Shane | Jack Schaefer, Wendell Minor | A Timeless Tale of the Old West

Shane | Jack Schaefer, Wendell Minor | Absolutely Beautiful and Awesome

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Shane

	Shane Jack Schaefer, Wendell Minor Amazon Remainders Account, 2001 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 99 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A stranger rode out of the heart of the great glowing West, into the small Wyoming valley in the summer of 1889. It was Shane, who appeared on the horizon and became a friend and guardian to the Starrett family at a time when homesteaders and cattle rangers battled for territory and survival. Jack Schaefer's classic novel illuminates the spirit of the West through the eyes of a young boy and a hero who changes the lives of everyone around him. Renowned artist Wendell Minor provides stunning images and a moving introduction to this new edition of Shane, the ultimate tale of the Western landscape.

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A Timeless Tale of the Old West - and a book Young Americans Should Read

Shane is the classic tale of the Old West fading away through the eyes of Bobby, a young boy, whose family is trying to homestead range land in (presumably) Wyoming. Based loosely on the Johnson County Wars of the early 1890s, the tale centers on the heroic gunfighter Shane, a man who is trying to escape his past by settling down with the homesteaders, and working alongside Bobby's parents.

Unfortunately, the Ranch barons, seeing their ranges fenced in and their way of life coming to a close, refuse to compromise and seek violence against the families. One of them is coldly shot down by the notorious gunfighter Jack Wilson, and Shane is forced, very much against his will, to return to a way of life that he sought so desperately to leave.

In the end, Shane, wounded, and knowing he could never settle down, rides off - the metaphor being the Old West is dying, and so is Shane, though no one ever knows for sure, as his figure portrayed in the classic book and through the eyes of the late Alan Ladd remains immortal - to the Starrets and to us readers. The last scenes of the movie remain very sad -and very timeless. This was a movie - unlike the pablum and nonsense churned out by Hollyweird these days.

I echo the comments of James Drury, this is a book that young readers should want to read, as it is solid literature. And finally a personal note: Even though he was the "bad" guy Wilson in the movie, I want to pay my respects to a nice man and fellow Pennsylvanian who I had the honor of meeting before his passing, Jack Palance. RIP, Mr. Palance, and God Bless.

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Absolutely Beautiful and Awesome

This is the most beautiful western novel you'll ever read. It is centered around the hero of the book, Shane. He is the most beautiful, awesome man you'll ever know. He leaves a delicate impact on the family he visits, and he will leave one on you, too. I was touched. The end could make you sad. But it's still worth it.

True American Literature

Every western since this book was published (1950's) has tried to capture is power. None have succeeded.

If you have a soul you'll love it!

My high school English teacher, Father Dwyer, assigned us this book in the Fall of '80. I wasn't really up for it since I never particularly liked westerns, but I liked Father Dwyer so I decided to read it. Boy was I glad I did. It's a short novel that can be read in a single sitting, but once it's over you'll wish there were more. If you're a guy you'll easily be able to identify with each of the male characters(Joe, Shane and Bob). Don't miss this book.

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Less of a Western more of a Coming-of-age story

Unlike most students, when I read this novella in 8th grade I actually liked it. We were required to read a book in a genre we ordinarily avoided. I chose the western genre, which to this day I dislike.

I believe the success and failure in popularity of Shane is due to breaking of genre lines. The description of this novella sounds like the archetypal Western. You have a lone gunman, a battle that can't be avoided and the inevitable showdown. Yet Shane refuses to fit the Western mold.

The action sequences are few and most of the written word is devoted to description of the relatively few characters involved. Even when action occurs, it isn't described in scintillating, pulpy detail.

Partly this is a result of the author's chosen protagonist. This novella is less of a Western and more a coming-of-age story. We see the events unfold through the fuzzy and at times myopic lens of a young boy. Shane is a vehicle used to challenge Bob's understanding of right/wrong, and the makings of a "good" man.

Readers have complained that Shane's past is never fully explained. There are many reasons for this. It isn't necessary in the development of the plot concerning Fletcher. It also isn't necessary for the plot concerning Bob's psychological journey into young adulthood. Most importantly though, is the fact that anything Schaefer might have written would pale in comparison to our own imaginations. Most of Shane's impact comes from his mysterious past. Illuminating it would decrease his affect on the reader.

Shane remains one of my favorite books today. I encourage young people to give it a try with the above caveats in mind. This isn't a mindless adventure. Shane requires a lot of effort on the part of the reader. In particular the infamous "stump" scene comes to mind. I've read a number of different analyses of that scene and my own is slightly different still. That is part of the wonder, the joy, and yes the frustration of reading Shane.

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