A stunning successor to his best selling novel Peace Like a River, Leif Enger's new work is a rugged and nimble story about an aging train robber on a quest to reconcile the claims of love and judgment on his life, and the failed writer who goes with him. In 1915 Minnesota, novelist Monte Becket has lost his sense of purpose. His only success long behind him, Monte lives simply with his wife and son. But when he befriends outlaw Glendon Hale, a new world of opportunity and experience presents itself. Glendon has spent years in obscurity, but the guilt he harbors for abandoning his wife, Blue, over two decades ago, has lured him from hiding. As the modern age marches swiftly forward, Glendon aims to travel back to his past--heading to California to seek Blue's forgiveness. Beguiled and inspired, Monte soon finds himself leaving behind his own family to embark for the unruly West with his fugitive guide. As they desperately flee from the relentless Charles Siringo, an ex-Pinkerton who's been hunting Glendon for years, Monte falls ever further from his family and the law, to be tempered by a fiery adventure from which he may never get home.
Amazon Significant Seven, April 2008: A gritty western couched in the easy storytelling style of a folk ballad (think 3:10 to Yuma as sung by the Kingston Trio), Leif Enger's highly anticipated second novel (his first was Peace Like a River) tells the story of outlaw Glendon Hale's quest to right his past, as seen through the eyes of his unlikely companion Monte Becket. So Brave, Young, and Handsome begins with Becket, a struggling novelist bewildered by the success of his first book, who has pledged to his wife, son, and publisher to "write one thousand words a day until another book is finished." Four years and six unfinished novels later, Becket sits on the porch of his Minnesota farmhouse about to give up on number seven, when he spies a man standing up in his boat "rowing upstream through the ropy mists of the Cannon River." Eager to set aside his waning tale about handsome ranch hand Dan Roscoe, Becket calls out to the mysterious white-haired boatman and his life changes forever. At turns merry and wistful, romantic and tragic, So Brave, Young, and Handsome is as absorbing as a campfire tale, full of winking outlaws and relentless villains--the sort of story to keep you on the edge of your seat with hope in your heart. --Daphne Durham
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
beautifully written, interesting western:
There's so much good about this "on the road" western. I like the early 20th century time period, with a trace of the wild west still lingering. Monte Becket, the narrator, leaves his wife and son in Minnesota to travel with the wanted criminal Glendon. The reason (something missing in his life) is not entirely believable to me. In their travels, we meet many interesting characters in places artfully portrayed by the author. Reading this, I could visualize a beautiful independent film. I hope they make one.... more info
Amazing Read:
This is a great book. Leif Enger invites the reader to join the characters in a magnificently told adventure. Enger joins my list of favorite authors with this book.
so brave, young and handsome:
I did not receive this book. I received an email saying that the order could not be filled. So, I re-ordered from another source and received that book promptly and in very good condition. Can't rate something that I didn't receive. So I doubt what I have entered here will be accepted by Amazon.
a good read:
I LOVED Peace Like a River, one of my favorite books of all time, I LIKED So Brave Young and Handsome, I cared about the characters, and Siringo was just such a tough old bird that you loved to hate him. Sort of a road trip/western/triple love story all in one.
