Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Twee cowboys

I did not expect a gay cowboy book that set back in late 1960s. IMO I don't feel any kind of affection between Ennis and Jack. Maybe it's because it's a short story (A VERY SHORT STORY I'VE EVER READ) and written in 3rd POV. But it's a good book.

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jemappellecat's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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megelizabeth's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad

5.0

(Review from February 2021 copied from previous edition)

"...there was no real scent, only the memory of it, the imagined power of Brokeback Mountain of which nothing was left but what he held in his hands."

This is a hard one to judge because the movie adaptation is one of my all-time favourites and so I couldn't help mentally filling in all the extras that the movie adds while I was reading. I don't know how much I would have connected to the characters if I didn't already adore them from the movie, as there's not really a ton of character development and you get much more insight into Ennis's live than Jack's so Jack especially I feel like you don't end up getting to know massively well.

I'm still really glad, though, that I read the original story behind one of my favourite movies. It's vivid and devastating and explores homophobia and the way it shapes and ruins lives - in different ways, as seen by the tragic outcomes for both Ennis and Jack - so, so well. The sense of place created and the portrayal of poor, rural life are incredible. Part of me wishes it had been longer, but part of me also really appreciates the fact that it is such a short story and the choices made to focus on certain details in order to portray messages about love and relationships and queerness and trauma and pain (though I wouldn't have minded slightly shorter passages about Jack's rodeoing, as these pretty much went right over my head!)

**********

Edit - June 2022

After my second read of this book, I'm bumping it up from 4.5 to 5 stars. I still stand by my previous comments, but reading this again just reminded me how completely I adore this story and its characters and the nuanced discussions it sparks and how much it packs in to so few pages. I therefore ultimately don't mind that the characters and relationships aren't as developed as they are in the movie. Both versions of this story have my whole heart, and after all, the movie wouldn't exist without this quiet, tender, haunting, brutal masterpiece.

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dominicangirl's review against another edition

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hopeful fast-paced

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

4.0

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samchase112's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A caring and tragic tale of two people who love each other, but can't quite manage to truly be together. Proulx's story is well-written, perfectly paced, and so carefully done. I'm always impressed when a short story manages to convey such emotion and complexity within so little time. This was a fantastic audio listen over a long walk one sunset night, and I'm so glad I experienced the famous film in the original text.

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