Ragtime Cowboys / Loren D. Estleman / 268 pages / Western

  When the word Western is mentioned what comes to mind? Horses, cowboy hats, spurs and dust. Always dust. What about a detective western? Not ringing a bell?! Well to be honest they are few and far between. Most westerns seem to involve vengeance of some kind, a long trail to follow or Indians somewhere in the picture. Ragtime Cowboys is a fun departure with snappy dialogue, cowboys long in the tooth and an ending that may or may not be satisfying.
  Real life Pinkerton detective Charles A. Siringo and Dashiell Hammett join forces to find Wyatt Earp's horse and end up running into political corruption. Siringo is eking out an existence writing stories when Earp offers him a chance to earn some money. He encounters Hammett and the two work together to find out why the mystery points them towards Jack London's farm and beyond to the beginnings of the Teapot Dome scandal and Joseph Kennedy.
   The novel is set within the confines of Southern California with some Western cinema thrown in. The book is light, fast paced with snappy snarky dialogue. Unfortunately I wasn't up to date on my 1920's slang and political machinations so most of the book wasn't making sense until I read a couple of articles online. Bad language wasn't a factor but there was some unexpected violence. If Westerns are your thing it wasn't out of place. There was a 'buddy' feel to it and to see some true historical figures in an unexpected light was a treat. A perfect different take on a Western novel.

Reading connections: The Last Kind Words Saloon by Larry McMurtry; Road to Reckoning by Robert Launter; The Bughouse Affair by Marcia Muller & Bill Pronzini.

WESTERN Book Discussion - Question # 7

One final question about the characters ...

• Are any of the characters in THE OUTCASTS "good people," in your estimation? What qualifies as goodness in the universe of this novel? Which character (if any) do you consider the story's moral center, and why?

Submit your points via the Comments: link.

WESTERN Book Discussion - Question # 6

Who might enjoy this book ...

• To which of your customers, family, friends, or co-workers might you suggest The Outcasts? Why do you think they would enjoy it? 

• Many readers learn about new titles using social media ... how would you promote the book on Twitter or Hootsuite, using less than 140 characters?

Let's talk about the readers' advisory aspect using the COMMENTS: link.

WESTERN Book Discussion - Question # 5

What about the genre itself ...

• How does this book compare with other Westerns that you have read (or seen)? What themes does this novel share with them, and which does it reject or reimagine?

Use the COMMENTS: link to provide your answer.
 

WESTERN Book Discussion - Question # 4

Let's continue with the title ...

• Why do you think this novel is called THE OUTCASTS? Which characters does this phrase describe, and why? What would it take for THE OUTCASTS to be "included," and what would they lose in the process?

Please enter your response using the COMMENTS: link.

WESTERN Book Discussion - Question # 3

What about Nate, the male protagonist ...

• Nate's first encounter with Dr. Tom and Deerling is marked by distrust and disapproval of their questionable methods, but his relationship with both men evolves as they work together. What does Nate learn from these more seasoned rangers, and from being on the job? How would you describe the portrayal of male friendship in this novel?

Use the COMMENTS: link to discuss this point.

WESTERN Book Discussion - Question # 2

Now let's expand the discussion by exploring the character of Lucinda ...

• Lucinda's moral spectrum has many shades of grey. Dr. Tom sums her up with a question: "What makes you think a woman with any decency left would cleave to an evil man like McGill?" Is his assessment of Lucinda fair? Did you find yourself sympathizing with Lucinda or judging her? To what extent should we forgive her capacity for cold self-interest and even brutality?

 Use the COMMENTS: link to continue the discussion.

WESTERN Book Discussion - Question # 1

The Western benchmark selection is THE OUTCASTS by Kathleen Kent, "a taut, thrilling adventure story about buried treasure, a manhunt, and a woman determined to make a new life for herself in the old west."

Let's begin with a bit about the main characters ...

• Most of THE OUTCASTS revolves around the separate journeys that Lucinda and Nate take before their paths cross. Discuss the motivations that initially drive the two protagonists towards their goals?

Post a COMMENT to begin or continue the discussion.

The Western is Still Alive, Really ...

Wish you could offer more than paperback series titles when customers ask for assistance in finding a Western to read, but you don't know where to begin?

Maybe you are interested in exploring the Western genre for yourself? Why not read one (or more) of the suggested titles under the Book Talk Titles tab and next time that pesky Western question comes your way you will have more to share. Copies of each title on the list are available in the SCCCLD collection, including the designated *benchmark*. 


If you wish to or have already read the *benchmark*, The Outcasts, please join in an online book discussion of Kathleen Kent's award-winning title on Tales from the RAT Queen. Kent's novel is a rather unusual Western in that the action moves eastward from Texas to New Orleans.

Watch for a question to be posted each day, beginning Wednesday, January 21 running through Tuesday, January 27. Use the Comments link at the bottom of each post to carry on the discussion.

Posting about your Western book of choice on the SCCCLD Book Challenge blog will help your co-workers and our customers learn about more titles in this genre. Please submit your Western title posts to the staff blog beginning January 28th, the day after the online book discussion ends. 

Contact Laura P at the Spencer branch if you are not already a participant in the district book challenge.

It will be great to hear about all the upcoming Western discoveries made by the SCCCLD staff!