rogue river feud

I don't give 5 stars very often, but this is great. It doesn't hurt that I'm an Oregonian and familiar with the places in this book. That always adds a lot of fun. But it was an exciting book and a great story. Read more

0ne of Zane Grey,s best. A fine story with adventure and excitement that would please most readers. Of special note is the descriptive prose about the magnificent Rogue River environment. It is also a great love story that would especially appeal to young women. Read more

This tale of Keven Bell breaks from the western story line of most Zane Grey stories as it is about post World War I. Keven returns to his home in Oregon following a training camp accident that keeps him out of overseas service. A gun explosion rips off his lower jaw, reduces his sight in one eye and causes a brain injury that robs him of some of his memory. It takes two years to get him out of the hospital and back onto his feet. Even then, he pities himself for living through the ordeal. He returns to a home where his mother has died during his absence and his father is barely making it by. His reputation has been tarnished by another returning soldier who has spread malicious gossip about him and stolen his fiance. He gets in a fight with the gossiper and flees with an old fishing buddy from his youth. This fishing buddy and a young girl, who he doesn't even remember, are left to bring him around and show him life is still worth living. Wonderful story. Read more

Zane Grey said that he felt the love of wilderness and the beauty he found in nature is what informed his prose. I was knocked out by his descriptive powers. I am soon to raft the Rogue River that he talks about so lovingly in this tale. I will re-read the first chapter of the book when I return in hopes of capturing some of the magic of the “devious and deceitful river” in my own writing. The dialogue, a reflection of the time period, made me smile. Insights to the human psyche are deep and penetrating. I have not read Riders of the Purple Sage, or any of his many other award winning novels that were made into films. I am pleased to discover the brilliance of this masterful author. Read more

This is a great read!! I thought it a little slow at first but don't let it fool you it really is a great read!! It has a great story line with a great ending, so keep reading its well worth it. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did!!! Read more

The vivid descriptions of nature bring Rogue to life. After returning from a trip on the Rogue River, I saw it again from the perspective of those living on the river,and felt I knew them as the author drew out their stories. Read more

Like most of Zane Grey’s books, this is a grade B novel. It starts out seemingly a conflict between the upper Rogue River (Grants Pass area) fishermen and the major canning factory at the mouth of the Rogue. The factory owner is not only establishing a monopoly but netting so many fish that few make it upriver. However, the story goes sideways into a romance and the rehabilitation of the hero. Only at the end is reference made to stopping the illegal netting of fish, accomplished chiefly by the hero’s partner. An interesting sidelight: Grey, an avid fisherman, shows his concern with conservation and the environmental consequences of striping natural resources, specifically fish and forests. He also recognizes the unfair stereotyping of women. For example, the heroine is better at catching fish than the hero and he takes a long time to acknowledge she has better technic than he does for the type of fishing on her part of the river. On the negative side, Grey had a cabin on the middle Rogue area and so knew the river well. (The cabin is still there and visited by hikers and boaters--no road to it.) Yet after one early reference to the Siskiyou Mountains, he refers to them as the Cascades. This undermines our trust in his accurate description of the area. The novel was written some 100 years ago and gives insight into attitudes of that era but also resonates with modern concerns and issues. Read more

Great story of a life tempered by hardship and pain. The unfairness of people lying and willing to malign your character. It’s also a story of coping with difficult people. The Rogue River is a strong part of this amazing story. How it impacts and heals a persons spirit is wonderful. Eventually, he finds the love of his life. Everything turns out great. Read more