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A review by thenchuff
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
4.0
Zane Grey was my grandpa's favorite author, and since grandpa died many years before I was born, I've always wanted to read this book to feel closer to him. I tried once when I was 12 or 13 and didn't get very far. It doesn't have much that would appeal to a kid. But this year while planning a trip to Bryce and Zion canyons, I realized this would be the perfect book to get me in the mood for my own Utah adventure. Also, I've learned more about the Mormon religion in recent years and every new detail I've learned makes me more disgusted about that faith in general. So I'll say if you like westerns and hate Mormons this is the right book for you!
This is a good story with some interesting twists and turns. The love stories are very sweet and traditional, and I enjoyed them. The ending moves at a good clip and has an exciting conclusion.
The negatives of ROTPS, in my opinion are that there are entire chapters of nothing but descriptions of rocks, trees, passageways, sage, grass, thickets, etc. I will admit to putting this book down for weeks at a time while caught up in these descriptive passages. Also, some of the dialogue seems a little too romanticized and flowery for my taste. Especially Jane Withersteen has a tendency to talk exactly like you'd expect a "damsel" in one of these stories to sound. It took awhile for me to take Lassiter seriously because of the way his dialogue is written. For example, he says "hoss" instead of "horse." However, over the course of the novel I warmed up to his understated, observant intelligence.
My favorite quote comes from Lassiter talking to Jane about how terribly her Mormon brothers are treating her. She thinks eventually their Christian love will win out and they'll take pity on her soul. Lassiter tells her:
“They tried you out, an' failed of persuasion, an' finally of threats. You meet now the cold steel of a will as far from Christlike as the universe is wide. You're to be broken. Your body's to be held, given to some man, made, if possible, to bring children into the world. But your soul?...What do they care for your soul?”
This passage plainly reveals the truth of how women are regarded in many organized religions all over the world. Thank you Zane Grey for telling it like it is!
I recommend this book if you're interested in a traditional western with a good story. If you skim the descriptive chapters I won't judge you.
This is a good story with some interesting twists and turns. The love stories are very sweet and traditional, and I enjoyed them. The ending moves at a good clip and has an exciting conclusion.
The negatives of ROTPS, in my opinion are that there are entire chapters of nothing but descriptions of rocks, trees, passageways, sage, grass, thickets, etc. I will admit to putting this book down for weeks at a time while caught up in these descriptive passages. Also, some of the dialogue seems a little too romanticized and flowery for my taste. Especially Jane Withersteen has a tendency to talk exactly like you'd expect a "damsel" in one of these stories to sound. It took awhile for me to take Lassiter seriously because of the way his dialogue is written. For example, he says "hoss" instead of "horse." However, over the course of the novel I warmed up to his understated, observant intelligence.
My favorite quote comes from Lassiter talking to Jane about how terribly her Mormon brothers are treating her. She thinks eventually their Christian love will win out and they'll take pity on her soul. Lassiter tells her:
“They tried you out, an' failed of persuasion, an' finally of threats. You meet now the cold steel of a will as far from Christlike as the universe is wide. You're to be broken. Your body's to be held, given to some man, made, if possible, to bring children into the world. But your soul?...What do they care for your soul?”
This passage plainly reveals the truth of how women are regarded in many organized religions all over the world. Thank you Zane Grey for telling it like it is!
I recommend this book if you're interested in a traditional western with a good story. If you skim the descriptive chapters I won't judge you.