Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

1973 - The Time It Never Rained 1973 by Elmer Kelton 416 pgs
Tells the story of a West Texas rancher in the 1950s who struggles through years of drought to maintain his farm on his own without sacrificing his values or independence. As he refused to accept government aid.

1973 received the Spur Award and in 1974 the Western Heritage Award for The Time It Never Rained. Kelton won the 1977 Owen Wister Award for Lifetime achievement.

"The Time It Never Rained "was inspired by actual events, when the longest and most severe drought in living memory pressed ranchers and farmers to the outer limits of courage and endurance."--Elmer Kelton

I started this one. It’s very well written and boy would I like Charlie Flagg as a friend. He’s the classic man’s man with a big heart. He will not take a government handout but would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. I’m up to page 76. We just get a taste of what’s to come. It’s just a few sentences at the end of page 75. Charlie and his wife are sitting on the porch and they notice an all around dryness in the air.

I’m now closing in on 200 pages and I really like the way that Kelton describes the “wetbacks”. They are “wetbacks” to Charlie and to his Mexican American crew. They are a starving people looking for work but are illegally in the country. He needs to deal with that.

I’m nearly done with this one. A great read! Charlie Flag is an amazing character. This novel is not your typical Western. It’s set in 1950s Texas and is a story of hard times, bad luck, government handouts and principles. The dialogue is superb. The female characters aren’t very well developed but this is a story about working a Texas ranch in the 1950s. Most female characters are what you would expect them to be. This is an excellent novel. If you’re not into Westerns you will still enjoy this. It’s mainly about a man with a good heart who is willing to loose everything for what HE feels is right.

I’m just starting this one today😊

Tracey wrote: "I’m just starting this one today😊"

Great to have you in on this one Tracey!

Kelton's style.
I started it Saturday! I really like

It is sad what Charlie's family goes through during this time.
Tom and Charlie parting ways is not what one wants for family.
Being told by the government what you can and cannot do on your own land is hard.
I really do enjoy the clean writing style of Kelton.

My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...