[.ca] Cloudy In The West (ISBN 0812575946)

What a great story!:
This is a great story,in which Elmer Kelton blends the characters into a harmonious story. The real story, in my opinion, is between Beau and Alta. But Joey Shipman is a real boy with real hurts and pains and is looking for someone to look up to. He finds that in McAllister and Miller Dawson, and eventually his own second cousin Beau Shipman. Elemer Kelton also brings out the "minor" characters as well - Sheriff Gardner and his wife, Mr. Meachan, Dulcie, and most of all, Reuben. Reuben is a big influence in Joey's life and it can be seen in Joey's reflections and how he carries Reuben's Bible around with him. In the end, I start to feel sorry for Dulcie. It is a sad story about her, especially at the end, when she confronts Mr. Meacham, whom she finds out is cheating on her and only wants her around to get the title to the farm. I wish I could have met Joey's real Mom. The ending is a great one and you will thoroughly enjoy this book!

New Western Classic for All Ages:
When a young man faces the death of a father, all the world becomes a stranger. Facing hardships at home and "loved ones" trying to get him, he must begin a new life. Elmer Kelton has written a clever Western that faces all mans worst fears: death of a family member, loss of home, loss of love, and even maybe loss of life? How he deals with these issues make life worth living! Against the back drop of Early Texas, this complex story unfolds. A great Western book that you can't put down.

Desert Rain Refreshing!:
Imagine you are 12 years old, recently orphaned, and suspicious that your recently acquired step-mother wants to kill you. No one believes your suspicions. The only hope your pre-adolescent mind can fathom is to strike out on your own in search of a ne'r-do-well second cousin. Thus begins an adventure that takes you on a journey from one end of the Lone Star state to the other. "Cloudy in the West" kicks up a storm of vivid, yet flawed, frontier types who cross the path of young Joey Shipman. Kelton writes a wonderful redemption tale set in the Texas he loves and knows so well. Thirsty western fans, rejoice! It's "Cloudy in the West!"

Another outstanding Kelton Western!:
Yes, this is a Western, but not in the "shoot 'em up" style so favored by other writers. Kelton takes the time to develop the hopes and fears of young Joey Shipman as he seeks the family he fears he has lost. Can he find it in the drunken cousin he has met only once? Or in the abused prostitute? He certainly will never find it with the stepmother who seems to live to hate him, or with her murderous second husband. With nary an Indian attack, cattle stampede, or shoot-out at high noon, "Cloudy in the West" is a Western in a style all its own, a style which sets it apart from--and above--the majority of others in the genre. Whether you are a devotee of Westerns or are exploring them for the first time, this is an excellent novel to add to your reading history!

A quick, fun read...:
This was the first of Elmer Kelton's books that I had read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was well-paced and involving, with interesting, likeable characters. A good, quick read for adult fans of the western genre or for younger readers just looking for a good story.