Monte Walsh
By Jack Schaefer and Marc Simmons
4.5/5
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About this ebook
Originally published in 1963, Monte Walsh continues to delight readers as a Western classic and popular favorite. The novel explores the cowboy lives of Monte Walsh and Chet Rollins as they carouse, ride, and work at the Slash Y with Cal Brennan. As the West changes and their cowboy antics are challenged, the two must part ways to pursue new ways of life. Chet marries and goes on to become a successful merchant and then a politician, while Monte can only find solace in continuing the cowboy’s way of life until the very end.
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Reviews for Monte Walsh
35 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A lyrical view of the old west of the cattle drive days, and of the life of Monte Walsh, a good man on a horse. Monte is both a good man, and as good as anyone can be at breaking and riding horses and wants little more than to do whatever work can be done from horseback, preferably with his good friend Chet who enjoys the excitement Monte's streak of inventive mischief delivers to life and takes care of Monte through the consequences. But the west ages, as do Chet and Monte and Chet finds something more to life with which Monte can't find a fit. And though we only hear of it from his final neighbors he does eventually find a community where his qualities are appreciated. Episodically told, we are never really in Monte's head and sometime only know by it's inclusion at the end of a chapter that the tale of cowboy antics is about him.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved this book. It took me quite a long time to finish it, but I wasn't in any hurry. Each time I opened it up I was so looking forward to another adventure, another character, another story and I was never disappointed. Jack Schaeffer drew me in each time and carried me out West to where the cowboys were. I laughed and I cried and I got angry and I got happy. I fell in love with the flawed Slash Y characters. I couldn't wait for the next reading, but I didn't want the book to end. This book is a masterpiece.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Best Western story ever, though some might prefer Shane as it is shorter.
The characters seem real, as does the action. A great read. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Monte Walsh was originally pub in the early 60's. The author had written a number of short stories around Monte and Chet beginning in the mid -50's and decided to add other chapters to their story, and voila!, a 402 page novel was created. A bit of a slow start then you get used to the pace and you get to know the characters. Monte works hard on the range, breakin' horses and herdin' cows, he gets paid, he goes to town with the rest of the crew and drinks till the money runs out, then the whole cycle repeats, and repeats. Within each of the 19 or so chapters are a number of vignettes, mostly focused on Monte who is also a bit of a prankster. Much of this book reminded me of my first couple years at an all male college where the behavior - largely because of the absence of women - was reminiscent of high school days, silly, goofy, carefree. Monte has his faults, but above all, he is a highly principled guy, always trying to do the right thing.The book spans a time period mostly from the early 1880's until 1913 when Monte passes on. There are virtually no American Indians in the story, and only a few bad guys, all of whom meet justice in some fashion but not in a showdown-at-high-noon fashion. But mostly it's Monte and his horses. It's a very good read, much better than some of the more recent Westerns I have read of late and I recommend it highly. It felt real. Completed 8/30, rated 4.0
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I first read this book as a teenager, and remembered it in various fashions all my life. I lost the book somehow, and had to search for this new release so I could give it to my husband. The last sentence of this book gutted me years ago, and still does - even though I knew it was coming upon reading it again. The prose takes some getting used to, but once you've settled in for a chaw and a talk with Mr. Schaefer, you realize how perfect it is.