Media Medley Blog

Bronze Level – Read two fiction books: one by an author you’ve never tried before, and one from a genre you’ve never tried before.

Fiction Book #1 has been read. The book I read was titled Rhino Ranch (278 pages) and written by Larry McMurtry. At first I thought the author was a musician, but apparently my confusion was over Larry’s son, who is James McMurtry.

I choose to read Rhino Ranch because it was by an author I’ve never read, and I thought it was a Western, a genre that I don’t read. I found it very interesting that the chapters were only one to three pages long.

The characters were very likable and unique. The story, while unique with the flavor of cowboys and mysterious rhinoceroses, was filled with funny and ironic vignettes. The style of writing very much reminded me of Fannie Flagg’s slice-of-life fleshing out the characters ala A Redbird Christmas. Both stories were accepting of the human condition, although a fair bit more grit and sex talk found it’s way into the Rhino Ranch book. Yet, the story still felt somehow innocent, caring and involved. I wouldn’t have hesitated allowing my boys to read this book as young teens. At least there wasn’t a pornographic blow-by-blow sex scene, or obscene violence for violence sake.

Rhino Ranch turned out to be the last book in a series, but as an ending, it was very good. I might even go back and start this series from the beginning.

What I took away from this book: Rhinos can be mysterious, people are all oddballs (some more endearing than others), and Meth use has become problem that can hit home in several ways even if you aren’t involved with drugs.

I grade the book a solid A with my thanks to the author, Larry McMurtry for a good read.

No Ruts Reading Challenge Level completed: Bronze, Part 1 ( Read a fiction book by an author you’ve never tried before. )
Discover more about the No Ruts Reading Challenge

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 13th, 2010 at 5:29 pm and is filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.