Friday, November 08, 2013

The Call of the Canyon

Another Zane Grey Western Romance. This one set in New York City and a canyon in Arizona within view of the Painted Desert. Emphasis here on romance with the landscape coming a definite distant second. Much of the North-Eastern Section of Arizona is the territory to which many Indian Bands were exiled, the Painted Desert is just to the south near the New Mexico Border. As the book begins Glenn has just returned from WW#1 where he was gassed and endured unconscionable hardships that left him sick and injured in mind, body, and soul. To recover he headed west to recover his health. That he does is a minor miracle and one that weds him to this rough and ready frontier life. The storyline then revolves around whether or not his betrothed Carley can persuade him to come back East to the life of ease and luxury that is her milieu or if the lure of adventure, wide open spaces, and Glenn’s love can tempt Carley to give it all up and move into a rude cabin with Glenn. To add spice there’s girl he met out west and a cowboy who loves that girl. I fear I’ve read one too many Western Romances to fully enjoy this but the quality of Grey’s writing holds up throughout.

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