A review by kayakalison
True Grit by Charles Portis

4.0

This is one that I came across by chance and am so happy that I did. The entire book is narrated in the prim yet unrelenting voice of a Presbyterian homesteader from Arkansas just after the American Civil War. As such, it both completely transports you inside the head of 14 year old Mattie Ross and allows her to play the straight man in her descriptions of the lively bunch of people that she encounters which is incredibly funny. The author never waivers from this voice, even when it feels a bit cumbersome, but instead leans into it...and in so doing delivers a surprisingly succinct yet comprehensive understanding of the entire array of characters. The book feels honest and raw, without artfulness. Yes, I enjoyed this book, but it's more than that...I found it both compelling and memorable in an unexpected way. Once read, you will never forget Mattie Ross. And that's exactly the way that she would have wanted it.