I
love Westerns. Not many books these days are Westerns (which is a shame-
ever since the space race and Neil Armstrong landing on the Moon,
Westerns have not been in vogue and have never had a comeback since) so
when one comes
along I tend to get myself too excited! So much so that no matter how
good the book is I find myself disappointed.
I was not disappointed with this book.
Which
is odd as it's not really a Western. Well, it is but it isn't. It's a
coming of age novel and a road trip as if you mixed Jim Dodge's 'Not
Fade Away' with J.D. Salinger's 'Catcher in the Rye' then sprinkled it
with Stetsons,
spurs and Samuel Colt's newly invented revolver.
The
story is that of Thomas Walker who sets out with his father (a
travelling salesman) to sell the new Colt revolver to whoever they may
meet. They leave the depression hit New York and set out West. As the
towns get smaller and
wilder the adventure of a lifetime soon starts to lose its lustre. Soon
Thomas finds himself orphaned, alone and hunted. By chance he meets
Henry Stands and old ex-ranger who is heading back East, in whom he can
see his only chance of making back home alive.
A
great story of a boy dragged into manhood whether he wants it or not.
The relationship between Thomas and Henry is beautifully written and has
lots of funny and heart warming moments too. But this is not all
rainbows and roses,
the America of 1837 is in the midst of a depression, law and order is
hard to come by and is no place for a boy on his own. This is a great
little book that you should definitely read (even if you don't like
Westerns!), though if you buy the beautiful hardback,
your dust jacket will get destroyed!
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