Heart of the West

Rating:
Summary: A magnificent epic!
Review: I've had the hardcover edition of this book on my shelf since 1995 and just got around to reading it. It's a sweeping epic roiling with all the drama and passion of the Old West. As a writer, Penelope Williamson is in a class all by herself. Her evocative prose and brilliant descriptions paint an unforgettable portrait reminiscent of Larry McMurtry's LONESOME DOVE, Gwen Bristow's frontier novels, or an all-grown-up Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful story filled with interesting characters
Review: I've read hundreds and hundreds of books over the years. And I'd have to say that Heart of the West is definitely one of my all time favorite books. It is a beautiful story about three remarkable women who brave the western frontier in the 1800s. All three women are very brave and very strong. The story is wonderfully written. It makes you feel like your in the west back when electricty wasn't yet invented and you had to go out in the yard to those porta-pottie-type-things to use the bathroom. I know that when I read this book it made me believe that this is what living back then was really like. Personally, when I was reading this book I wanted several times to go jump in an ocean and swim for miles or go running for miles, because I got very frustrated when Clemenine and her love, Rafferty, were not able to be together. I thought Penelope Williams did an excellent job of playing with my (the reader) emotions. It was almost like I was experiencing everything that Clementine was experiencing. When she was sad I was sad. When she was happy I was happy. And just when you think things are going to work out for Clementine something comes along to test her. There were definitely a lot of adventures in the story and it certainly was never boring. It was a wonderful story and I am definitely looking foward to reading more of P. Williams' books. ALso if you liked Kathryn Lynn Davins' Too Deep for Tears then I would highly recommend Heart of the West.

Rating:
Summary: Drawn out too long!!!
Review: It's good writing but it's just takes too long to get where it's going. It could had been better with at least 100 pages less.

Rating:
Summary: Penelope Williamson does it again and again...
Review: Of all of Ms. Williamson's books, I have enjoyed "The Passions of Emma," "The Outsider," and now "Heart of the West" the best. In "Heart of the West," Ms. Williamson indeed writes to the heart. This is not a silly romance - it is an epic novel about many people seeking what we all seek - love. It's about the strength of women and men and how those different strengths come together and make each relationship unique. Emphasis is on the "forbidden" love of soulmates Zach and Clementine, and this love will leave a lump in your throat and an ache in your heart - but don't worry, it's a good ache. Don't miss this book, you'll have missed something good.

Rating:
Summary: 4 Stars based on Part One of story...
Review: Ok...here is the sad, sick truth. It is now over one month into the year 2004 and I have yet to finish one book! I am an addict when it comes to books, so this lack of reading is appalling! I was hoping that "Heart of the West" would pull me from my slump, but unfortunately, it only pushed me deeper into my reading rut. Let me explain...I started this book and fell in love with it instantly...it was my constant companion for days..I could NOT put it down. The characters and the storyline were exquisite......so, what went wrong? ...I was reading and I had reached a point where the story was building up to this incredible peak when all of a sudden ..Poof! The central characters disappeared, years passed, and the author just introduced all of these new faces with no explanation! I skimmed ahead to see how long Id have to wait to get back to my beloved Zach and Clem, only to go thru pages and pages and they were GONE! I was so upset. I tried to keep reading, but the new plot line and new players just bored me and frustrated me. I think that Penelope Willaimson is a brilliant writer... however, I wish that when she started a tale, that she wouldnt divert from the central story line and the characters that are within it. All in all , this could have been an unbelievably AMAZING read.. but, sadly...it lost my interest :o(

Rating:
Summary: A captivating story - worth the read!
Review: PW is great and one of my favorite authors. And this is another one of hers worth reading. Clementine Kennicutt has a difficult life at home with an overly strict religious Boston father. Her last governess had post cards with cowboys pictures on them. Clementine now dreams of what it would be like living in the west with a real live cowboy. Dreaming is a sin and if caught she pays severely through punishment. One day she is run down on the street with a new contraption called a bicycle being ridden by a real cowboy. Gus McQueen is taken by Clementine's beauty and invites Clementine to elope with him to Montana and she goes, seeing this as the only way to escape the proper life ahead of her and making her dreams come true. They sneak away in the middle of the night and marry a day later in a near by town before starting their travels by ferry and wagon train back to his Rocking R Ranch in the Montana Territory that he shares with his brother Zach. Zach resents Clementine and does everything he can do to discourage her and send her back home. But it only makes her that much more determined. There's a fine line between love and hate.

It is a story of adventure, love, acceptance, friendship, resentment- just a little bit of everything. Clementine has to learn how to satisfy a husband, keep house, along with putting up with a resentful brother who turns out to be exciting and dangerous. She befriends the saloon (whorehouse) owner, against her proper husband's wishes, and the Chinese mail-order bride who is never accept in their society. I like how one reviewer puts it - there is a "full array of socials, shindigs and shootings, weddings, beddings, birthings and buryings." After you have read a PW book you have been on an adventure. Hey, it was a keeper for me!

Rating:
Summary: Historical novel readers will enjoy this
Review: This book was very good to me because I enjoy reading historical novels, especially those that are set in the old west. This book should remind us how hard life was during the time the novel is set. It had a good pace to it (the beginning was kind of sluggish), it was sad at times, but it kept me interested enough to find out what happened next. A good book.

Rating:
Summary: Captures you from the first to the last page!
Review: This is my favorite Penelope Williamson book. I loved its originality and how Ms. Williamson was not afraid to take risks. The story follows a young Bostonian named Clementine who marries a cowboy and moves to Montana. I don't want to give away to much of the story, but it includes so many different types of people such as a reformed prostitute, immigrants from China, Ireland and many other countries, Native Americans and of course, cowboys. I think one of my favorite heroes of all time is Rafferty. I'm always drawn to characters who are so desperately flawed because I believe that is truer to life. Are we not, as humans, always trying to overcome our shortcomings and mistakes? It's only when someone who loves Rafferty and comes along side him is he able to change. This book is gritty and rough and I love it. The characters drink hard, love hard and live life to the fullest.
I highly recommend!

Rating:
Summary: The best novel from Williamson
Review: This is one of my favorite books. This is more than a novel, it is a hymn to love. We followed the destiny of three women who meet in a country that doesn't fit them : Montana. They were hurt by life and still, they can find the courage to adapt to this country, and to rule it their way. And what wonderful characters Penelope Williamson created! I'm amazed at how independant and strong, and yet fragile and human, the women she depicted are. Clementine, Hannah and Erlan are three different persons but they are all the women in the world, with their joys and their sorrows. Clementine must be one of the most impressive female character I've ever seen. I would have loved the entire book was it only for her and Rafferty. They are such a heartbreaking, vibrating couple. Their feelings were so deep that I could feel it through the pages and their undying love for each other so real. Definately a great book!

Rating:
Summary: Wow! A real page turning saga.
Review: This story left me thinking about it for days. Wonderfully heartwrenching. I could feel what each character felt. All were very well developed. A real keeper!