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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gutsy western classic, 26 Feb 2005
Mattie Ross must be one of the all-time greatest fictional heroines as she embarks, in her own words, "to avenge her father's blood". I love the humour of Portis's book, COWBOY: I gave some thought to stealing a kiss from you, but now I am of a mind to give you five or six good licks with my belt. MATTIE: One would be as bad as the other. And again, MATTIE: Do you need a good lawyer? COWBOY: I need a good judge. This is a heady mix. The technique of a first-person narrator adds realism and immediacy, which combines with the author's sense of drama and irony to create something quite remarkable. It is only strange that "True Grit" should have found more fame on the screen than on the page. One thing annoyed me and that is hardly the fault of the writer. The cover blurb states, "Mattie Ross should soon join the pantheon of America's legendary figures such as Kit Carson, Wyatt Earpp and Jesse James" (Washington Post) Well, perhaps, if only she could jump that thin barrier which separates fact from fiction. "True Grit" is such a compelling novel that I was genuinely surprised to find that Charles Portis is a living author. I had supposed it had been written closer to the time in which it is set, such is its sense of authenticity. It is also unbearably sad as well as funny. As the older Mattie states, ruefully reminiscing on her young self, "time just gets away from us." Such wryness is more touching than all the snake-pits, shoot-outs and dying ponies of the early part of the story. I have a few quibbles. The two marshals, Rooster Cogburn and LaBoeuff live to great ages (we are told Cogburn lives to 68) when I guess in reality most would have lucky to reach 40, even if they were not vastly overweight and whisky-quaffing like the hero. But overall I really enjoyed this short novel and its introduction by Donna Tartt, even if she does not fully acknowledge the importance of Portis to her own work.
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by Charles Portis
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