Me And Johnny Blue is a remarkable novel, made even moreso for being the first novel from a new writer. Fast-paced, nimbly-plotted and packed with deft, comic characterizations, it is a rollicking good ride with the genre's requisite danger, excitement, and gun-blazing action -- along with a healthy dose of laugh-out-loud good humor. Me And Johnny Blue chronicles the adventures of two of the genre's most hard-luck heroes: a young, white cowpuncher and his African-American blood-brother Johnny Blue, during the waning days of The Old West as they set out on a roundabout quest to find Johnny's little sister. Along the way, they encounter a unusual cast of oddballs, unlikely heroes, and colorful villians, and manage to become unwittingly embroiled in a plot to start a second American Civil War. West's skill at characterization and creating comic situations help this book rise above the usual offerings of the western genre, but he's equally adept at evoking a convincing aura of historical authenticity. Ultimately, however, it is the distinctive voice of its anonymous narrator that truly makes Me And Johnny Blue stand out. It is distinct, fresh, funny, and full of promise, leading the reader eager for further adventures of the motley pair.
Light fast read I liked it
This first-person account tells of the last days of the open range cowboy, the great blizzard of '87, racial hatred, and a diabolical plot to start a second Civil War. That's not a spoiler, as you find it all out on the first page! A page-turner deluxe, with great insight, humor and ultra-smooth writing.
