Me and Johnny Blue

If you have gotten the idea that this is a 350-page frolic of tall tales, then be assured that it's much more than that. This first-person account tells of the last days of the open range cowboy, the great blizzard of '87, racial hatred, and a diabolical plot to start a second Civil War. That's not a spoiler, as you find it all out on the first page! A page-turner deluxe, with great insight, humor and ultra-smmoth writing. Plus, there's a nice loose end that could (I hope!) lead to a sequel. Absolutely A++.

Me And Johnny Blue is a remarkable novel, made even moreso for being the first novel from a new writer. Fast-paced, nimbly-plotted and packed with deft, comic characterizations, it is a rollicking good ride with the genre's requisite danger, excitement, and gun-blazing action -- along with a healthy dose of laugh-out-loud good humor. Me And Johnny Blue chronicles the adventures of two of the genre's most hard-luck heroes: a young, white cowpuncher and his African-American blood-brother Johnny Blue, during the waning days of The Old West as they set out on a roundabout quest to find Johnny's little sister. Along the way, they encounter a unusual cast of oddballs, unlikely heroes, and colorful villians, and manage to become unwittingly embroiled in a plot to start a second American Civil War. West's skill at characterization and creating comic situations help this book rise above the usual offerings of the western genre, but he's equally adept at evoking a convincing aura of historical authenticity. Ultimately, however, it is the distinctive voice of its anonymous narrator that truly makes Me And Johnny Blue stand out. It is distinct, fresh, funny, and full of promise, leading the reader eager for further adventures of the motley pair.

This book was not quite like any other Western I've read. It had more character. By that I mean the author knew how to breathe life into the main character, a young cowboy down on his luck traveling with his 'blood' brother Johnny Blue on a mission to find Blue's sister. Author West definitely knows what he's talking about when he shows what it would have been like living back when the Wild West days were closing down. This book almost reminds me of Clemens' Huck Finn in that it deals with prejudice, racism, and hatred which followed the Civil War. To me the beginning could have developed a bit faster, but by the middle of the story (West is a real storyteller) it was hard to put down. Every character West introduced left me thinking about the meaning of their lives. I've read many Westerns (Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey, Elmer Kelton, Loren Estleman, etc.) which I've really enjoyed. This one rates at least that high, and in a way, maybe higher because of how well West developed the cowboy's approach to life (understatement, difficulty in showing feelings, hard-learned lessons) within an authentic 19th century world of the West. Yes, this is a keeper. Read it and enjoy.