True Grit
by Charles Portis · first published 1968
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
A funny, fast-moving western narrated by a stubborn teenager hunting her father's killer. It is one of the most enjoyable reads and a strong entry point for readers new to westerns.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
True Grit is Charles Portis' most famous novel--first published in 1968. It tells the story of Mattie Ross, who is just fourteen years of age when a coward going by the name of Tom Chaney shoots her father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and robs him of his life, his horse, and $150 in cash money. Mattie leaves home to avenge her father's blood. With the one-eyed Rooster Cogburn, the meanest available U.S. Marshal, by her side, Mattie pursues the homicide into Indian Territory. True Grit is eccentric, cool, straight, and unflinching, like Mattie herself. From a writer of true cult status, thi
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Oh boy, you fucked up now. Here are the books I read this past year that I felt were "Good", starting from the most recent : To Kill A Mocking Bird (Insanely good) True Grit (Insanely good) The Little Friend (Good) Priceless (Very good, about art theft) The Secret History (Insanely good) Ready Player One (Good, nerdy) Shadow Divers (Very good, history nerd book) Diary…
on “Ask HN: What's one book you've recently read and enjoyed?” ↗I love the tone of this essay. I was not a major Portis fan except for "True Grit" but probably will go back and re-read him now, and now I want to read Donna Tartt's books.
on “The Singular Voice, and Pungent Humor, of Charles Portis” ↗…attention to, and I feel kind of… dirty doomscrolling now (like eating junk food, it tastes good but you feel gross during the experience). If you want something to start with: https://bookshop.org/p/books/true-grit-charles-portis/5ac454...
on “Quality non-fiction books are the antithesis of AI slop” ↗In no particular order: The Tartar Steppe, Dino Buzzati True Grit, Charles Portis Thoughts, Marcus Aurelius Its not all about me, Robin Dreeke The unwinding, George Packer Lives of the Laureates, William Breit AntiFragile, Nassum Taleb
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2013” ↗Nice essay. Time to re-read True Grit (one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read), and check out Portis’ other books.
on “Old Weird America: The Dark Comedies of Charles Portis” ↗There are several westerns I can think of which are classic novels by any standard. I got my book group to read "True Grit" by Charles Portis. ("Masters of Atlantis" by the same author is another underrated work, and sends up secret societies.) There was some resistance to it based on its genre, since the group had not read…
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗…Right now I’m finishing up The Kremlin’s Candidate. Not great, the series has been going a bit downhill. Some recent hits: - The Dog Stars (Heller): Awful movie, incredible book. Highly recommended. - True Grit (Portis): For everyone recommending Lonesome Dove, definitely get a copy of True Grit. A fantastically fun masterpiece. A real achievement. - The Force (Winslow): The first 80 pages are deep cringe but…
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗I haven't read anything beyond True Grit, but that is one of the funniest books I've seen. I should check out the rest of his work.
on “Old Weird America: The Dark Comedies of Charles Portis” ↗…a lot better for me. I think it’s passively seeing them around the house and in the background always considering what is next. This last round I couldn’t decide what to dig in to after I’d finished True Grit, so I spent a few minutes browsing what we had on hand and it was just… a very pleasant experience. Also, unless you pirate ebooks or have access to a library that offers them, used paperbacks are actually…
on “Quality non-fiction books are the antithesis of AI slop” ↗