L'Amour, L. (1955). Guns of the Timberlands. New York: Bantam Books.
Annotation: Clay Bell must stop Easterner Jud Devitt from clearing the timber at Deep Creek Range, where Clay grazes his cattle.
Summary: Clay Bell's done a bit of everything. He's been in the army, fought the Indians and eventually drifted his way in to Arizona where he built the B-Bar ranch. Deep Creek Range is one of his preferred grazing spots, with its lush grass that grows under the majestic trees. When easterner Jud Devitt, who's rich, ruthless and accustomed to getting his way rolls into town demanding that Clay remove his cattle from this government property so that he can clear the timber to sell to the Mexican Central Railroad Clay is not about to comply. He's worked too hard building his business to see the Range destroyed for its timber. Jud sees Clay as an obstacle to what he wants and he's determined to remove the obstacle, but Jud doesn't understand what it is to be a man who is committed to what's right. When the battle between Jud and his lumberjacks and Clay and his cowhands begins it get fierce and fast. Guns blaze and fists fly leading the reader to a satisfying conclusion.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! It was well written and packed with action. Clay was a likable character who took the time to think things through and didn't just rush headlong into things like Jud did. I was not at all surprised at the ending, but in a book like this, it's the adventure not the ending that you are in for. My only complaint is that L'Amour shifts between calling his characters first and last name so often that I sometimes thought I was reading about two separate characters and would have to go back and re-read.
Possible recommends: Other L'Amour titles, Zane Grey. Elmer Kelton
Rating: 4Q, 5P
Summary: Clay Bell's done a bit of everything. He's been in the army, fought the Indians and eventually drifted his way in to Arizona where he built the B-Bar ranch. Deep Creek Range is one of his preferred grazing spots, with its lush grass that grows under the majestic trees. When easterner Jud Devitt, who's rich, ruthless and accustomed to getting his way rolls into town demanding that Clay remove his cattle from this government property so that he can clear the timber to sell to the Mexican Central Railroad Clay is not about to comply. He's worked too hard building his business to see the Range destroyed for its timber. Jud sees Clay as an obstacle to what he wants and he's determined to remove the obstacle, but Jud doesn't understand what it is to be a man who is committed to what's right. When the battle between Jud and his lumberjacks and Clay and his cowhands begins it get fierce and fast. Guns blaze and fists fly leading the reader to a satisfying conclusion.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! It was well written and packed with action. Clay was a likable character who took the time to think things through and didn't just rush headlong into things like Jud did. I was not at all surprised at the ending, but in a book like this, it's the adventure not the ending that you are in for. My only complaint is that L'Amour shifts between calling his characters first and last name so often that I sometimes thought I was reading about two separate characters and would have to go back and re-read.
Possible recommends: Other L'Amour titles, Zane Grey. Elmer Kelton
Rating: 4Q, 5P
No comments:
Post a Comment