After my previous book was unexpectedly bad, I was happy to have a well-written book come up next. True Grit is a western tale told from the point of view of a girl who is exceptionally bright and determined, and unlike most female characters in westerns.
Having seen the movie adaptation first (the most recent adaptation, not the John Wayne one) I can’t help but picture the characters from that movie as I read the characters in the book. I was struck by how closely the movie had followed the events of the book, with just a couple of extra scenes thrown in.
The characters are introduced and unlike the previous book that I read (The Cartographers) we are given short episodes to see their personality in action – their personality is not explained directly but it is discovered by the reader, which is an altogether more pleasant process.
The book is rather short but paints a complex picture of each character – how they are motivated and what they believe in. You can’t help but root for young girl as she takes charge of her own life instead of leaving it to others to decide.
I blazed right through this book – it was a pleasure to read.
Next I’m reading The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes.
