WESTERNS: True Grit by Charles Portis

[@jodihowe7274]

Very very well done Hannah! Blessing to you......

[@HannahsBooks]

@@jodihowe7274 Thank you so much, Jodi!

[@acruelreadersthesis5868]

Haven’t clicked on a video so quickly in a while. I read this novel for the first time earlier this year too, and also watched both film adaptations (I prefer the Coen brothers’ version). I loved Mattie, and all of the characters really. It was one of those novels where even the side characters who aren’t in it for very long feel extremely real and sympathetic. The sense of humor stood out too. It felt like a student of Samuel Beckett turned his eye on the Old West. I would agree that Mattie doesn’t really change, but I thought that was a strength. I thought it showed that revenge, and the environment of the often violent Old West, don’t facilitate personal growth. To my mind this fits with the somewhat comical ending where Mattie just barely misses seeing Rooster for the first time in years at the end of the story. As always, I loved your discussion of this book. 🤓

[@HannahsBooks]

Now that is an excellent take on the growth issue! Thank you. Very insightful. I just watched the Coen bros version-and loved it!

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

It is good to venture out of our literary comfort zones at times. I find Louis L'Amour also has some strong female characters, I heard you mentioned Jo March as a "spunky heroine", I have Little Women on my July TBR. Enjoy your forays into the Wild West of fiction genres. True Grit sounds intriguing.

[@HannahsBooks]

@@jimsbooksreadingandstuff I hope you love little women! I can’t imagine what it will be like to read it for the first time now!

[@audreyh7892]

I really enjoyed "True Grit". I am currently reading the Fandorin mysteries by Boris Akunin. He follows the Madonna vs Whore model of female characters which is unfortunate because I love the rest of his stories.

[@HannahsBooks]

I don’t know Akunin at all-but yes, the Madonna/Whore thing is so common, and drives me batty…

[@mattkean1128]

I really need to pick up Charles Portis.

[@HannahsBooks]

Definitely worth a read!

[@bookofdust]

I think you might enjoy the novella Upright Women Wanted, a speculative western of renegade lesbian librarian cowgirls working against book banning.

[@HannahsBooks]

@@bookofdust I don’t know if I can wait for next June on the Range of that!!

[@bookofdust]

@@HannahsBooks Good news is you don’t have too! Read whatever whenever! I think your son’s Gatsby was a getting better reviews then the one on Broadway. I was happy that it did get the Tony for best costumes, it was a gorgeous looking show and I’m glad that it will have a place in theater history.

[@HannahsBooks]

@@bookofdust I think I’m going to get to see the Boston version at the end of July!

[@chambersstevens3135]

I just ordered the audiobook read by freakin' Donna Tart!

[@HannahsBooks]

Yes! Someone in the comments alerted me to that! Let me know what you think of it!

[@clarepotter7584]

That sounds interesting. I read one James Bond novel and found its depiction of women (violence towards them in particular) disconcerting, that's certainly toned down in the films. Jane Eyre 🙂you don't disappoint me!

[@HannahsBooks]

Heh! I’m so glad y’all appreciate my Jane obsession! I tried to read a Bond once back in early college-and just couldn’t stomach it. I might be a bit more accepting of context now, but I really can’t imagine trying Bond again. Ick.

[@DebMcDonald]

I read True Grit for my first June on the Range when I wasn’t sure about it and I truly loved it. I have listened to the audiobook on KZbin read by Donna Tartt who is from the Mississippi Delta and it’s wonderful too. Another western written by a woman in 1901 is That Girl Montana by Marah Ellis Ryan which I really enjoyed reading and it has some interesting features in it. I believe it’s in the public domain.

[@HannahsBooks]

Ooh-excellent! I haven’t even read Donna Tarte before, much less listened to her. Off to go look up her recording! And I’ll definitely put Ryan’s book on my possibilities list for a future June. Thank you!

[@AaronReadABook]

The dialogue is so good and I think is superior to most non-genre lit. I absolutely love the two scenes with Matty negotiating with both Rooster and the guy who sold her father horses, and Rooster's testimony in court. It's why there's been two good film adaptations. As a book for people looking to explore new genres I think it's great, next step Lonesome Dove? As always your review has revealed even more aspects of the book I hadn't thought about.

[@HannahsBooks]

@@AaronReadABook Thanks, Aaron! Yes, the dialogue is amazing! She’s so clever and also sort of surprisingly formal in her speech. Lonesome Dove will be my next Western!

[@GuiltyFeat]

I read True Grit a couple of years ago and Lonesome Dove last month. Both are superior works of fiction regardless of genre. Glad you enjoyed Mattie.

[@HannahsBooks]

@@GuiltyFeat I'm eager to try Lonesome Dove--maybe next June!

[@JamesRuchala]

Thanks for your "babble" Hannah. I loved this book much more than the more "genre typical" westerns by Gray and Lamour

[@HannahsBooks]

I definitely think it was a great choice for me, even if it is atypical. Next year: Lonesome Dove, I think.

[@Nina_DP]

I aspire to one day be able to babble about books half as well as you, Hannah. Until that day, let me just say: Jane Eyre!

[@HannahsBooks]

You’re very kind! What “babble” means is only that I did slightly less prep than usual. I am TERRIBLE at talking off the cuff-truly. And yay Jane!

[@TheActiveMind1]

I had never delved into Westerns before either but Steve influenced me to pick up a few L'Amour books! I read two and enjoyed them both. To me they feel like finger food - an easy, fairly enjoyable read that likely won't bore you but neither will it thrill you. That being said, I can't make a generalization about Westerns off a few copies from one author, but that was my first impression of the genre. This work seemed a bit more complex specifically as it pertains to masculinity/gender roles of this era. I'll have to check out True Grit for next year's June On The Range!

[@HannahsBooks]

Yes--at some point I might be brave enough to try a L'Amour--but True Grit (and Lonesome Dove by all accounts) are in a whole different class, from what I hear! Definitely worth a read--and True Grit is a very quick read, too.

[@TheActiveMind1]

​@@HannahsBooks Funny, I was just about to mention Lonesome Dove (as I've had that recommend a number of times now). Sounds like we both know what we're reading next June!

[@HannahsBooks]

@@TheActiveMind1 Let’s think about doing a buddy read, perhaps!

[@TheActiveMind1]

@@HannahsBooks I'm on board!