The Smiling Country

Elmer Kelton's books are always a treat. There's precious little violence and no sex, and certainly no drugs or rock and roll (although there is a little drinking). No, there is simply fine story-telling, with believable and likeable characters.

If you saw the TNT western, THE GOOD OLD BOYS (starring Tommy Lee Jones), then you know about Hewey Calloway, one of the last of the good ol' cowboys of west Texas back in the early 1900s. The film of course came from Kelton's earlier book about Hewey and his pals. THE SMILING COUNTRY continues Hewey's story four years later, and some of the same folks are here again - Snort Yarnell, Hewey's brother Walter and wife, and of course Miss Spring Renfro. I ain't gonna give any detailed spoilers here, show more but I will say it's a "happily ever after" kinda book - I hope. 'Cause I loved this book.

I've only read a couple of Kelton's books - THE PUMPKIN ROLLERS comes to mind - but just a couple years ago I read Kelton's memoir, SANDHILLS BOY, which was an engaging and wonderful book about a man I wish I'd known - a WWII veteran who brought home a bride from Austria. Theirs was a happily-ever-after story,because they were still married when Kelton died in 2009. A terrible loss to the writers' community, and to the world in general. Fortunately for western lovers - or just lovers of good books for that matter - Elmer Kelton left behind dozens of great books in which he will live on for a long time. Next I think I'll try that prequel to the Calloway books (the third in the trilogy), SIX BITS A DAY. Happy Trails, Mr. Kelton. Your books are your precious gifts to the future. Thank you for all of them. show less

The Smiling Country reads somewhat like a memoir as its descriptions of the life of a cowboy are probably much like it was. Hewey Caldwell is the protagonist but he is full of weaknesses as he refuses to believe he is getting too old for the tough ranch work such as breaking broncs and wrestling longhorns out of the brush. Not wishing to take on the responsibility of being foreman or marrying the woman he loves, he turns both down to keep his ideas of freedom- no tie downs.
When a bronc riding accident nearly kills him and leaves him with a damaged body that won't permit him to be the cowboy he once was, Hewey must make some tough decisions. This is where Kelton's descriptions of the life of the cowboy are so vivid and where he shows the show more romanticism of the life is flawed. It was a wonderful life of freedom and adventure but full of danger and sometimes death. show less

Sometimes change is hard. For Hewey Calloway, a cowboy getting up in years, changes such as the advent of automobiles seem to be tearing him away from the only way of life he has every loved. It seems that change is being forced upon him--his body isn't what it used to be, and his young nephew shows up wanting to learn all about Hewey's way of life. Suddenly Hewey is responsible for someone and is even offered a job as a foreman. But he refused to give up his way of life--until fate intervenes and gives him now choice.
This was a pleasant listen, I kept listening to find out if Hewey was going to make it. If you like stories set in the west with likeable characters give this one a spin.