Litsy

God's Country: A Novel | Percival Everett

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#Read2025 #AuthorAMonth2025

Finished today for #AuthorAMonth May. I loved James & wanted to read more Everett & ended up with this one because it was available from my library. I don‘t read a lot of Westerns it‘s just not a genre I gravitate to, but Everett drew me in with his sly wit & dark humor that had me laughing while also wincing at the racism & ignorance of the MC, Curt Marder & other characters in the book. I did not love the ending.

Soubhiville, DieAReader

DieAReader 🥳🥳 5d

44 likes1 comment

NatalieR

Streets of Laredo | Larry McMurtry

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Streets of Laredo reminded me of McMurtry‘s exceptional writing skills. It‘s remarkable how he brings characters to life through his words. His vivid descriptions of the scenery and the way of life in the early 1890s effortlessly immersed me in the story. Despite its challenging nature, with its share of grief, hardship, and brutality, it‘s also a beautiful story.

Full review abookandadog.com/blog/streets-of-laredo

Suet624 You‘re so right. 1mo

MemoirsForMe Beautiful beach view! 😍 1mo

NatalieR @Suet624 🙏 1mo

NatalieR @MemoirsForMe Thanks! 😊 1mo

70 likes4 comments

Tamra

God's Country: A Novel | Percival Everett

Got myself a western spoof! 🤠👏🏾 Everette is such a fantastic satirist that I‘m looking forward to it when I get there.

JenP I love his books! Haven‘t read this one. Looking forward to seeing what you think 2mo

Tamra Apparently this is his second “western!” The first is

Walk Me to the Distance: A Novel

(edited) 2mo

BarbaraBB Can‘t wait for your review. You probably can‘t go wrong with Percival Everett! 2mo

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BkClubCare Have you read Wounded? Couldn‘t it be considered a Western? 2mo

Tamra @BkClubCare I haven‘t read that one! 2mo

BkClubCare @Tamra - it‘s good. I haven‘t read this one yet 😊 2mo

Tamra @BkClubCare adding to TBR. Thanks for noting it! 2mo

53 likes1 stack add7 comments

Jen2

Streets of Laredo | Larry McMurtry

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Enjoyed it.

Octoberwoman I love this series. This one was not quite as outstanding as Lonesome Dove but a close second. 2mo

40 likes1 comment

Therewillbebooks

Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford | Ron Hansen

Bought a used book this weekend!

Butterfinger My mom would sing a song - Jesse had a wife who mourned for his life/His children they were brave/But that dirty little coward - who shot Mr. Howard/And lay poor old Jesse in his grave. I had not thought of that song in ages. 3mo

Therewillbebooks @Butterfinger Springsteen does a version of that song! 3mo

43 likes2 comments

Robotswithpersonality

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. 4mo

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. 4mo

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, 4mo

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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, 4mo

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. 4mo

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! 😍 4mo

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. 4mo

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. 😅 4mo

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 4mo

10 likes1 stack add9 comments

BookDadGirlDad

Sackett's Land | Louis L'Amour

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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

BookDadGirlDad

Sackett's Land | Louis L'Amour

Been reading a lot that has taxed my brain. It's time to relax with some good history based fiction. I'm pretty sure I own every L'Amour book. I should probably work on reading them.

LiseWorks I read all of them in my 20s, loved them 4mo

33 likes1 comment

TheBookgeekFrau

Shane | Wendell Minor, Jack Schaefer

so-so

I liked the characters, I liked the plot, I didn't like the annoyingly obscure writing. And I kept waiting for Shane to say 'Go ahead. Make my day.' 😂

8/80

#ReadingMyTBR #Read2025 @DieAReader

39 likes

The_Penniless_Author

Deadwood | Pete Dexter

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For years, I was nervous to try this one, as Deadwood is maybe my favorite TV series of all time. But having read Paris Trout and realizing what a great writer Pete Dexter is, I figured I was in safe hands (and after all, the book came first). David Milch may claim his series has nothing to do with the novel; I'm not sure I buy it, but there are major differences in the story structure and characters' personalities. Like with the show, 👇

The_Penniless_Author ...the dialogue really stands out here. Where the show's is florid, however - Shakespearean and profanity-laced - the novel's is simple and direct, deceptively profound. The vignette style might put off some people, but I thought it was perfect for centering the town itself as the main character. 5mo

Ruthiella I‘ve only read Paris Trout. Great writing but such a bleak story. 5mo

Suet624 I had no idea Deadwood was a book! I'm stacking it! (edited) 5mo

31 likes1 stack add3 comments

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