I don’t have words for how much I love this book. It is the kind of book which you think about first thing in the morning because it’s the last thing you were thinking about before you went to bed the night before. You almost feel as if you were living in Wyoming, in 1902, and riding with this cowboy in real life.
The Virginian isn’t loud. Full of words or empty bravado. He isn’t forceful or aggressive or unjust.
He is quiet. Full of reason and wisdom. He is independent and strong and brave.
We never know him as anything other than the Virginian. But, we could call him by many other names: Skilled marksman. Faithful lover. Hero.
I read this book for C. B. James’ Western challenge. It’s not a genre I normally pick up. But, I have a strong affinity for this life because I am a cattleman’s daughter. How well I remember going into the country with my father, being hoisted up on rough wooden fences, watching the daring of men on their horses, being sheltered from vocabulary which was not to be spoken in front of women or children. I thought that everyone’s father was just that brave. I thought everyone’s husband was just that true. I thought the good guys always win, and the Virginian reminds me that they do.
It will definitely be in my top ten list for the year, and quite possibly for my life.
(Here is a list of the best Western novels from the Western Writers of America. I wouldn’t have put The Virginian near the bottom. But, I haven’t read Cormac McCarthy yet. Have you read any from the list?)
:Find Becky’s thoughts here.
Dolce Bellezza 
I haven't read many Westerns (Lief Enger's Peace Like a River and So Young, Brave, and Handsome). Is this something a non-Western reader would enjoy? I'm kind of a sucker for the strong, silent type in literature :)And I totally concur with your earlier Blogger-rant; it's the first time I've thought about moving over to WordPress…
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Wow. I should add this to my little stack of western TBR books. Glad to have you along for the western read-a-long. I should have my own review up next week. I'm shooting for three westerns this month.
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Read the Book, I enjoyed Enger's Peace Like a River very much. This is much more of a cowboy hero book, though, more along the lines of Lonesome Dove but shorter. And, in my opinion, better. There is everything one could want: drama, romance, adventure, revenge, setting. If you're a sucker for the strong, silent type read this now! I took down my rant against Blogger because it embarrassed me to be such a big baby, but I surely was frustrated with them earlier! :)C.B. James, you definitely need to add this to your stack. Right up to the tippy top. I hope to get a few more Westerns in for the month of May, too, but if not, I plan to read even after the month is done. I have True Grit on my stack, never saw the movie, and I'd like to read some of Cormac McCarthy as a blogger suggested. This is a wonderful challenge!
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There's nothing nicer than knowing the story behind a person's love for a book!
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Audrey, your comment touches my heart. I guess I like to leave a little personal connection to the books I read, and I'm glad to know that someone enjoys them. xoxo
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Wow! This must be some book. Wonderful review, Bellezza.
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"It will definitely be in my top ten list for the year, and quite possibly for my life." With that endorsement, I'll have to get a copy and read it this summer! I can't say that I've really read any westerns other than All The Pretty Horses (Cormac McCarthy) and Lief Enger's Peace Like a River. Maybe Plainsong and Eventide (Kent Haruff) count, though. Oh, and, An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg (most excellent book!). One of my favorite memoirs is Riding the White Horse Home by Teresa Jordan. It's set in Wyoming and her writing is wonderful. One of the benefits of being a slacker blogger, is I didn't even notice that something was amiss with Blogger. 😉
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Les, All The Pretty Horses gets massively huge (redundant?) praise, so I really feel I should read it. But, I can't imagine a novel which creates the aura of the West, the courage and integrity of the hero, like this one does. It tops all of the Westerns I've read so far, even Lonesome Dove which I loved. I hope you do read it, I'd love to know your opinion. Plus, it isn't even that long. 300 or so pages, that go like the wind. Imagine, our library had it in the YA section?!As to Blogger's fiasco, I couldn't leave up my rant for long. Lucky you missed both events! 😉
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Tempting indeed, Bellezza! I grew up in a similar way out in the country, and I'm waxing nostalgic right now!!! 🙂
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Andi, doesn't it make you sad in a way that those days are lost to us? This book made me 'wax nostalgic' too.
