Tag Archives: The Mammoth Book of Westerns

On the Divide by Willa Cather

Book Review, ,
Overview
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Title: On the Divide
Author: Willa Cather
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 12th May 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: It would sometimes have been hard to distinguish the men from their evil geniuses but for one fact, the men were always grave and were either toiling or praying, while the devil’s were always smiling and dancing.

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Synopsis

It’s hard making a life on the divide.

Thoughts

This was an easy, light read. One that I didn’t really think much about after turning the final page. And one that I seriously enjoyed while reading. There was just something light and soft about this western short story.

I really liked the description of the western setting throughout this short story. Unlike the other westerns I’ve read thus far in the The Mammoth Book of Westerns collection, the description was much, much more vivid. Far more beautiful and intense. And just downright gorgeous.

There’s really not all that much I have to say about this short story. It was nice, fun, easy and light. It wasn’t all that unforgettable. But it was the kind of short story that I like to read late at night.

<- The Bride Comes to Yellow SkyBad Penny ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky by Stephen Crane

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky
Author: Stephen Crane
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis) & The Red Badge of Courage and Other Stories (Stephen Crane)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 7th May 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: She wore a dress of blue cashmere, with small reservations of velvet here and there and with steel buttons abounding.

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Synopsis

He’s gone and got himself married. But now he has to return home to a questionable welcome…

Thoughts

Still not all that into Westerns, but I really didn’t mind this short story. Maybe the genre is growing on me. Maybe it was just a good story, I don’t know what it was… but I quite liked it.

Not knowing much about westerns, I can’t be certain, but I got the feeling that somehow getting married was the end of a cowboys “fun” days. The days in which he could be battled and relied upon by his mates. I may be wrong, but that was the overwhelming feeling that I got from this short story. It wasn’t necessarily the message that I wanted to receive, but it was definitely an interesting one. And one that I will now look for amongst other western stories.

Although I’m still not completely sold on Westerns, I did enjoy this short story. I do have another Stephen Crane book sitting on my shelves somewhere. So I’m intrigued to see if it is the writer or just my getting used to the genre that really sold this for me…

<- The Caballero’s WayOn the Divide ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Caballero’s Way by O. Henry

Book Review, ,
Overview
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Title: The Caballero’s Way
Author: O. Henry
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 20th April 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Go in and rest, and let me water your horse and stake him with the long rope.

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Synopsis

Travelling along the Caballeros’ Way can be dangerous. Especially when even the woman you love betrays you.

Thoughts

I’m not really all that great on Western lore. But one thing that I do recognise / know is this name of the Kid. I’m not really sure if this refers to one individual, multiple, or what… but it was certainly nice to have a figure that I associate with Westerns appearing in the pages of this short story. I may not have quite known what this story was about, mostly because I kept fazing out throughout it, but I certainly appreciated the appearance of a well-known characterisation.

This was kind of a tragic little story. At first, I thought that the Kid was going to retire and live happily ever after with his woman. Particularly when it states that that’s exactly what he wants. But, alas, that was most certainly not meant to be. Instead, there is a sad ending filled with misunderstandings and manipulations. It worked well within the Western tale, but it was not the happy ending I kind of wanted.

So far in my reading of Westerns, I’m enjoying the simplicity of the stories. They’re nothing that I feel the need to rave about, but they’re a pleasant way to spend a few moments of time, just escaping the realities of day to day stressors.

<- A Sergeant of the Orphan TroopThe Bride Comes to Yellow Sky ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

A Sergeant of the Orphan Troop by Frederic Remington

Book Review, ,
Overview
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Title: A Sergeant of the Orphan Troop
Author: Frederic Remington
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 6th April 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: A late arrival came up, breathing heavily, dropped his gun, and springing up and down, yelled, “Be jabbers, I have got among om at last!”

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Synopsis

A western adventure that takes you away to a whole new place.

Thoughts

Admittedly, I’m not hugely into westerns. They’re just not my forte. Which means that it’s been an interesting journey thus far reading a collection of western short stories. And I’m finding them surprisingly enjoyable. This story being the perfect example of that. There is something fun and engaging about the writing and it’s a nice little adventure. However, I don’t really have all that much to say about it… it was just… fun.

A Sergeant of the Orphan Troop was more what I expected out of a western – cowboys and Indians kind of style. When you say western, that’s kind of what I picture. Probably not quite accurate. But still…

This is an easy, simple read and a nice way to depart from the realities of the world for a little while. However, it isn’t anything insanely ground breaking and soul shaking.

<- Way Out WestThe Caballero’s Way ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Way Out West by Mark Twain

Book Review, ,
Overview
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Title: Way Out West
Author: Mark Twain
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 31st March 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: First we left the dogs behind; then we passed a jackass-rabbit; then we overtook a coyote, and were gaining on an antelope when the rotten girths let go and threw me about thirty yards off to the left, and as the saddle went down over the horse’s rump he gave it a lift with his heels that sent it more than four hundred yards up in the air, I wish I may die in a minute if he didn’t.

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Synopsis

Welcome to the Wild, Wild, West. Way out in the Wild, Wild West.

Thoughts

There is just something great about the way that Mark Twain writes. His use of language, his very realistic storylines… I love his style of writing. And even with this western short story, I was more swept away by the use of the language than the actual storyline.

I didn’t feel like there was a huge plot to this short story. More, I found that it was incredibly descriptive of the setting of the western world. Since I haven’t actually read a western before, it was a great introduction to the world. After all, one of the biggest part of westerns is the setting and reality in which they’re found…

As an introduction to Westerns, this story is kind of great. And fun. I can’t wait to see what more I discover about Westerns and the stories that are told.

<- The Outcasts of Poker FlatA Sergeant of the Orphan Troop ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte

Book Review, ,
Overview
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Title: The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Author: Bret Harte
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 9th March 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: He returned to his pocket the handkerchief with which he had been whipping away the red dust of Poker Flat from his neat boots, and quietly discharged his mind of any further conjecture.

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Synopsis

They don’t quite fit in anywhere, even with each other at their gambling houses and saloons in Poker Flat.

Thoughts

This is my first western short story. And it was an incredibly interesting experience. One that I was kind of not expecting. Although, I have next to no experience with actual Westerns… I’ve read some fantasy stories with a western spin… but nothing which actually falls completely under this genre heading… and it was a good introduction.

I like that in a collection of westerns, the first one features gambling and outcasts. Actually, the entire time I was reading this, the song The Gambler by Kenny Rogers was running through my head on repeat. There is just something about that song and this story which seemed to perfectly suit one another. Something that had that same, great atmosphere that made this a really enjoyable experience.

This was a fun, easy read. But it wasn’t overly memorable. It was fun, easy and enjoyable. But it also wasn’t an amazing, earth shaking storyline. Not one that I’ll necessarily pick up in years to come. But a great way to spend a few moments escaping the world and reality.

<- The Mammoth Book of WesternsWay Out West ->

Image source: Hachette Australia