2022 Oct-Dec FWC: Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Riders of the Purple Sage is set in Southern Utah canyon country, 1871. A story about three main characters, Bern Venters, Jane Withersteen, and Jim Lassiter, who in various ways struggle with persecution from the local Mormon community.
The story involves Lassiter, a gunslinging avenger in black, who shows up in a remote Utah town just in time to save the young and beautiful rancher Jane from having to marry a Mormon elder against her will.
Lassiter is on his own quest, one that ends when he discovers a secret grave on Jane's grounds.

Considered by scholars to have played a significant role in shaping the formula of the popular Western genre, the novel has been called "the most popular western novel of all time."

Throw in some cattle-rustling, horse-theft, kidnapping and gunfights and we have our last quarter read for FWC are you in?

[John]

I'll be reading this one - in fact I'd just fetched it from the shelf 10 minutes ago.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

This book reminded me of a classic western movie. It was such a fun book!

[Book Nerd, Purple Book Horse]

This will be my western for the year. :)

[Joseph]

I've heard it doesn't portray the Latter-day Saint favorably, or in a positive light.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Joseph wrote: "I've heard it doesn't portray the Latter-day Saint favorably, or in a positive light."

Which I totally understand. Today is so different than the time frame of a hundred and ten years ago. I think it is the plural marriage part but I am not totally sure. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not all made up of plural marriages for over 120 years. This book was written for the period before that, set in mid-spring to late-summer in 1871 Utah.

“Riders of the Purple Sage” is a morality tale about a sometimes strong woman and heroine who has been persecuted by her Mormon Church leaders.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1300/...

Even if you do not read this version take a look at the illustrations. They are remarkable!

[John]

Lesle wrote: "https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1300/...

Even if you do not read this version take a look at the illustrations. They are remarkable!"

The paperback copy I have contains some illustrations - I must compare them with those in this version, Lesle.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

I have not looked at mine yet, John. I hope it does!

[Annette]

It is interesting that there are no credits for the illustrator listed in Gutenberg's citation. I had to look it up; it was Douglas Duer.

[Pam, Southwest Enchanter]

I read the first chapter on the Serial Reader app. I think I would like the story but the writing was terrible, in my opinion. I found it to be very clunky, for lack of a better word. So, I’m going to pass on this one. I hope everyone else enjoys it!

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

I am sorry to hear that Pam, but understandable.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Annette wrote: "It is interesting that there are no credits for the illustrator listed in Gutenberg's citation. I had to look it up; it was Douglas Duer."

Thank you Annette. I have not heard of him. Interesting that he was a painter as well. I thought the illustrations looked like paintings!

[John]

Annette wrote: "It is interesting that there are no credits for the illustrator listed in Gutenberg's citation. I had to look it up; it was Douglas Duer."

The illustrations in my edition are by W. Herbert Dunton, and apparently originally appeared in the 1921 edition. Interestingly the ones I've checked so far look identical to those in "Gutenberg", other than being in black and white.

[Annette]

I just Googled with the book title to find the illustrator originally. I did a new Google search with both of the possible illustrators’ names and found this: http://www.my-west.com/painting-and-s...
So maybe more research is needed… after I finish my book :)

[Book Nerd, Purple Book Horse]

I just started but yeah, the writing is really clunky. Mine doesn't have illustrations.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Book Nerd wrote: "I just started but yeah, the writing is really clunky. Mine doesn't have illustrations."

Outdated
I can see that. Published in 1912.
Awkward
Sentences are incomplete thoughts?

Book Nerd can you describe what clunky means to you in his writing style?

[Book Nerd, Purple Book Horse]

I think it's the dialogue that sounds pretty clunky.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

Book Nerd wrote: "I think it's the dialogue that sounds pretty clunky."

Oh so like a cheap movie that the words seem like they are just spoken with no connection to the character!

[Book Nerd, Purple Book Horse]

I finished. I enjoyed the story overall. I really want to look for some pictures or video that show this purple landsape.
One thing that drove me nuts, thankfully there wasn't much of it, was how Fay talked. "Do oo love my new muvver?" Seriously? There are better ways to show it's a little girl talking!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

That makes for painful reading, but he's not the only author who did that, unfortunately.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

I wouldnt even know what "oo" meant till I tried to read the rest of the sentence. Makes for rough reading for sure.

[Chad]

I picked this up from the library and started reading it on the train today. I’m enjoying it.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

That's good to hear. I thought it was an entertaining read that reminded me of old western movies.

[Chad]

I do find westerns almost impossible to dislike. The simple thought of being in those surroundings at that time is usually enough for me.

[Chad]

I’m about half way through now. I just want to keep getting back to the storyline of Venters and the girl.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

I agree Chad. I love that timeframe. I would have loved to live during that era but... with a real bathroom! A girl has to have plumbing.

[Chad]

I’ve noticed this, Lesle! My wife will not go camping with me:). I finished the book this morning. I enjoyed the story and agree with some of the other comments that some of the dialogue was a bit meh.

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

I am glad you did like it and could get past some of dialogue that is a bit "clunky"

I am so far behind for this month and end of October with my reading. I am hoping after Tuesday of next week I can enjoy some time off and reading.

[Pam, Southwest Enchanter]

I haven’t read any Zane Grey but, just as an aside, we drove past the refurbished Zane Grey cabin (and Rim County Museum) in Payson, AZ the other day. My husband said he visited it as a kid but it later burned down to the ground and they rebuilt it. Grey has another historic cabin in Oregon.

[Book Nerd, Purple Book Horse]

Pam wrote: "I haven’t read any Zane Grey but, just as an aside, we drove past the refurbished Zane Grey cabin (and Rim County Museum) in Payson, AZ the other day. My husband said he visited it as a kid but it ..."
That's really cool. I'd like to read a few more westerns but there's so much else I want to read.

[John]

I've just finished Riders of the Purple Sage, which I'd been looking forward to for a while - as I'd really enjoyed the first three FWC books, Zane Grey is a famous and popular author, and this is reputedly "the most popular western novel of all time."

Maybe my expectations were too high, as I thought this book was dire. The whole "Gentiles good, Mormons bad" thing was tedious, the characters and dialogue were wooden, and the book was mind-numbingly boring.

Yet - the book is popular with so many people, so the "problem" might be with me. Maybe its just not the right book for me, or maybe 4 westerns in the one year is just too much for me!

[Lesle, Appalachain Bibliophile]

That is sad John. I agree though it is not what I thought either. I read the first 2 chapters and could not get through the 3rd.
The portrayal of the Mormons as outlaws and thugs who do whatever they please and the disappearance of Milly and her child was bothersome.

For it to be so highly regarded just amazes me. I assume others may look at it differently.