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ronnie2024's review against another edition
2.0
This was the first on my list of American classics to read in 2020. What a surprise - it‘s about Mormons in Utah. Along with the unending description of purple sage, there is a black-clad stranger who comes to town to avenge a death(of course!). Reading this was tough going, and I will admit to skimming the middle third of the book.
aww112's review against another edition
5.0
It was easy to imagine all of the action sequences (although the love stories were clichéd and of the era in which this was written). The backstory about religion, greed, deception, and how hard it is to recover from abuse was surprisingly meaningful.
jbrown2140's review against another edition
3.0
I wouldn’t say this is the best book I’ve ever read but I was interesting to see every western-movie trope all in one place, and I think in 1912 they weren’t so fixed in the public consciousness as they are now, so perhaps they’re more original here? It was also pleasant reading while riding the Amtrak from Chicago to LA, passing through Kansas, New Mexico and Arizona, seeing the kind of landscapes described.
codeliusthe2nd's review against another edition
4.0
It took me ages to actually get invested into “Riders of the Purple Sage”, but I’m glad that I stuck through to the end. It’s a thrilling tale, filled with a ton of action and romance. I’ve seen many people comment on the romance, saying that’s the primary genre and not it being a western, but I’d say that the two go hand in hand here. The basic story is a romance, but it’s most definitely a western in every sense of the word. Grey’s writing style took a while to get into; it’s easy to read, but it’s a bit bulky and clunky at times. Despite that, he was able to craft some captivating characters, along with creating some landscapes that I now will have burned into my memory. I really enjoyed this novel, I just had to take a lot of time to find my footing with the novel.
maddness22's review against another edition
I technically finished this book because I fell asleep around the 50% mark and it played out until the end without a sleep timer but I don't want to go back and actually finish it because there wasn't any real story in this snooze fest. Don't tell my book club.
adventures_in_literature's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
holly_young's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
stingo's review against another edition
3.0
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.
toc's review against another edition
3.0
"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!
hannahgracelong's review against another edition
2.0
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.
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.