Cloudy in the West

by Elmer Kelton

Book Overview

Twelve-year-old Joey Shipman had to grow up faster than most boys. His mother died when he was a baby and now someone has killed his father. When a farmhand is murdered, Joey suspects his stepmother,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812575946
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

One Has to Grow uP Fast in Texas

To quote from the fly leaf, "vintage Kelton; fast-paced story people with memorable characters, set in the author's beloved home state of Texas." I couldn't say it any better. When you buy an Elmer Kelton book 99 times out of a hundred you know you are going to get a "good" read. This one is no different. A twelve year old boy, Joey Shipmen, is suddenly orphaned and has to make his own way, and all of the perils one can imagine are given excellent treatment by the author as Joey becomes a man in 1885 Texas.

Another outstanding Kelton Western!

Yes, this is a Western, but not in the "shoot 'em up" style so favored by other writers. Kelton takes the time to develop the hopes and fears of young Joey Shipman as he seeks the family he fears he has lost. Can he find it in the drunken cousin he has met only once? Or in the abused prostitute? He certainly will never find it with the stepmother who seems to live to hate him, or with her murderous second husband. With nary an Indian attack, cattle stampede, or shoot-out at high noon, "Cloudy in the West" is a Western in a style all its own, a style which sets it apart from--and above--the majority of others in the genre. Whether you are a devotee of Westerns or are exploring them for the first time, this is an excellent novel to add to your reading history!

What a great story!

This is a great story,in which Elmer Kelton blends the characters into a harmonious story. The real story, in my opinion, is between Beau and Alta. But Joey Shipman is a real boy with real hurts and pains and is looking for someone to look up to. He finds that in McAllister and Miller Dawson, and eventually his own second cousin Beau Shipman. Elemer Kelton also brings out the "minor" characters as well - Sheriff Gardner and his wife, Mr. Meachan, Dulcie, and most of all, Reuben. Reuben is a big influence in Joey's life and it can be seen in Joey's reflections and how he carries Reuben's Bible around with him. In the end, I start to feel sorry for Dulcie. It is a sad story about her, especially at the end, when she confronts Mr. Meacham, whom she finds out is cheating on her and only wants her around to get the title to the farm. I wish I could have met Joey's real Mom. The ending is a great one and you will thoroughly enjoy this book!

New Western Classic for All Ages

When a young man faces the death of a father, all the world becomes a stranger. Facing hardships at home and "loved ones" trying to get him, he must begin a new life. Elmer Kelton has written a clever Western that faces all mans worst fears: death of a family member, loss of home, loss of love, and even maybe loss of life? How he deals with these issues make life worth living! Against the back drop of Early Texas, this complex story unfolds. A great Western book that you can't put down.

Teachers, put this on your recommended reading list!

A very entertaining, exciting, and morally uplifting book that would please any child or adult who likes a rip-roaring yarn! I love a good western and read this on a whim, then passed it on to my 14 year old son when he needed a book to read in class. He is not one to read for pleasure, but he really enjoyed this and went on to read other books of this genre, such as Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove" series. So, educators, be sure to suggest this to your young readers, it will grab them hard, and be sure to read it yourself!