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The Proving Trail
They tried to tell him that his father had killed himself, but Kearney McRaven knew better. No matter what life had dealt him, his father would go down fighting. And as he delved deeper into the mystery, he learned that just before his father died, the elder McRaven had experienced a remarkable run of luck: he’d won nearly ten thousand dollars and the deed to a cattle ranc...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
May 1st 1985
by Bantam
(first published January 1st 1979)
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I am 41 weeks pregnant and can barely move and on top of that suffering from vertigo and medication that basically knocks me out. So, while I am not a big fan of westerns in general, I was desperate for something that could keep my attention while I wallowed in my bathtub like the hippo I feel like. This was that book that someone had left at my house. So, I didn't really buy the coming of age part after the first few chapters where the character can't figure out what is going on and acts goofy...more
I have to admit that I probably rate Louis L'Amour books a little higher than I should. He was my father's favorite author and I've made a pledge to myself to read all of his books in tribute to my father. That said, I did enjoy this story of a young man ... left an orphan by the killing of his father on the night that his father won a fortune at a saloon card game. It turns out that our 17-year old hero is heir to a Carolina fortune in land, property and money ... but there are many evil cousin...more
Ok, so my stack of bedside books was piled high with cerebral non fiction and I needed to step away from the intellectual feed bag and help myself to some brain candy. There's nothing like Louis L'Amour for a quick paced read with a tougher than life good guy, bad ass bad guys, a couple of hard boot women and one smart and capable gal to round it all out. Yup, there were some holes in the story and a few things made you go "hmmmm" but all in all, a perfect easy to swallow and fill up your hunger...more
Mar 08, 2009
Ryan Mishap
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
when-i-was-a-lad
My dad loves all his books and I read over a hundred while staving off the night terrors when growing up.
It is a strange fact about the old west, Indians, and the genocidal take over of the land now called the United States that fiction writing about them is often taken for truth (see Ward Churchill's Fantasies of the Master Race). The back of almost every L'amour novel lauds his knowledge of "how it really was" and the fact that he could've been one of the tough, honorable, lonely fighting men...more
It is a strange fact about the old west, Indians, and the genocidal take over of the land now called the United States that fiction writing about them is often taken for truth (see Ward Churchill's Fantasies of the Master Race). The back of almost every L'amour novel lauds his knowledge of "how it really was" and the fact that he could've been one of the tough, honorable, lonely fighting men...more
“Roland, what is happening?” Mother demanded, smoothing a hand over Gwennie’s hair (I noticed Gwen’s wince though mother did not).
“Something hit our wagon, hard,” I answered, staring out the back of the wagon and seeing nothing but the ubiquitous red dust clouds. The intermittent pops of rifle shots sounded far away here in the wagon. Had she not been injured I’m sure Mother would have already been out and shooting at whatever it was that moved the wagon.
“I’m going to look,” I announced. Thoug...more
“Something hit our wagon, hard,” I answered, staring out the back of the wagon and seeing nothing but the ubiquitous red dust clouds. The intermittent pops of rifle shots sounded far away here in the wagon. Had she not been injured I’m sure Mother would have already been out and shooting at whatever it was that moved the wagon.
“I’m going to look,” I announced. Thoug...more
When I was in high school, I couldn't get enough of Louis L'Amour and in the subsequent years, read well over 50 of his books.
I don't know if it's because my reading tastes have changed or if this was one of his misses, but I found this book quite disappointing and not up to his usual high standards.
I don't know if it's because my reading tastes have changed or if this was one of his misses, but I found this book quite disappointing and not up to his usual high standards.
They tried to tell him that his father had killed himself, but Kearney McRaven knew better. No matter what life had dealt him, his father would go down fighting. And as he delved deeper into the mystery, he learned that just before his father died, the elder McRaven had experienced a remarkable run of luck: he’d won nearly ten thousand dollars and the deed to a cattle ranch.
Not yet eighteen, Kearney was determined enough to track down his father’s murderer and claim what was rightfully his. Now,...more
Not yet eighteen, Kearney was determined enough to track down his father’s murderer and claim what was rightfully his. Now,...more
This author is highly underrated by NoveList Plus. I am not a fan of Westerns, but I was surprised by how much I liked this particular book. It is a great example of an Outlaw style Western. I recommend it for teens and adults. The themes of crime and corruption are good conversation starters for a book discussion group. The length of the book is perfect for a quick read.
One of the best by Louis and I've been in a ton of them.
Loc. 2409-10
To ride fast, to travel far, these were empty things unless a man took the time to savor, to taste, to love, to simply be.
Loc. 2409-10
To ride fast, to travel far, these were empty things unless a man took the time to savor, to taste, to love, to simply be.
Entertaining and simple story about a pauper to be prince playing cat-and-mouse with a man who would undo his future for his purse. My first L'Amour book and I liked it a lot.
Good mystery for a western but I can't say it is my favorite. There is some negative aspects such as some sparsely added western bad language but it was a fun read.
Enjoyable slightly different western by L'Amour. Book has a mystery element to it, but typical happy ending.
Grandpa gave me another bag of L'Amours but said I can't keep these ones, so making a note.
Solid L'Amour novel. Follows his formula, and delivers with excellent scenic descriptions.
What a great book! Really enjoyed it.
its pretty good i guess
O
Hello? This book started off fast and has not let up. Loving this book.
Good Louis L'Amour western novel. Kearney McRaven is left alone after his father wins big at a poker game and is then apparently killed for his winnings. Kearney grows up fast (as was often necessary in the old west), and makes his way through various adventures finding out about his rather murky past. Good yarn.
Kearny McRaven was told that his father had committed suicide after losing a fortune that wasn't his. Kearny doesn't believe the story and sets out to recover the money in question and hunt down his father's killer. Along the way he learns about the senior McRaven's mysterious past.
I always enjoy Louis L'Amour stories. The Proving Trail remains an exceptional legacy of his western adventure tales. You can visualize Kearny McRavens dilemmas as the pages turn. A very good read!
A mystery/western. The hero of the story has to figure out who killed his pa, and why they did it, while he runs away and trys to avoid becoming their next victim.
This one is good....I think it talks about many of those day to day challanges that we hardly even notice but just pick at us little by little until we are nothing
Good book from the master of Westerns.
Great book!
Loving it!
May 22, 2013
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Louis L'Amour was an American author. L'Amour's books, primarily Western fiction, remain enormously popular, and most have gone through multiple printings. At the time of his death all 101 of his works were in print (86 novels, 14 short-story collections and one full-length work of nonfiction) and he was considered "one of the world's most popular writers".
-Wikipedia
More about Louis L'Amour...
-Wikipedia
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“The way I see it, every time a man gets up in the morning he starts his life over. Sure, the bills are there to pay, and the job is there to do, but you don't have to stay in a pattern. You can always start over, saddle a fresh horse and take another trail.”
—
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“Never can tell when you might come on somebody needs skinning.”
—
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