Litsy

Riders of the Purple Sage: A Novel | Zane Grey

so-so

It's done! Apparently knowing a book exists outside copyright and can be fetched at any time for free by accessing Project Gutenberg or YouTube audiobooks means I do not make it a priority to actually finish it. With fairly LARGE caveats: the racist stereotypes of indigenous people tossed around in casual speech (no actual indigenous characters), 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? and, despite the frequent attempts to note there are good Mormons, the pretty obvious bias of the writing against Mormons, and occasional condescending, patriarchal view of female characters, I was still rather impressed with this book.
The pacing and storyline is compelling, the characters are well fleshed out. 3d

Robotswithpersonality 3/? Up until the last moment, you don't know for certain whether certain people will manage to stay together or live (happily ever after?), the stakes are heightened by various deaths and losses throughout the story. There are also a number of mysteries in the murky backgrounds of characters so you get dramatic reveals. 3d

Robotswithpersonality 4/? As an atheist, I can only be happy to see a narrative where a woman who generously helped her community, opposed intolerance to aid the less fortunate, and did not surrender her agency to an undesirable partner, then recognizes the corrupt, cult-like, oppressive nature of the religion she was born and raised in, and took steps to separate her faith from observance of religious doctrine, 3d

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Robotswithpersonality 5/? especially wrestling with questioning the revering of any religious leader as something more holy and powerful than any human should demand. I could have happily seen the God stuff done away with completely, but it's apparent that wasn't an option that occurred to Grey. I wish I had a better historical idea of whether this book was considered hateful towards a religious sect, 3d

Robotswithpersonality 6/? an example of the prevailing attitude of the time, or groundbreaking in its own right.
While Jane's internal struggle, the discussion of religion, is the primary theme, there was a good deal of exploration around the theme of outcasts/isolation/loneliness (I can only imagine how many Wild West characters really needed a hug) and found family. 3d

Robotswithpersonality 7/? Also, people figuring out where they draw the line in their own personal ethics, outside of scripture, especially in relation to looking after those they care about. Morally grey? 🤔 There did seem to be a lot of shooting at the end there.
I'd also like to take a moment to heap praise on Zane Grey's ability to describe a landscape and the experience of riding a horse. The atmosphere! 😍 3d

Robotswithpersonality 8/? The colour and the light as it falls on rock and sage, reverence for paradisiacal safe havens where things are green and wildlife abounds. There are some lovely illustrations (paintings?) that come even with the Project Gutenberg digital version, but they don't hold a candle to Grey's words. 3d

Robotswithpersonality 9/? And yeah, the way horses are described, the chases and escapes, this is as close as I'll ever come to being a horse girl. Sadly, not every beautiful beastie makes it out. [The dogs live. 🙏🏻]
It may have taken me seven months to get back to it, but I'm glad I read it. Will I pick up another Zane Grey? Maybe. Maybe I'll read the synopsis first, this time. 😅 3d

Robotswithpersonality 10/10 I think it's fair to say my hunch that I could enjoy early Westerns has proved correct.
⚠️Mention of animal cruelty, animal death, period typical racist stereotypes, misogyny 3d

10 likes1 stack add9 comments

RavenclawOwlCat

Red Rabbit | Alex Grecian

How I pictured Sadie Grace (Kaelen Ohm who plays Mari on From)

7 likes

RavenclawOwlCat

Red Rabbit | Alex Grecian

pick

4/5⭐️
What an interesting story with wonderfully strange characters! I devoured this one pretty quick (for my personal speed).

6 likes

monalyisha

Lucky Red: A Novel | Claudia Cravens

so-so

Billed as a “queer, feminist Western,” this novel is full of supposedly captivating characters but I wasn‘t totally sold. Never once did I feel like the narrative straddled me, stared me in the eye, and let down its hair. It all felt a little fast and loose. I wanted something deep and tight. I galloped along the surface of the text and was happy when I found myself at the end. Like Bridget, I‘m eager to move on to something else.

70 likes

WeAreLegion

Pulp | Ed Brubaker

pick

Let me just state this up-front. Ed Brubaker is the absolute best crime fiction writer in comics today.
This story centers on an elderly writer in 1930's New York, whose pulp stories are true events from his secret past as an outlaw in the Wild West. He must now use his gritty experiences to help fight an encroaching darkness in the present. Short, but like an arrow hitting a target dead on, this is certainly worth the ride.

TieDyeDude Hell yeah! I love this book! 5d

2 likes1 comment

Moss_Croft

All the Pretty Horses | Cormac McCarthy

3 likes

Teresereading

West: A Novel | Carys Davies

A mule farm in Pennsylvania
#whereareyouMonday
@Cupcake12

22 likes

BookDadGirlDad

Sackett's Land | Louis L'Amour

pick

Classic Louis L'Amour. Men were men. Women were as tough as the men. Grit, a dream, and a woman to live for and love. This is a great story. I'm looking forward to the entire series.

29 likes

Moss_Croft

All the Pretty Horses | Cormac McCarthy