Shane

by Jack Shaeffer

A gunman's struggle to forget his past

Genres: Historical Fiction

119 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard someone say once how Westerns are good for children to read because of their clear moral universe. They don't have the ambiguities of good and evil mixed, but clearly delineate heroes and villains. I've never really been interested in the genre, but this one was recommended as a classic, some say the best of the genre.

The story is a bit cartoonish, though, to be fair, it is told from the perspective of a young boy who is enamored of all things cowboy. His parents are iconic, as is the mysterious stranger Shane, who emerges from the ambiguous West to set things right in this developing Wyoming town. Shane is a classical hero, like Achilles or Odysseus, which is a reflection of the author's education in the classics. Overall, the story was decent, though nothing amazing.

There is some violence, mainly with fists, and a few swear words from angry men. There is a passing prejudicial statement made about a black man and insults thrown at a man of Native American heritage.

The drumbeat throughout is what makes a man, what a man is, what a man does, what one does because one is a man, etc. This generally amounts to use of strength, skill, smarts, and self-sacrifice to make one's world a better place. I can get behind that vision of masculinity, however reductive and idealistic it may be.

[Fastidiously Facetious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book. It's warm and moving without becoming sappy. It works because it's told from the perspective of an impressionable pre-teen boy who finds in his father and a passing stranger (Shane) the strength and goodness he can trust to do what's right no matter what.

"He was a man like father in whom a boy could believe in the simple knowing that what was beyond comprehension was still clean and solid and right."

(I especially loved that sentence because it so beautifully and clearly articulates the childlike faith we are to have in God as our Heavenly Father.)

It's incredibly well written. The characterization, setting, tension, and pace were so finely crafted that it's astonishing it was the author's debut novel. I especially appreciated how the main characters were so richly crafted with details and nuance. Their actions and motivations were believable - and (since it was written from the perspective of a young man) there was always some air of mystery in why the adults did or said what they did. But there was always the trust that bound together seeming paradoxes:

"I remembered Ed saying that this was the most dangerous man he had ever seen. I remembered in the same rush that father had said he was the safest man we ever had in our house. I realized that both were right. This was our Shane."

5 / 5 stars

[Esteban Stipnieks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great thrift find classic made into a movie drifter fancy clothes rolls in and defends a family small outfit from corrupt gang who want to take their land. We know very little of Shane's past but it seems shady and he seems wanting the redemption he finds helping the little guy. We are given enough information to believe he had been a hired gun with a past. Classic western.

[Mike Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great old story that tells a classic tale of the West. Reading from the original 1954 illustrated version enhanced the experience. Just like the movie, so no surprises. It's a wonderful story about growing up in a time long past. Where brave men lived, fought, and died for the honor of being a father, a husband, and a decent man.

[Melenie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that this is technically a children’s book, a teen book. But I am such a fan of westerns and this really hit it on the nail for me. An easy and comfortable read, just enough. So detailed and descriptive of the landscape and what was the Wild West, and it was comforting.

[Sadie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of Little Britches by Ralph Moody. I really enjoyed reading it. The story was written with a brilliant simplicity. The characters were also simple and straightforward, however this gave power to the story. It let you focus on the events and what morals the story was trying to teach.