Reading Old Yeller falls in line with a goal of mine which is to read the old classics that I had somehow missed. I've found some real gems like The Old Man and the Sea and Fahrenheit 451.
A short quick read at 198 pages, Old Yeller is a solid boy and his dog story. What differentiates it from the other boy/dog stories is Gipson's knack for language that gives it a certain authenticity to its era, while at the same time providing insight into the tough life of families on the frontier from the view of a youth transitioning to manhood. The novel shows how a young teenager would have to be competent at many roles, hunter, farmer, carpenter, among others to ensure his family's survival.
The book also gave me some insight into the resiliency of life on the frontier. For example, I'm currently recovering from the flu. To get better, I had the fortune to visit a doctor six blocks away and pick up a prescription two blocks away.
Living on the frontier, a mother had to know how to draw out a fever and which plants could be turned into a poultice that could suck out an infection, and while taking care of sick or injured children or husband, she'd have to take over the men's chores until they or he got better, otherwise it wouldn't get done.
I recommend Old Yeller for any age as a short quick and interesting read.
Showing posts with label western. Show all posts
Showing posts with label western. Show all posts
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Book Review: Lonesome Dove
One day, I was at a PTA fundraiser and saw an old grimy VCR tape of Lonesome Dove. Seeing the pictures of Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones, I was flooded with warm childhood memories of watching the mini-series with my parents.
To my surprise, I read that it was based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. So I found a copy of the hefty tome, cracked it open and was immediately swept away by the language and characters that McMurty created. Here’s the opening paragraph:
Talk about putting an image in one’s head. Throughout the novel, the reader is transported from one great scene to another. Even though there is no serious conflict or identifiable antagonist in the first 150 pages of the novel, McMurty’s seamless transition between multiple perspectives and unique back stories kept me going. I read a review that called the beginning sluggish. I understand that point of view. However, just when I started to wonder what's the plot, the impact of the start of the cattle drive on everyone's lives hit home and I never questioned motives or plot again.
I also enjoyed the way in which McMurty used the river crossings on the way to Montana from Texas as markers of major events in the book. It also gave me the opportunity to pull out a map and follow the cattle drive northwards.
I will say however, that anyone planning on reading Lonesome Dove should be prepared that life on McMurty’s plains, while fascinating, can be brutal.
My principal criticism, Newt cries too damn much.
To my surprise, I read that it was based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. So I found a copy of the hefty tome, cracked it open and was immediately swept away by the language and characters that McMurty created. Here’s the opening paragraph:
“When Augustus came out on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake — not a very big one. It had probably just been crawling around looking for shade when it ran into the pigs. They were having a fine tug-of-war with it, and its rattling days were over. The sow had it by the neck, and the shoat had the tail.”
Talk about putting an image in one’s head. Throughout the novel, the reader is transported from one great scene to another. Even though there is no serious conflict or identifiable antagonist in the first 150 pages of the novel, McMurty’s seamless transition between multiple perspectives and unique back stories kept me going. I read a review that called the beginning sluggish. I understand that point of view. However, just when I started to wonder what's the plot, the impact of the start of the cattle drive on everyone's lives hit home and I never questioned motives or plot again.
I also enjoyed the way in which McMurty used the river crossings on the way to Montana from Texas as markers of major events in the book. It also gave me the opportunity to pull out a map and follow the cattle drive northwards.
I will say however, that anyone planning on reading Lonesome Dove should be prepared that life on McMurty’s plains, while fascinating, can be brutal.
My principal criticism, Newt cries too damn much.
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