So Brave, Young, And Handsome - Leif Enger

So Brave, Young, And Handsome
By: Leif Enger
Published: 2008
Audiobook Read by: Dan Woren
My rating: Delightful







Here is yet another totally random selection off the shelf. I was drawn by the serene landscape depicted on the cover and after reading the description on the back figured it was worth a try. It was. :)

Monte Becket is a man that I can relate to. His success in his first novel is as much a surprise to him as to anyone else. Now under pressure to perform, he stalls out and can't seem to do anything right!

Glendon Hale floats into his life and soon they build a solid friendship. Little does Monte know that Glendon has a history with the law and is in reality a wanted outlaw! When Glendon asks Monte to accompany him on a trip, Monte, with the approval of his wife and intense envy of his young son, accepts the invitation and sets out on a life changing adventure. Throughout the journey, Monte is faced with many situations he would have only imagined his novel's hero would face. At every turn he finds himself outside his comfort zone learning new things about himself with each wild escapade. In the end he becomes a better husband, father, friend, and man than he had ever been before.

I really enjoyed the story and the easy, laid back tone of the book. The writing style was a little stiff with the dialog being to proper to be realistic. The narration was wonderful and painted a picture of a very colorful landscape full of rustic little towns and a wonderful mix of unique and fascinating characters. The life lessons that Monte learns along the way are very relevant to us all and even though the book is set in the early part of the 1900s, it is easy to translate into modern life. I think all of us could benefit from a friend such as Glendon Hale even if he was an outlaw!

I listened to the audiobook read by Dan Woren. Dan did a wonderful job! His soft, easy tone was a perfect match for the laid back style of the storytelling. I very much enjoyed his performance!

Overall, this was a fun book for me, feeding a little bit of the cowboy dreams of my younger days. It was fun to imagine myself on a cross country journey in the days when horses were still more common than cars, and people in general were good folk who looked out for one another. If you get the opportunity to read this, take it! :)