The Shootist

Rating:
Summary: Astounding
Review: Having read a fair share of books in my life, I'd yet to read a Western, mostly b/c the covers, the authors, the advertising ... nothing appealed to me. I'd had one or two recommended, as comparisons to my favorite genre (vintage crime), but still the bug hadn't bitten. On a fluke, I happened across THE SHOOTIST, and I thought, "What the heck." Now, I'm thinking, "What took me so long?" Nothing short of incredible. Whether a fan of Westerns, crime, suspense, or just a 'damn good read,' pick up a copy of THE SHOOTIST. It's simply brilliant and deserves to be read.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect reading if you only have a weekend
Review: I was inspired to read this book after viewing the "Special Features" on the DVD for the movie. The DVD indicated that the endings between the book and the movie were different, so I had to check it out. I was not disappointed.

The chief difference lies in the character of Gillom Rodgers, played in the movie by Ron Howard. While Ron Howard does an outstanding job, I felt that the book painted Gillom as a much darker character, perhaps as a shadow of Books' former, younger self. The book does not leave you with the feeling that Gillom will be redeemed, not in the way that the movie does.

Harry Morgan plays Marshal Thibidoux in the movie, and this was not the very best casting choice in my opinion. The book depicts the marshal as truly despising Books (in the movie, the marshal is more or less merely annoyed by him), suggesting someone more akin to Claude Akins or Lorne Greene. I think I would like to have seen Henry Fonda in the role, just to have John Wayne, James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, and Fonda all in the same movie.

And speaking of Bacall, I think that she was perfectly cast. I mean, this movie reeks of actors and actresses basically playing themselves onscreen, each coming to terms with their own screen legends even as their characters come to terms with each other. In real life, Lauren Bacall and John Wayne could not have been more opposite, especially in their politics, particularly with regard to the way they conducted themselves in Hollywood during the HUAC years. I can't help but think that in some way, the two were healing old wounds during filming, just as their characters onscreen were finding ways to overcome their natural differences and gain respect for one another.

The one other thing which the book captures much more graphically than the movie was the suffering experienced by Books as he dealt with his cancer. The movie doesn't identify the type of cancer, but in the book, it was prostate cancer, and some of the descriptions of Books' suffering are quite graphic. Books' mental state is revealed to us as the author shares his internal thoughts on the contemplation of dying. This was extremely emotional for me, and very well done.

The book was, in my opinion, superior to the movie, but other reviewers disagree. I obtained my copy from my local library, and was delighted to have gotten a large print volume. Nice on the eyes, and can be read in just a few hours. And I read slow.

Rating:
Summary: One of the top three best westerns ever
Review: I would put this book up there with "Lonesome Dove" and "The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales" as one of the best westerns I've ever read. I have owned several copies of this book since I was in high school (1977) and have always enjoyed reading it. The book has a sad air to it, considering the circumstances of its hero, J.B. Books. I have almost come to tears several times while reading it, when I put myself in Books' shoes.

Some of the best lines in Western fiction are in this book:

"..I would not die a death such as I have described." "No?" "I would not. Not if I had your courage. I would not. And especially your skill with weapons." (conversation between Dr. Hostetler and J.B. Books)

"Day after tomorrow," he said. "When you see me then, in my Sunday duds, there will be no tears." (J.B. Books to Bond Rogers)

To overuse a cliche, if you read one western, "The Shootist" should be it.

Rating:
Summary: Actually, a bit of a disappointment
Review: I would put this book up there with "Lonesome Dove" and "The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales" as one of the best westerns I've ever read. I have owned several copies of this book since I was in high school (1977) and have always enjoyed reading it. The book has a sad air to it, considering the circumstances of its hero, J.B. Books. I have almost come to tears several times while reading it, when I put myself in Books' shoes.

Some of the best lines in Western fiction are in this book:

"..I would not die a death such as I have described." "No?" "I would not. Not if I had your courage. I would not. And especially your skill with weapons." (conversation between Dr. Hostetler and J.B. Books)

"Day after tomorrow," he said. "When you see me then, in my Sunday duds, there will be no tears." (J.B. Books to Bond Rogers)

To overuse a cliche, if you read one western, "The Shootist" should be it.

Rating:
Summary: One of the top three best westerns ever
Review: I would put this book up there with "Lonesome Dove" and "The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales" as one of the best westerns I've ever read. I have owned several copies of this book since I was in high school (1977) and have always enjoyed reading it. The book has a sad air to it, considering the circumstances of its hero, J.B. Books. I have almost come to tears several times while reading it, when I put myself in Books' shoes.

Some of the best lines in Western fiction are in this book:

"..I would not die a death such as I have described." "No?" "I would not. Not if I had your courage. I would not. And especially your skill with weapons." (conversation between Dr. Hostetler and J.B. Books)

"Day after tomorrow," he said. "When you see me then, in my Sunday duds, there will be no tears." (J.B. Books to Bond Rogers)

To overuse a cliche, if you read one western, "The Shootist" should be it.

Rating:
Summary: Its all in the way it is presented
Review: If you think about it, its hard to make a western very intriguing and original, but some authors have an awesome way of putting words together for the enjoyment of the reader. The story itself is good but not extraordinary, but the way its put together and that characterization is what makes it special. It is a very good book !!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent! Must Read
Review: This book I was forced into reading and it actually turned out to be a great book. It still has relevance today being that prostate cancer is still around. This was a really good book! Most of the times I don't like westerns but this is one of the few I like. You really must read it. Even though it is kind-a gross. At least the parts when he shoots somebody but I guess that's his job.

Rating:
Summary: Actually, a bit of a disappointment
Review: This was one of those rare instances when I felt that the film worked better than the book on which it was based. Maybe this was because John Wayne was, in a sense, acting out his own life. Somehow, though, the characters were more convincing in the film and worked together better. Oh, and the book was surprisingly light. I sat down with it, expecting a good read, and was finished in a couple of hours. Not that it was bad - but it should have been a lot better.