True Grit

I'm not a huge fan of westerns but this one was okay. Mattie is a good storyteller and there were parts where I laughed out loud when she outwits nearly everyone she runs into. Otherwise, I found it to be a run of the mill western revenge story with the notable difference of a fourteen year old girl as the main character. Maybe I need to see the movie to get what all the fuss is about. ( )

I really enjoyed this story. In particular I loved the language used: the lack of contractions, the forceful, almost pedantic way that Mattie speaks, and all the little tiny details in each character's dialogue that made them seem to come alive.

An excellent book that I will definitely read again. ( )

I could tell within ten pages that Mattie Ross would be one of my all-time favorite narrators, and the rest of the book doesn't disappoint. I suppose it's tempting to compare any youthful American narrator to Huck Finn, but while Huck's book is all about his discovering how the world works and his place in it, Mattie Ross is already fully aware of both. The joy of reading True Grit is to see her enforce her will upon the characters and situations she encounters. The book's afterword compares her to Captain Ahab, and I won't disagree.

Yet despite her single-minded pursuit of justice, her story is also surprisingly funny, with an ending that I found both affecting and bittersweet. The other characters are memorable, even if they're overshadowed by the sheer force of Mattie's personality, and the story is engaging and straight-forward. ( )

True Grit is a very simple and efficiently told tale of revenge and adventure. It has no frills or poetry, and the ebook that I read is less than one hundred and fifty pages. What makes this very short work exceptional are the completely original and entertaining characters. Mattie Ross is one of my all-time favorite narrators. She straightforwardly recounts her adventure as a fourteen year old girl, determined to track down and wreak vengeance on the man who murdered her father. The narration is a highly satisfying mix of practical middle aged woman (which is Mattie’s age as she recounts this story) and spunky teenage girl. Mattie is whip smart; she’s an accomplished bookkeeper and haggler. She’s also impeccably moral; she quotes scripture and turns her nose up at the idiotic drinking and shooting of her companions. But, she’s accustomed to the harsh realities of the west, and she is out for blood. No fair treatment or trial for her man! When Mattie hears of her father’s murder, she heads out, leaving behind her grieving mother and two younger siblings, determined to track down the man who did it. Unfortunately, the murderer and thief Thomas Chaney has fled with a gang of bandits into Native territory, where the local lawmen have no jurisdiction. Mattie inquires after a U.S. Marshall to track him down. One of my favorite scenes in this book is the exchange between Mattie and the local law, when she asks him to name the best U.S. Marshall. He recalls that William Waters is the best tracker, Rooster Cogburn is the meanest, and L.T. Quinn is the fairest to prisoners, never plants evidence and always brings his quarry back for a fair trial. ”Yes, I will say that Quinn is about the best they have.”“I said, “Where can I find this Rooster?” I love this girl.Rooster Cogburn is an overweight drinker with one functioning eye and a shady past as a sort of jack of all nefarious trades. Random chance has him now employed as a U.S. Marshall, and he has no use for silly due process and stupid lawyers. He has a bit of a habit of killing the men he’s supposed to bring back. But, he has grit, so Mattie hires him right away.Rounding out the gang is LeBoeuf, a vain, boasting Texas Ranger. Neither of the men want Mattie along for the hunt, but she’s determined to make sure that Chaney gets his just desserts. The back and forth interactions and dialogue between these three characters is a wonderful mix of wit and absurdity that's just plain hilarious. This is a fast, satisfying read that was perfect for filling a few lazy vacation hours. I also had the pleasure of watching the recent Coen brothers’ film adaptation of this book, and I think that it is one of the best book to screen translations I have ever seen. Many of my favorite scenes are preserved word for word in the movie, and they made only a few minor edits to the original story.Perfect Musical PairingFleet Foxes – Helplessness BluesThis album became a sort of soundtrack for my vacation, so it’s impossible for me not to relate these songs with this book. This song seems to be about finding one’s place in the world, however small, even if it means giving up romantic ideals. ( )