennan. As I understand this duo of Monte and Chet first appeared in short stories and later Jack Schaefer turned those into this novel. You can definitely see that in the narrative throughout the novel. Those stories of Monte and Chet going into the salons and Monte causing trouble while Chet has his back are the highlight of the novel. Throughout the novel as years go by slowly, but surely the old west way of doing things is coming to the end. If Monte Walsh is the protagonist, then the times changing is the antagonist. West is now introduced with cars and has no real needs for herds so Monte’s only craft is not needed anymore. Chet goes to start a family and is successful at that. He even becomes a banker and even a three-term mayor of his town, while Monte just never could let go of the life of the cowboy. Ending sums Monte perfectly who Jack Schaefer based on a real-life person. This is more of a western novel than Shane probably, but Shane is still my favorite from Jack Schaefer. I can see why people would like Monte Walsh more, but I didn’t love every vignette. Maybe in the future I will reread it and change my mind. After reading this novel and Shane, The Canyon and Company of Cowards previously I think my journey with Jack Schaefer comes to the end, unless I see one of his books on the shelf and get intrigued by it. I enjoy his writing and I am glad I read this novel and the other ones.
 
 My personal ranking is:
 1. Shane
 2. Monte Walsh
 3. The Canyon
 4. Company of Cowards 

lydt's review

5.0

I just read this book for the second time. With 25 years between the first and second readings, I was a little worried how I would feel about it this time around. But, never fear, these characters hold up. This book stays on my list of my all-time favorites.