tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post3727045917962133073..comments2024-03-29T01:33:22.669-07:00Comments on Buddies in the Saddle: John Williams, Butcher’s Crossing (1960)Ron Scheerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15357501069513854664noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post-75923260919427497892013-01-07T21:43:00.921-08:002013-01-07T21:43:00.921-08:00I've read comments about STONER that make it s...I've read comments about STONER that make it sound worth reading. It seems somewhat autobiographical, and having had a similar experience as an academic, I'd expect to feel some sympathy for his protagonist.Ron Scheerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357501069513854664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post-14244570900570762672013-01-07T21:39:29.824-08:002013-01-07T21:39:29.824-08:00Living in that kind of climate, I cannot believe p...Living in that kind of climate, I cannot believe people actually survived without air conditioning. I would perish.Ron Scheerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357501069513854664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post-15100392928068233102013-01-07T21:38:27.328-08:002013-01-07T21:38:27.328-08:00This one kind of shoves your face right into some ...This one kind of shoves your face right into some ugly history.Ron Scheerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357501069513854664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post-32443057275749946072013-01-07T21:37:36.974-08:002013-01-07T21:37:36.974-08:00I don't know Kelton's novel, but I'm g...I don't know Kelton's novel, but I'm guessing he does well with the material.Ron Scheerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15357501069513854664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post-56694715012231367852013-01-07T17:01:16.486-08:002013-01-07T17:01:16.486-08:00Williams wrote four novels and two books of poetr...Williams wrote four novels and two books of poetry. Of the novels, three- Stoner, Butcher's Crossing and Augustus- are masterpieces. <br />I haven't read the first- Nothing but the Night- but even if it's juvenilia, Williams's juvenilia would be well worth reading.Roger Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11012987757094423896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post-6261443244940672162013-01-07T16:16:45.662-08:002013-01-07T16:16:45.662-08:00This one sounds good, a little grit to it. History...This one sounds good, a little grit to it. History v. Myth always makes for good reading. A few years ago I drove across central and western Kansas in July-over 100 degrees all the way. That area can be very tough on people who are not ready for it.Neil A. Waringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01806771906152936599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post-65629399211786988362013-01-07T12:05:32.796-08:002013-01-07T12:05:32.796-08:00This looks very good. I always like to see myths f...This looks very good. I always like to see myths from a second view. pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3434602314756730550.post-87324512398973464872013-01-07T08:35:07.838-08:002013-01-07T08:35:07.838-08:00Ron,
An anti-western here and there is probably a...Ron,<br /><br />An anti-western here and there is probably a good thing, don't you think? It is a way of countering the excessive romanticizing that is sometimes found in western novels.<br /><br />Your very good review reminded me of two novels that seem to share some characteristics of "Butcher's Crossing": "The Last Hunt" by Milton Lott and "Slaughter" by Elmer Kelton.<br /><br />I haven't seen it in years, but I remember that a pretty good movie based on Lott's novel was made in the 50s, starring Robert Taylor and Stewart Granger.<br /><br />I have put "Butcher's Crossing" on my to-be-read list.<br /><br />StormyStormyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05644679834064113193noreply@blogger.com