The Sound of the Trees

by Robert Gatewood

In the American Southwest, in 1930, Trude Mason and his mother ride out into the predawn quiet, hoping to escape Trude's brutal, violent father and an equally violent past. They plan on reaching Colorado, a place they believe holds the biggest ranches, the most limitless promise, and lives of the greatest ease. What Trude finds in a small border town in New Mexico, however, is brutality and lawlessness in the form of a cruel, pitiless sheriff and his devoted posse. When they arrest and sentence to death a young woman whose life Trude has saved, he must endure an explosive collision between conscience and self-preservation.

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[A.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, who's Robert Gatewood? Good question. Nobody knows. Except that he's a one-hit wonder (in my eyes) and probably gave up writing for the same reasons we all want to give up writing. But reading is another thing. That's easier to do and harder for us to give up. Good reading is like taking a trip into the unknown and living outside yourself, page after page, we administer a dose. As I like to say, "In the world of entertainment, just like crack, reading is the down and dirty drug of choice."

Okay, enough of that. Nobody really cares about my analogies, you get the idea. Let's get on with this review. First let me say that I found a discarded copy of this book at my local library and snatched it up for a whopping 50 cents. Good for me, not so good for Gatewood. I'm telling you Robert, get with it man, come on back to the dark side and write some more. Make these library mongers eat your words.(freaky, I know)

Okay, I was so happy with my 50 cent copy of this book and so I sat down and read it and since I love these kind of stories (western tales) I gobbled it all up in one sitting (sort of) and thought it was a really good story by a pretty decent writer. Sure, like all literature, it had a few flaws but overall, this is still one of my favorite books. What does that say about me? I'll leave that up to you.

What's more important is what that says about this unknown author, Robert Gatewood. He's been missing in action since the publication of his one and only novel. Can't find him so easily but would like to congratulate him and encourage him to keep on writing. (I know, I just scared him off into the wilderness, forever.)

BTW, my ex-wife trashed this book along with some other personal stuff so I had to buy another one on eBay. (boo-hoo moment) It's a much cleaner copy with the same yellow cover. I love it. It's part of my western collection and this time, I'm guarding it like a hawk protects its prey.

For the record, it's set in the 30s about a mother and son who journey to Colorado on horseback trying to escape from the grips of an abusive father. A touching and moving story.

[Drew Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. The prose were poetic. Reminded me of Cormac McCarthy scaled down a bit. A terrfic book.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

McCarthy-esque without all the annoying Spanish that I'm never really sure I translated correctly and you aren't left with quite as much despair and desolation at the story's end.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok.

[Lindapinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Vivid visual storytelling. A couple of times the story seemed to drag but didn’t diminish my enjoyment. I only wish I liked the ending better.