Reviews

About halfway through this book I realized it was categorized as teen fiction. This made the story a little more palpable, but still hard to get past the woodenness of the archetypal characters. Shane is the name of the protagonist who is a deadly man, trying to walk the straight and narrow with the narrator's father. The narrator is a boy of ten (Bob) and is in awe of both his father and Shane. There are some great scenes of the family working together on the land, but as the novel descends into conflict its weaknesses rise to the surface. Shane as enigma and as unstoppable force are both over the top. You don't even have a chance to dislike the antagonists as they are deposed moments after they are introduced. There is no simmering conflict that reveals the true nature of the main rival (Fletcher), nor elicits any true desire for the "good guys" to win. It was a quick short read, that went quickly, but was not nearly what I'd hoped for. If you really like Westerns then this is a decent one to pick up but otherwise just leave it on the shelf. Probably more like 2.5 stars but I'm feeling generous :)

dalinarsreads's review against another edition

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3.0

Typical western book, nothing really special about it. I had to read it for school though.

bioniclib's review against another edition

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3.0

I don't read many Westerns but to me this one seemed to be the paradigm on which all Westerns are based. Shane is the mysterious stranger in town. He's a quiet man who seems to be tormented. In this particular story, he's taken in by a homesteader's family. The little boy comes to idolize Shane, the homesteader himself comes to respect him and the missus is enthralled with him.

The last is portrayed with the usual misogyny of the early 20th century. Her place is in the kitchen and she knows it. She's an emotional being and that's viewed as a flaw. Though, to Mr. Schaefer's credit, the wife isn't portrayed a vapid and her opinions are taken seriously.

It's a simple story with really only one quick arc. At barely over 100 pages, it's an incredibly quick read. If you're ever curious about Westerns, you can't go wrong with this one.

arytaco's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Shane proved that the western novel — just like the eastern and southern — could produce a work of literary qualities. It is the story of a mysterious cowboy who appears in 1889 Wyoming at the home of the Starretts. Joe, Marian and little Bob welcome in the newcomer with open arms, enjoying his charm, easy humor, and omnipresent politeness. He may have been running away but just call him Shane. The novel is a skaz narrative from a fully grown Bob recalling his nostalgic time with Shane; the black-hatted cowboy is not given many physical features, instead a hazy image of excellence. The novel is fast-paced and sharply written by Jack Schaefer, who infuses it with symbolism (tree stump, home cooking, gun belt, cloud, mountains) and appropriate humor. The story reflects its historical backdrop by presenting a conflict between the original cattle herders and the newly-minted ranchers, the latter of whom are transforming the land. Fletcher, the desperate cattle herder, is not irredeemable, as he is fending off the encroachment of civilization, which will ultimately rid the west of its lawless liberty. The west was once a place where men could reinvent themselves. Shane chose the former; hired-gun Wilson chose the latter.

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