
The Shootists
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Narrated by:
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J. P. O'Shaughnessy
The Shootist is John Bernard Books, a man of principle and the only surviving gunfighter in a vanishing American West. He rides into El Paso in the year 1901, on the day of Queen Victoria's demise, there to be told by a doctor that he must soon confront the greatest Shootist of all: Death himself.
In such a showdown against such an antagonist, J. B. Books cannot win. Most men may end their days in bed or take their own lives, but a mankiller has a third option, one which Books decides to exercise. He may choose his own executioner. As the word spreads that the famous assassin has reached the end of his rope, an assortment of vultures gathers to feast upon the corpse - among them a gambler, a rustler, a clergyman, an undertaker, an old love, a reporter, even a teenager. Books outwits them, however, by selecting the where, when, who, and why of his death and writing in fire from a pair of matched Remingtons the last courageous act of his own legend. The climatic gunfight itself is an incredible performance by an incredible man, and by his creator, Glendon Swarthout.
©2010 Glendon Fred Swarthout (P)2010 Books In MotionListeners also enjoyed...




















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Bleak beauty
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A surprisingly honest portrayal of the West
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Though Books would scoff at being called an existential hero he is one, deciding to meet death on his own terms. Given his profession, the exit he chooses is not surprising. Nevertheless, the climax is magnificently written and narrated; it is Homeric and, for my money, tops the somewhat disappointing clash between Achilles and Hector. You see, both Achilles and Books have a hard time finding a worthy opponent, but the American is more resourceful at devising one.
There is poetry in this book as well as sharp observations about what it means to face imminent death. This book made me think more about cancer than I care to, and made me fear it.
A minor criticism: the narrator does an exceptional job with Books' voice; the gunfighter's deep, masculine growl comes so easily to J.P. O'Shaughnessy that the voices of a woman and teenage boy are harder for him to do convincingly. But that's a quibble. You can tell when a performer loves and respects the material. Mr. O'Shaughnessy puts his heart into this story.
I highly recommend the Shootist.
The Existential Hero wears six-shooters
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As good as the movie
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Very different from the movie
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The Shootist
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Would you listen to The Shootists again? Why?
No, it is a classic, but a sad story.What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shootists?
The relationship between J.B. Books and his landlady going from mutual disgust to mutual respect.What about J. P. O'Shaughnessy’s performance did you like?
He has a perfect Western character voice.If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
The end of an era.Any additional comments?
Not for the weak hearted.A totally different type of Western.
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Not the movie
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great
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Loved the story, disliked the narration
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