Thursday, June 4, 2009

Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker

From the book: "When Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch arrive in Appaloosa, they find a small, dusty town suffering at the hands of renegade rancher Randall Bragg, a man who has so little regard for the law that he has taken supplies, horses, and women for his own and left the city marshal and one of his deputies for dead. Cole and Hitch, itinerant lawmen, are used to cleaning up after opportunistic thieves, but in Bragg they find an unusually wily adversary - one who raises the stakes by playing not with the rules, but with emotions.
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult (June 7, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399152776
ISBN-13: 978-0399152771

My thoughts: I haven't read a western in YEARS. This was quite a re-introduction to the genre.The story line was familiar: a bad rancher and his hired help terrorizes the helpless town folk who then hire outside help to clean up the town. In this case they hire Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. I liked these two characters, they were unique. They were hired as lawmen, but Cole made the laws and they walked a line between the law and simply being hired guns. Everett was a kind of mystery to me. He was an educated man and a West Point man as was his father but how he ended up leading this kind of life . It tells at the beginning how he gets hooked up with Cole, but why stay on? I didn't like the character of Allie, Cole's girlfriend, but I don't think Parker meant for anyone to like her. She is what she is and everyone knows it. This was a quick, easy read that kept me interested through out. The ending was a surprise, which I liked. I'm off to the library today to get the sequel, Resolution.

Challenges:
100+Reading Challenge
Support Your Library Challenge

western, Colorado

7 comments:

Yvette Kelly said...

Hi Sharon
I just re read one of your comments on my blog where you said ur kindle would arrive on 26 May.Has it arrived and what do you think?Let me know
Sorry for commenting off topic!!!

The Oceanside Animals said...

I wanted to see the movie version of this, but haven't yet. Someday!

Yvette Kelly said...

Hey Sharon
I just installed the Top Commenter link and I am giving away one of the books I have reviewed on my site every month to whoever is the top commenter and I see that you are it for this month.Please come over and choose which book you want by leaving a comment on that review post.(and dont worry about your details.I still have your address from the Anna Nicole Smith book you won)
Congrats and thank you for the lovely comments!!!

Anonymous said...

Is this the book that was made into the movie or do you know?

Jo, a retired teacher said...

I read that, because I read everything Robert Parker writes. I love that his books are mostly dialogue and always clever. I don't know if I'll see the movie, they are so often disappointing if you've read the book. I liked it too.

Sharon said...

J. Kaye - This is the book the movie was made from. I've never seen it though. I may have to make a point of watching it now. Hope it is good too.

Jo - This is the only one of his books I've read. I'm about to finish Resolution and am liking it pretty well too. From what you say the rest are good too, guess I'll have to look up some of them.

James - have you read the book? It makes me want to see the movie.

Anonymous said...

Now I'm excited! I have it in my Blockbuster queue. :) Thanks for the info!