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The Last Ride

         I recommend reading The Last Ride by Tom Eidson for anyone with any interest in Indian stories or westerns. Take with a grain of salt any reviews you find elsewhere. If like me, you are new to the genre, you will not find any of it predictable or routine. Although the "last ride" is made by an old man, the strongest character is actually his grown daughter. After the two of them, the strongest character is the granddaughter. Even the animals have engaging personalities and must be acknowledged.

         Many other characters are present, including one truly evil antagonist. Many of these characters die in the course of this journey, and at times I wondered how much more tragedy can this family endure? But that's part of the revisionist western: stark realism, tension between races, and the hardship of a lawless territory. At the same time it upholds the love and faithfulness of family and friends (of all races), personal honor, and the need for spirituality.

         This was made into a movie about ten years ago, starring Tommy Lee Jones. Now I have not seen the movie, but I can tell from the summary, it differs greatly in story from the book. I love Jones, and wouldn't mind seeing him dressed in a breech cloth, like the protagonist wore in most of the book, but that, too, differs in the movie. I can't see Tommy Lee pulling off what I envisioned in my head as I read the book. The summary of the movie indicates it does not carry out the themes of family, honor, or spiritual need.

         The book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was very sad at the way it ended. The emotional battle between father and daughter seemed realistic. These are not matters that are solved quickly or easily as some critics think they should. They take time, and sometimes heartbreak, to resolve. The inner struggles here are well demonstrated.