The Western Genre-True Grit by Charles Portis



I must say, I was a bit skeptical of reading a Western! I always wondered what the appeal was, but now I know! The great thing about this class is that I'm reading genres that I never would on my own and gaining a new understanding and broader knowledge of different types of books.  Here are the key characteristics of a Western novel:

• an adventure story usually taking place in the American West between the Civil war and the 20th century.
• There is a hero
• The landscape is so important and detailed it almost becomes a character in the book
• There is usually a struggle between good and evil

If you enjoy Westerns or want to try one for the first time, check out the Western Writers of America web page for more information and for a list of the 100 best Westerns!


The book I read for this assignment was True Grit by Charles Portis, which was actually recommended to me by Ames Free Library patron Brad Sultan (Thanks Brad)! As a librarian, it's important to remember  that Reader's Advisory works both ways and I have gotten a lot of great recommendations from patrons I talk to every day! Thanks to all of you! Here is my report on True Grit:

 Portis, Charles.  True Grit. New York, NY: Overlook, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-59020-459-7

True Grit, originally published in 1968, tells the tale of Mattie Ross, a fourteen year old girl out to seek revenge and redemption for her father’s murder in the 1870’s.  Despite being fourteen and female Mattie is incredibly sharp, intelligent and tough.  She seeks out U.S. Marshall “Rooster” Cogburn to help her hunt down Tom Chaney, her father’s killer.  She hears one-eyed Rooster has “true grit,” and hopes he will have what it takes to take on hunting Chaney down.  They travel through the rough Oklahoma landscape of Choctaw Nation where they encounter robbers, Indians and a harsh landscape until they find Cogburn and a scary confrontation ensues.

 True Grit has many characteristics of the Western genre.  It is an adventure story, of a young girl on a perilous yet brave journey to revenge her father’s death.  The story is action packed, particularly the scene where they find Chaney, which keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.  The book is packed with gun fights, death, robbers, outlaws and Indians set against the backdrop of the beautiful yet dangerous Oklahoma Choctaw Indian Territory.  There are a few characters that take on the role of hero, most notably Mattie herself.  The fact that Mattie is a main hero strays from traditional Westerns being called “man’s tales.”

 Initially, I groaned at the thought of having to read a Western.  They've never been a favorite of mine.  At the library where I work, a patron actually recommended this book to me because he thought I would enjoy that the main character was female.  To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down when it got to the nail-biting end! The way Rooster and fellow traveler LaBoef treat Mattie at times is annoying, but taking into consideration Mattie’s age and sex in that time period and on that particular journey I believe they were just trying to protect her.  I loved Mattie’s hard-headed ways and how she could out smart and out talk anyone she came into contact with! I enjoyed the characters in the book, those that were bad and good.  They were all well developed and had interesting personalities.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read because the writing is of high quality.   True Grit is told magnificently through Mattie’s perspective, through a narrative that is sharp and descriptive.  In the end, it is Mattie that has “true grit.”

In addition to fulfilling the requirements of a good Western, this book would be enjoyed and appreciated by fans of the adrenaline genre including adventure, suspense and thrillers because of the high energy scenes.  It would also be a good book to recommend to fans of historical fiction.  In addition, women and teens would also enjoy this title because Mattie is not only a good strong female character; she is also a young adult.  I love that Mattie diverged from the traditional Western hero because of the simple fact she is female.  However, that fact does not make the book less appealing to males, as Rooster and Leboef play important roles in this adventurous tale.

Are you a Western reader? What's your favorite Western? If you're not, I definitely recommend True Grit as a great introduction to the genre!

The Mystery Genre-If Looks Could Kill by Kate White

                                                                             

The first genre we are covering in my Adult Reading Interests class is Mysteries! I've always enjoyed mysteries, but never really put much thought into the characteristics of what defines the genre.  So, what defines a mystery novel? Here are some key characteristics:

• a crime
• an investigation of the crime
• an investigator
• solving the crime
• the criminal being brought to justice

There are many types of mysteries  including police procedurals, courtroom dramas and even cozy mysteries! If you are a mystery reader, you may enjoy some of these websites to find other authors:

The Mystery Reader

Mystery Readers International

Mystery Writers of America

Sisters in Crime

Whodunit in New England

Killer Books

The book I read for this assignment was Kate White's If looks Could Kill.  Here is my report on it:

White, Kate. If Looks Could Kill. New York: Warner, 2002.  ISBN: 0-446-53023-9



 True Crime writer and New Yorker Bailey Weggins freelances for a woman’s magazine called Gloss.  She and her boss, Cat, find Cat’s nanny murdered from what looks like a deadly poisoning.  Cat asks Bailey to try and conduct her own investigation and gather clues in addition to the police investigation.  As Bailey talks to the many suspects, it begins to look as though Cat was the one who was supposed to be murdered.  Bailey tries to find out if this is truly the case or if it’s a decoy to hide the fact someone really wanted the nanny dead.  That makes Cat herself a suspect and as her investigation heats up, Bailey experiences a series of scary events like a break-in, hang up calls and even a poisoning of her own until she finally solves the case-before the police do.
This book has many of the traditional characteristics of what the textbook, "The Readers Advisory Guide to genre Fiction" by Joyce Saricks, considers a mystery novel.  First, the book revolves around solving the murder of the poisoned nanny.  Bailey interviews various suspects, collecting information and clues and tries to piece it all together.  Secondly, Bailey is the “amateur detective,” a characteristic described in this week’s lesson, and her life is a main focus of the story.  This book also has two distinct settings, a key characteristic mentioned in this week’s mystery lesson and in the textbook.  The story mostly takes place in the glamorous New York City magazine world, but also on the sketchy New York streets and alleys, and in the quiet and sometimes dangerous New York countryside.

I have read two of Kate White’s stand-alone novels, Hush and The Sixes and thoroughly enjoyed them.  I had never read any of the Bailey Weggins series and I did find If Looks Could Kill to be a fun, engaging read.  However, the idea of Bailey writing true crime for Gloss, (loosely based on Cosmopolitan magazine, where author Kate White is editor in chief?)  and solving crimes on the side was a bit ridiculous.  The glamour of working at Gloss as a freelance writer and solving crimes on the side seemed a bit silly, yet the author does pull it off for the most part.  It was only until the plot begins to look like the murderer is out to get women’s magazine editors did it get a bit far fetched, but then the author draws the reader back in and the ending is satisfying.  The characters in the book are interesting, mainly the love/hate relationship between Bailey and her boss (Cat), Bailey’s love interests and Bailey’s relationship with her gay elderly friend Landon.

I think women who also like chick lit would enjoy this title.  In addition to the mystery characteristics, much of the novel focuses on a divorced thirty something woman trying to make her way as a writer in New York City.  The book has the glamour of working at a woman's magazine and also illustrates Bailey’s struggles to find a suitable man as a single divorced woman.

Let me know what mysteries you are reading and what authors you enjoy! Happy reading!