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Is Blogger still being finicky about comments? A few that were posted on my blog have disappeared in the last few hours…
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Hmmm, I thought the problem was resolved, but maybe not. Don't look for a personal answer from them, though. It's better to just cross one's fingers.
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I don't believe I've read any westerns other than All the Pretty Horses, but it's a genre I think I'd like to try. (No time this month, I'm afraid, so I didn't join the challenge.) Your praise for this one intrigues me, so I may have to look into it as a possibility.
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Simplerpastimes, May is an incredibly busy month! I can see why you might not have had time to join in C.B.'s challenge. As for me, I'll have to look into All The Pretty Horses as the title keeps popping up every time I read the word 'Western'. I hope you enjoy The Virginian when you get around to it.
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What a persuasive post! I haven't heard of this one, but I've just added it to my wishlist 🙂
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Ah, Jackie, it will certainly give you a taste of the American West. It was written in 1902, and apparently, it's the first novel to have a shoot-out in it. Although I had to think carefully where that was, because it certainly didn't stick out first and foremost. That would have been the Virginian against his enemy, Trampas, or his love for Molly, the schoolmarm.
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I have never read a Western. But it sounds like if I do, I should keep this one in mind!
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Maybe we can read one for our next read-along together. 😉
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Wonderful review, Bellezza! I haven't read 'The Virginian' but I have it on my 'TBR' list. It is wonderful that you grew up in a ranch and lived a the kind of life portrayed in the westerns – awesome! Out of the books in that 'western books' list, I have read Jack London's 'The Call of the Wild'. I have Cormac McCarthy's 'All the Pretty Horses' on my 'TBR' list. One of my friends has recommended Larry McMurtry's 'Lonesome Dove'. Elmore Leonard also used to write westerns. I am surprised that none of his books are there on the list.
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Well, Vishy, I didn't grow up on a ranch, but I had many opportunities to go out to the country with my father. Our area was much less developed than it is now; when I write that, I almost feel like a pioneer! 😉 I've read, and enjoyed, Lonesome Dove but not the others that you've mentioned here. I really want to try something by Cormac McCarthy.
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I think going out to the country often is as good as growing up on a ranch 🙂 Still awesome 🙂 Glad to know that you liked and enjoyed 'Lonesome Dove'. I will bump it up a bit on my 'TBR' list.
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My daughter loves reading about horses and the west. Do you think this would be appropriate for a twelve-year-old?
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Debbie, it would be absolutely appropriate. There's nothing in this book but honour and integrity, in my opnion. There's plot and action, as well as description and horses, but it doesn't read like a Western of today. That would be the only thing that might discourage a 12 year old. Then again, I read so many wonderful classics around that age. Give it a try! And, thanks for visiting.
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This sounds like the perfect read for me and my sweetie to read together when we go camping this year.
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I must say how much I've enjoyed your writing in this post! Personal and poetic… thanks Bellezza. And The Virginian sounds like a good read. I remember there's a TV series by that name. Wonder if it's based on the book. I'm still waiting for True Grit from the public library. BTW, the only Western story I've read is Elmore Leonard's short story on which the movie 3:10 to Yuma is based.
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I picked up True Grit from the library this week, but I could only read about the first 20 pages or so. It got so violent, so ugly so fast, that I didn't feel like finishing it. I wonder how it will strike you, Arti.
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Oh, I am normally quite allergic to westerns, but this review of your might just pull me in. I have read Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry as well as its sequel, and must admit I liked that one quite a bit.
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Nishitak, I read Lonesome Dove in 2006, and I still remember it. It was a wonderful book. This has less action, although some, but the focus is truly on the Virginian and his ideals. Really, I think you should try it. It's so good.
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[…] the challenges sponsored by fellow bibliophiles with great fondness. I would not have found The Virginian by Owen Wister, had it not been for a Western Challenge hosted by James. I would not have […]
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