I read this novel twenty-some years ago, but didn't remember it quite as slow going as I do now. Perhaps it's due to greater powers of observation (that one of the main characters is beyond annoying) or the sage isn't the only thing purple in the novel (so's some of the prose). But with that said, Grey can write some great action sequences, the first real appearance of one made me sit up and take notice and the pages flew by. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the sequel, but I did like this particular ride into the sage.

"Riders of the Purple Sage" has, for nearly four decades, been my favorite book I never read. Well, now that I've read it I wish I hadn't waited so long! A purely fun Western tale by the master himself, Zane Grey. I don't know quite what I expected but I enjoyed what I got. Gun-slinging men, strong women, scoundrels, outlaws, good guys, bad guys, and plenty of horse riding!

More like Riders of the Purple Prose. It's enjoyable seeing the tropes of the genre in their earliest stage (Lasseter's very cool), but it's difficult to wade through the ridiculously overwrought portrayal of Mormons and often rather silly romantic interludes and soap operatic plot. All of that said, I was swept into it, and its description of action and land are powerfully evocative and atmospheric - almost all you need for a good Western. Almost.

An aside: I love how often pulp fiction returns to the idea of a hidden valley or cave - accessed by waterfall, usually, or secret canyon. I was misled in my youth to expect to find more of them than I have.

This has been described as the most popular western of all time and the novel that established the format of the modern western genre but to be honest I'd describe this as more of a romance novel set against an Old West backdrop. Grey's writing is vivid and engrossing but the story itself is not what I expected with Jane's internal dilemma taking more of the pages than gunslinger battles or epic horse chases (in fact there was a distinct lack of these). Added to this is the secondary story of Venters and Bess and their relationship that develops as Venters cares for Bess following his shooting of her. Don't get me wrong, this is an enjoyable read if you like romance, drama and inner turmoil but if you want a good proper Western story you may want to avoid this one. Not what I expected at all.

This book is full of some of the dumbest characters I've ever had the misfortune to read. Jane Withersteen is single woman in Mormon Utah. She is being pressed upon by Elder Tull to marry him and let the wealth her father left her go to him. But Jane has a problem, she has a soft spot for "gentiles" (non-mormons). She has a problem, until Lassiter rides into town. The book has a good and classic set up but doesn't deliver. My problems are many so let me be concise. The book does not employ a large economy of words. Get ready to read purple, sage, Mormons, and gentiles until your eyes bleed. Jane sucks, she is flat out a horrible person who will readily manipulate people, especially good looking gentile men, to get what she wants. She must be the hottest woman in the west due to what she can get these men to give up or do for her. Jane is stupid, she gets double crossed, taken advantage of, betrayed, people she cares for are abused or die all at the hands of Mormons. And yet despite all of that, she acts like a dumb blind child and thinks it'll all just go away. Lassiter is too easily woman whipped. This hardened man has traveled for years looking to avenge his sister's kidnapping and death at the hand of Mormon and he drops all of the that due to Jane's pretty eyes. He is betrayed and manipulated, but still allows it to continue after stating he knows that its happening. Lastly, I'll briefly mention the Stockholm love story did not work for me either. This is a bad book with a few bright spots.

I did not pick up this book expecting to be swept away by the gorgeous writing. I did not expect to be holding my breath through the last chapter, loving these characters so well. I also didn't expect interesting, nuanced religious commentary. In fact, I got very little of what I expected from this book and I loved that. It was interesting and beautiful and exciting. Highly recommend to people who don't know if westerns are for them.