A review by gautamgopalk
Heart of the West by O. Henry

funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Heart of the West is a collection of nineteen short stories by O.Henry. The stories take place in and around Texas. The western theme serves as a backdrop for the stories and the reader is provided a window into the culture and mindset of the people of the time. The stories are verbose and can be very difficult to read and process. Despite the physical setting of the stories, the author ultimately writes about human nature and tends to veer towards romance. Stories end with a twist which is characteristic of the author but they aren't great for many of the stories in this collection. A few stories which include The Ransom of Mack, The Pimienta Pancakes and The Princess and the Puma are enjoyable while Cupid A La Carte, The Handbook of Hymen and A Call Loan tend to be thought provoking. A classic which is often referenced from this collection is The Caballero's Way which lives up to its hype.