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ij218143's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexism and Racism
harveyrichardwilson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Rape, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Child death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Animal death, Child abuse, Colonisation, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Death, Injury/Injury detail, War, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual content, and Racism
cretaceous's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Rape, Animal death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Alcoholism
erynlasbelin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Body horror, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, Alcoholism, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Death of parent, Stalking, Slavery, Infidelity, Ableism, Body shaming, Xenophobia, War, Excrement, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, and Abandonment
gracieanna21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child death, Gore, Racism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Sexism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Abandonment, Abortion, Sexual assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Colonisation, Animal death, and Adult/minor relationship
misty_kb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Racial slurs, Genocide, and Misogyny
sanfordc11's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape and Racial slurs
Moderate: Gun violence
tgaddie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Alcoholism, Murder, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Self harm, and Animal death
tarajoy90's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Gun violence, Child death, Racism, and Racial slurs
noonjinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
McMurtry obviously loves his subject: the book is full of western tropes but he manages to undermine the myths by showing how harsh and unforgiving frontier life was, and how survival depended on luck as much as judgement and skill.
The action is nicely paced. The characters are all deep, beautifully drawn and uniquely flawed, so you end up loving and admiring them but wanting to slap some sense into them too. The book is funny as well as exciting and sad. It’s worth reading for Gus’ hilarious monologues alone.
Some of the plot lines depend heavily on coincidence. Characters run into each other all the time and at one point McMurtry tries to explain this away by telling us there was only one road. The last few chapters are tragic and pretty bleak, but worse than that, the introspection goes on too long and gets a little boring.
I also wish the author had been a little braver in his myth busting. There’s a lot of frontier justice in this book and McMurtry can’t help justifying every lynching. I think it would have been more interesting and Captan Call had occasionally got the wrong guy.
Still a great book to read.
Graphic: Rape, Death, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail