-
The Revenant Movie Plot Summary
First published in 2003, The Revenant is being rereleased for the movie that is expected to reach theaters on Jan. Happy New Year's everyone, and stay away from grizzly bears.
- The Revenant Summary & Study Guide Michael Punke This Study Guide consists of approximately 36 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Revenant.
- Jan 7, 2016 - If there were ever a true story ripe for big screen treatment, it's that of Hugh Glass, a 19th century trapper who traveled 1,500 miles through the.
The novel that inspired the epic new movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Hugh Glass isn’t afraid to die. He’s done it once already. Rocky Mountains, 1823. The trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company live a brutal frontier life. Hugh Glass is one of the most respected men in the company, an experienced frontiersman and an expert tracker.But when a scouting miss The novel that inspired the epic new movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Hugh Glass isn’t afraid to die.
He’s done it once already. Rocky Mountains, 1823. The trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company live a brutal frontier life. Hugh Glass is one of the most respected men in the company, an experienced frontiersman and an expert tracker.But when a scouting mission puts Glass face-to-face with a grizzly bear, he is viciously mauled and not expected to survive. Two men from the company are ordered to remain with him until his inevitable death.
But, fearing an imminent attack, they abandon Glass, stripping him of his prized rifle and hatchet. As Glass watches the men flee, he is driven to survive by one all-consuming desire: revenge. With shocking grit and determination, he sets out on a three-thousand-mile journey across the harsh American frontier, to seek revenge on the men who betrayed him. The Revenant is a remarkable tale of obsession and the lengths that one man will go to for retribution. I have a purely subjective hatred for Leonardo Decrapio. Can't stand him. Favorite movie with him in it is The Departed because of the elevator scene.
Titanic was also pretty good because douchecanoes don't float. Rose knew she had enough room on that door but why share space with the likes of Depoopio.
I hate Leonardo like some people hate going to the dentist. Like people in Hell hate heaters. Like Star Wars fans hate Jar Jar Binks. So when I saw the trailer for the film adaptation of this nov I have a purely subjective hatred for Leonardo Decrapio. Can't stand him. Favorite movie with him in it is The Departed because of the elevator scene. Titanic was also pretty good because douchecanoes don't float.
Rose knew she had enough room on that door but why share space with the likes of Depoopio. I hate Leonardo like some people hate going to the dentist. Like people in Hell hate heaters.
Like Star Wars fans hate Jar Jar Binks. So when I saw the trailer for the film adaptation of this novel, I became super excited. Deshitio gets mauled by a fucking bear???
Oh hell the fuck yeah! Sign my fat ass up! Of course the book nerd in me, the geeky purest, wouldn't allow me to watch such a movie without reading the source material first. And I gotta say, I did not hate it. Didn't love it either.
But again, my dislikes are subjective. By reading this book, you will learn how to make a fire, how to fight wolves, how to betray people and leave them to die, how to punch people until they're ugly ala Fight Club, how to feel guilty, how to explode a cannon, how to get facial scars, how to be cool with the cards life deals you, how not to play poker, and last but not least, how to fall asleep while reading. The action in this book is superb. It's everything else I had a problem with. As long as people were getting killed, torn into kibble, or taking on the local flora and fauna, I was cool. It's when Punke digs into his research that I drifted off.
You can tell dude studied his ass off. Had this been a quiz on the 1800s, man, he would've gotten a B+. Sadly, this is a novel, not the SATs. It was the oddest feeling being on the edge of my seat one moment and snoring the next. It's like chasing cocaine with heroin. Your body doesn't know how to react.
Knowing what I know of the plot now, I believe the movie has been perfectly cast. Tom Hardy is going to nail Fitzpatrick. Or Fitzgerald. Or whatever dude's name is. I'm sure it will be a fantastic film and the first Dejizzio movie I actually enjoy from beginning to end. At least when I watch the movie I won't have to read whole chapters about some fucker trying to locate the old-west equivalent of a Big Mac.
In summation: If you're a research whore, this should pay your bills. If you like your fiction fictionalized, you might become bored at times. The action is exquisite, though. Gore for days. Final Judgment: Needs more cowbell.
That was a good western. Equal parts Larry McMurtry and Jack London with a nod to Cormac McCarthy, writer Michael Punke delivers a riveting tale of survival and revenge. In the summer of 1823, fur trapper Hugh Glass, an experienced frontiersman, lowers his guard for a moment and in true Jack London fashion, nature demonstrates how unforgiving a mistake can be, as Glass is viciously mauled by a grizzly bear.
His compatriots, already behind schedule and in danger from a rogue branch of a native Damn. That was a good western. Equal parts Larry McMurtry and Jack London with a nod to Cormac McCarthy, writer Michael Punke delivers a riveting tale of survival and revenge.
In the summer of 1823, fur trapper Hugh Glass, an experienced frontiersman, lowers his guard for a moment and in true Jack London fashion, nature demonstrates how unforgiving a mistake can be, as Glass is viciously mauled by a grizzly bear. His compatriots, already behind schedule and in danger from a rogue branch of a native American tribe, leave two trappers behind to bury Glass when he finally dies. “The goal each day is tomorrow morning.” But things don’t wind up as tidy as expected and Glass finds himself still alive but alone in the western wilderness without his gun, knife, or implements of survival. What he does have in generous supply is a will to survive and a murderous drive to pour a can of vengeful whoopass on the men who abandoned him. Punke has selected as his subject an early western tale, closer in time to Natty Bumpo than to Wyatt Earp.
The western plains in the early 1800s were a true wilderness, at least two generations before “the west was won”. The western men who thrived in this era were as physically tough and resilient as the natives and it is this primal, atavistic element that is at the heart of his writing.
Yet, Punke rises above a formulaic narrative by adding tragi-comic scenes and backstory histories to add depth and humanity to an already good story. Raw and powerful, Punke’s is a lean, strident prose, bursting out of its 272 pages with a purpose akin to protagonist Hugh Glass’s resolute will to survive and avenge his loss.
While reading this exciting western adventure, I was constantly reminded of how many things we take for granted today. Little things like blankets, lighters, automatic rifles, and those two words that kept running through my mind while reading: ANTI. The book is based on the famous true story of Hugh Glass, the frontiersman working as a trapper for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in 1823 gathering beaver pelts along the Missouri River.
Things go south fast when he gets ripped apart by a g While reading this exciting western adventure, I was constantly reminded of how many things we take for granted today. Little things like blankets, lighters, automatic rifles, and those two words that kept running through my mind while reading: ANTI. The book is based on the famous true story of Hugh Glass, the frontiersman working as a trapper for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in 1823 gathering beaver pelts along the Missouri River. Things go south fast when he gets ripped apart by a grizzly bear while hunting.
It's almost a sure thing that Glass will croak, so he doesn't take it personally when his colleagues abandon him, but when they steal his beloved knife and rifle, AND his flint and steel? Now that's totally unforgivable! Against all odds, Glass crawls across hundreds of miles of treacherous countryside to bring retribution to those that wronged him. I'd never heard of the story of Hugh Glass and I'm totally in awe of how much of a badass he was. The story is sometimes hard to believe; I mean damn the dude's throat was nearly severed and he couldn't walk! And with Michael Punke's well-conceived embellishments and dramatics, the story really rises to an even higher level of extraordinary. It's not only a gripping tale of classic revenge, but it's also a story of survival literally against all odds and about the extent that one man's determination can go.
It's well-researched and its great sense of place was very transportive. And Punke uses an omniscient POV that's great for historical fiction that really gives the reader more info about the world and more historical scope beyond the immediate story. I was not only entertained but I also learned a lot and I was inspired to jump on the Interwebs and learn even more. And that's what historical fiction is all about, right? The frustrating necessity of delay was like water on the hot iron of his determination—hardening it, making it unmalleable.
He vowed to survive, if for no other reason than to visit vengeance on the men who betrayed him. 3.5 Stars This 'gritty' adventure tells the story of Hugh Glass and the near death experience of his encounter with a grizzly in the year 1823.
Relieved of all means to protect himself, abandoned and left for dead on the wild frontier amidst Indians and other foe, Hugh uses his knowledge and tracking skills to seek revenge against his vile compatriots. Enjoyed this exciting novel for the most part and the historical data and background information of the time, but I was a bit disappointed with the 3.5 Stars This 'gritty' adventure tells the story of Hugh Glass and the near death experience of his encounter with a grizzly in the year 1823.
Relieved of all means to protect himself, abandoned and left for dead on the wild frontier amidst Indians and other foe, Hugh uses his knowledge and tracking skills to seek revenge against his vile compatriots. Enjoyed this exciting novel for the most part and the historical data and background information of the time, but I was a bit disappointed with the somewhat abrupt ending wishing the author would have taken it to its conclusion as noted in his historical note. On the other hand, now that I've read the book, I really can't wait to see the movie! (oh, and great book-cover) Update: January 27, 2016 Oh boy.quite a few differences in the movie version. The grizzly scene is more violent and longer than the book, and there is a brief non-graphic rape scene that is not in the book, but has much meaning in the movie.
Hugh Glass has a Pawnee son in the movie that exacerbates the revenge issue, and the Indian fight seems much more gruesome. Overall, liked the movie better, particularly the ending, although not as true to historic events. The Revenant is a fictional tale based on the real life account of Hugh Glass, a trapper who was attacked by a grizzly bear and then left for dead by the men who had been left to care for him. This story is so gripping. From the explosive opening moments until the very last page, the reader is practically swept up into the action. Not only are the men in The Revenant struggling with each other, but Nature herself has a huge role in this survival tale. If the characters aren't freezing, they're st The Revenant is a fictional tale based on the real life account of Hugh Glass, a trapper who was attacked by a grizzly bear and then left for dead by the men who had been left to care for him.
This story is so gripping. From the explosive opening moments until the very last page, the reader is practically swept up into the action. Not only are the men in The Revenant struggling with each other, but Nature herself has a huge role in this survival tale. If the characters aren't freezing, they're starving or looking for a safe place to sleep. This is a particularly excellent read for a cold winter night with a cup of something hot to drink near your elbow. This would have been a five star read except for the ridiculously unsatisfying conclusion.
It felt like The Revenant suddenly turned from a survival/adventure/revenge story into a tame morality play. I realize that it is a morality play the whole time, but with all the action and nail-biting tension, it doesn't 'feel' like one until the ending- which I won't ruin for you, except to say that it was very lame.
My husband read a version of this story called when he was in college so, while I was into this one, we were comparing notes on the differences between the two works. Although varying in small details, the major arcs were the same. I felt as if The Revenant did a better job of building the tension than Lord Grizzly but we both agreed that the ending to the story (in both books) was a let-down.
If you enjoyed reading The Revenant, you may enjoy. Though not based on a true story, it shares the traveling-through-the-wilderness feel and tension of this book. I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. FTC guidelines: check! So the book kicks off with Leonardo DiCaprio getting mauled by a bear so that alone may be enough for you to wanna read this book. Actually, it's Hugh Glass who will be portrayed at the local drive-in cineplex moving picture show this week by D-Cap himself who gets stone cold stunnered outta nowhere by the bear.
The bear attack will be in the movie. It's crucial to the story. Don't mess around with bears, man. Did I expect to really enjoy a book set in the early 1800s about fur traders wandering So the book kicks off with Leonardo DiCaprio getting mauled by a bear so that alone may be enough for you to wanna read this book. Actually, it's Hugh Glass who will be portrayed at the local drive-in cineplex moving picture show this week by D-Cap himself who gets stone cold stunnered outta nowhere by the bear. The bear attack will be in the movie. It's crucial to the story.
Don't mess around with bears, man. Did I expect to really enjoy a book set in the early 1800s about fur traders wandering around trading fur and shooting guns and whatnot? No, I absolutely did not. In fact, I checked this out from the library because I knew about the movie, and then I let it sit around for a month or so before I picked it up.
But, I'll be damned if this ain't one hell of an adventure! Punke (is it Punk, Punky, Pun-Kay. Who knows?) makes you feel like this book was written decades ago.
The settings be describes, the characters he develops, the dialogue. It all seems natural and not like he's doing his best to figure out what the setting would be like. He grabbed me by the neck and flung me back two hundred years ago like you would throw a Hot Pocket that you cooked too long in the microwave but didn't realize it until you bit into it and all the hot goo inside leaked out and burned your mouth.
In short, the guy did his homework. And this stuff really happened?! Are you kidding me?! Punke, whatever. That's unreal.
I'm not usually a fan of this genre, but I loved the book and I'm excited for the movie. It gets a little too descriptive and slows down just a little at times, but it's a great manly adventure story of survival and revenge. Great way to kick off the year!
Seriously, stay away from bears. This book of frontier justice is based on a true story and the movie is based on the book.by the time you get to the movie, the facts have been considerably altered. I can tell you there are at least 2 major differences between the book and the movie, and they're mighty big ones.
I read this because I always like to read the book before I see the movie, so mission accomplished. The book was difficult to stick with but finally picked up in the second half. I'll report back after I see the movi This book of frontier justice is based on a true story and the movie is based on the book.by the time you get to the movie, the facts have been considerably altered. I can tell you there are at least 2 major differences between the book and the movie, and they're mighty big ones. I read this because I always like to read the book before I see the movie, so mission accomplished. The book was difficult to stick with but finally picked up in the second half.
I'll report back after I see the movie on which I think was better - it's usually the book, but this time I'm betting on the movie. The book is good, but not as good as I'd hoped for. A 3.5 for me. UPDATE: I finally did see the movie this weekend.
The kernel of the story is the same but it has been embellished for dramatic impact and the ending has changed. I feel the same way about the movie that I did about the book - a 3.5. Good performances and beautiful scenery, but didn't love it. Is a historical fiction novel themed with survival and of course, revenge. The author incorporated some pretty raw scenes in this story that kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat.
There was a parallel and secondary non-wilderness story that I was less than enthusiastic about but all parts were important for the historical component and created a well-rounded tale. After some research about the nonfictional 19th century main character Hugh Glass, is a historical fiction novel themed with survival and of course, revenge.
The author incorporated some pretty raw scenes in this story that kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat. There was a parallel and secondary non-wilderness story that I was less than enthusiastic about but all parts were important for the historical component and created a well-rounded tale.
After some research about the nonfictional 19th century main character Hugh Glass, I found that Mr. Punke put his own spin on certain aspects of his documented story. After reading the real-life ending to Hugh Glass's angry journey, I don't blame Mr. Punke for writing some of his own details for readers. However, Hollywood's adaptation is another story. The film may have been inspired by Mr. Punke's novel but it varies significantly in many areas.
I enjoyed and am glad I read it. As always, I appreciate it when a work of 'fiction' leads me to learn more about the real-life journeys of those who came before us. If you are interested in the historically documented events of Hugh Glass's life, click for an online article titled The True Story Behind The Revenant, as Told in 1939. My favorite quote: 'He stopped, awestruck. Fusing heaven to earth, the Big Horn Mountains stood before him. A few clouds swirled around the highest peaks, furthering the illusion of a wall reaching forever upward.
His eyes watered from the glare of the sun against snow, but he could not look away.His awe of the mountains grew in the days that followed, as the Yellowstone River led him nearer and nearer. Their great mass was a marker, a benchmark fixed against time itself. Others might feel disquiet at the notion of something so much larger than themselves. But for Glass, there was a sense of sacrament that flowed from the mountains like a font, an immortality that made his quotidian pains seem inconsequential.'
The Revenant Movie Wikipedia
Note: It turns out the author wears many hats. He is a seasoned writer, the Deputy United States Trade Representative, and the US Ambassador to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. His political positions unfortunately prevent him from talking to reporters which has kept him out of the Hollywood spotlight in terms of his novel's success. Who knows, maybe he likes it that way. For an online article that discusses Mr. Punke in further detail, click.
I never had any real interest in reading this book, being already familiar with the story of Hugh Glass. On top of that, I had already seen the horrid yawner of a movie which involved a pathetic DiCaprio wandering shivering over the Canadian countryside (and later describing a Chinook as evidence of our impending doom from global warming). Unfortunately, a co-worker reasoned that, since he had once seen me reading a book, it would necessarily follow that I would want to read anything that had pa I never had any real interest in reading this book, being already familiar with the story of Hugh Glass. On top of that, I had already seen the horrid yawner of a movie which involved a pathetic DiCaprio wandering shivering over the Canadian countryside (and later describing a Chinook as evidence of our impending doom from global warming).
Unfortunately, a co-worker reasoned that, since he had once seen me reading a book, it would necessarily follow that I would want to read anything that had paper sandwiched between two covers. I could tell that he thought he was doing me a great favour, and since I am not one who likes to be untruthful I couldn't just give it back a week later and tell him it was OK. I reluctantly read the darn thing. Surprisingly, I didn't hate the book. Happily, some screenwriter had obviously taken liberties and totally messed up the movie version, but that's the case for almost every translation of book to film.
Punke isn't a bad storyteller, although he tends to lay it on a bit thick with the woodcraft. Tell me that Glass built a bullboat.I don't need to be told how he built it! That can slow the story down quite a bit, although this book didn't suffer terribly as a result.
Some actions assigned to Glass were hard to swallow, such as a badly mauled man barely having the use of one of his arms suddenly having the capacity to start a fire with bow and drill, an activity requiring the vigorous use of both arms. And lets not forget the 200 gr charge of powder in the rifle.about twice as much as he would actually be using.
Adding more powder doesn't give more range, it just gives you more unburned powder being shoved out of the barrel. So I didn't hate it. Didn't learn anything from it, but I can give the book back to my co-worker and thank him for loaning it to me. I can tell him it wasn't bad with a clear conscience. And it is much better than the movie, a point I have to emphasize because I could see people dodging the book if they had seen the movie first. Great book, one of my friends said as she passed the book on to me.
I looked at the title, a story of revenge. This book is not for me, I thought. But then I began reading the first chapters, a book on survival. I like survival stories, and this one is based on a true story of a trapper back in the 1800s that is with a company of men who are out doing their own scouting when he gets mauled by a bear.
When his company gets back to him, they find that he is almost dead. He is pieced back together, Great book, one of my friends said as she passed the book on to me.
I looked at the title, a story of revenge. This book is not for me, I thought. But then I began reading the first chapters, a book on survival. I like survival stories, and this one is based on a true story of a trapper back in the 1800s that is with a company of men who are out doing their own scouting when he gets mauled by a bear. When his company gets back to him, they find that he is almost dead. He is pieced back together, but then he is left in the care of two men, who are asked to stay with him until he dies and then are asked to bury him.
They stay for a while, but then they see that Indians are coming, so they grab all of their belongings, as well as his, and leave him to die or to get scalped, whichever comes first. The Indians never show up so he lays there with a fever. He sees a rattlesnake eating a rabbit, and then the rattlesnake attacks him over and over again.
Ah, a hallucination. I am thinking that I would have died from fright right then, if not from the bear attack. Then he wakes up, sees the rattlesnake is still trying to digest the rabbit and smashes it with a stone and eats it. Then he crawls on his belly to get to the creek for water. Next he is wrapping his knee with a strip of wool blanket that the two men hadn’t stolen from him. He does this because he needs to crawl on it in order to get back to the fort that is 300 miles away. By now I am thinking that I will just read this book until I learn all of his survival skills, because, well, I don’t know, maybe someday I will be mauled by a bear and need to know how to survive.
Or maybe I will need to know how to kill a rattlesnake when I don’t have a rifle in my hands. First and last time I ever had to kill rattlesnake I had a shotgun. First and last time I ever ate a rattlesnake I was at a Texas rattlesnake roundup. All I can tell you is that the meat is tough. If you get old and lose all of your teeth, don’t expect to gum this meat. Won’t happen. If you can’t tell by now, well, I am not really into this book.
The title turned me off. And if it wasn’t for the title, well, the writing wasn’t what I wanted, and well, it had back stories too, and I really wasn’t interested in these men’s lives or what his company was doing after they left him for dead. I was so bored, that I even forgot to put this book up on my current reading list, especially since I wasn’t sure that I would even read it far enough to consider it read or even abandoned. I was so bored that I began reading a fun teenage mystery story, and in between all of this I began reading a great book titled, The Jew Store, a true story about a Jewish family leaving New York for Tennessee and then having to face racism, and I sat there thinking that they picked a horrible place to move to being that they were Jewish and were the only Jewish family in town. So, today I went back to reading this book.
I learned how he fought off a pack of wolves after seeing them hunt down a buffalo calf. He wanted a share of the bounty. I read how he did other things to survive, like make a crutch.
Later on when he was able to walk he turned the crutch into a spear and then he walked into a deserted Indian village where he met a blind woman and her dog. He fed her and her dog, but she died the next day, so he put her to rest when a band of Indians showed up and saved the day, all except for the dog’s. I got up off the couch, walked over to the “out” basket, tossed the book in and decided to write this review.
I am hesitant to say it's breathtaking, but it's breathtaking. As brutal as the movie was, the book is more brutal and oddly enough more visceral. Nature and open range were not only an element but a part, an additional character of this book.
The Revenant Movie Summary
And what a foe it was. Yet this was also about folly of men.
Kinda reminds me and puts me in mind to recite one of my wordlings from 2013. Don't be afraid of nature don't be afraid of men but be oh so very afraid of nature of men. P.s; aren't t Whoa! I am hesitant to say it's breathtaking, but it's breathtaking. As brutal as the movie was, the book is more brutal and oddly enough more visceral. Nature and open range were not only an element but a part, an additional character of this book. And what a foe it was.
Yet this was also about folly of men. Kinda reminds me and puts me in mind to recite one of my wordlings from 2013. Don't be afraid of nature don't be afraid of men but be oh so very afraid of nature of men. P.s; aren't teddy bears supposed to be cuddly and cute? The Revenant is fascinating story about a man who suffers countless tragedy at the hands of nature and man, and seeks redemption. It’s so compelling because it is based the real life of Hugh Glass. In the afterward, the author Michael Punke explains that many of the moments in his book are in fact fiction.
The bulk of the dramatic events surrounding Glass and his fellow trappers are true, and sometimes so horrific you’d believe they were fabricated. He endured within a year what no man should ha The Revenant is fascinating story about a man who suffers countless tragedy at the hands of nature and man, and seeks redemption. It’s so compelling because it is based the real life of Hugh Glass. In the afterward, the author Michael Punke explains that many of the moments in his book are in fact fiction. The bulk of the dramatic events surrounding Glass and his fellow trappers are true, and sometimes so horrific you’d believe they were fabricated. He endured within a year what no man should have to experience in a lifetime. I could not imagine going through it.
This book was well worth my time (l listened to the audio version). Because some of the book was difficult to picture, and other parts were just so-so, I feel the movie experience may actually eclipse that of the book. At 272 pages, it’s a quick read. Naplanuj cestu europa. If you’ve thought about reading before seeing the movie, or just to check out the story, I’d say give it a go.
I don't think 'Revenge' is considered a book genre, but it should be. Apparently I really love books on revenge. 1820's Middle America. A trapper is mauled (nearly to death) by a grizzly bear and left for dead by his companions.
Only he doesn't die. Now, half-dead and unable to stand, he sets out to crawl his way across hostile and untamed land to seek revenge on those who abandoned him. Soon to be a starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
This is a man's book. In fact, with the exception I don't think 'Revenge' is considered a book genre, but it should be. Apparently I really love books on revenge. 1820's Middle America. A trapper is mauled (nearly to death) by a grizzly bear and left for dead by his companions. Only he doesn't die.
Now, half-dead and unable to stand, he sets out to crawl his way across hostile and untamed land to seek revenge on those who abandoned him. Soon to be a starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
This is a man's book. In fact, with the exception of an ancient Native American woman, there are no female characters in this book. The Revenant reminded me a lot of movies such as and Or, to a lesser extent, the book (although in a much different time period). The Revenant is based on the true story of, an American fur trader.
It's hard to believe that anyone could have lived this story. I'm certainly glad that I live in the 21st Century with electricity and cell phones, and Penicillin. Granted, I'll never be as 'weather-hardened' as any one of the characters in this story, but my life expectancy should be at least twice as long. Still, with epic lines such as 'Happy New Year, you dirty sons of bitches', this book will make you long for a life lived on the edge of the known world, where you're free to decide, and implement, your own brand of justice.
I can't believe I actually enjoyed this book. It was all about fighting and hunting and living in the rough, and not a single woman in the 250 pages. But gosh, it was riveting! Hugh Glass was a man who lived life on the edge. This was not due to any need or cash crunch.
He just liked it, and soon it became the only way he knew how to live. His father wanted him to become a lawyer, but Glass had other plans for his future. In the end, his father relented and allowed him to pursue his dreams. Glas I can't believe I actually enjoyed this book. It was all about fighting and hunting and living in the rough, and not a single woman in the 250 pages.
But gosh, it was riveting! Hugh Glass was a man who lived life on the edge. This was not due to any need or cash crunch.
He just liked it, and soon it became the only way he knew how to live. His father wanted him to become a lawyer, but Glass had other plans for his future. In the end, his father relented and allowed him to pursue his dreams. Glass started his career as a sailor. He later became a frontiersman, hunter, scout, and fur trapper. Glass was kidnapped by pirates, almost killed in a ritual sacrifice by the Pawnee, mauled by a grizzly bear, survived in the inhospitable land with no weapons and injured, escaped in an Arikara ambush. But he never stopped and continuously stepped from one dangerous assignment to another.
The Revenant is a novel about Glass' confrontation with the grizzly, and then being abandoned by his colleagues. He survived god only knows how, but he did get back to 'civilisation' and tracked down those who had abandoned him. I would not call this great literature and the author's writing style was sometimes confusing as he switched from one topic to the other. He also often switched back and forth in time, which didn't sit well with me. But Punke somehow managed to keep my interest alive and I don't remember when was the last time I was so fascinated by a biography, fictional though it is. Punke does provide an author's note at the end where he describes the fictional parts.
I really loved this book and will be looking out for the other books by this author. Hugh Glass is fascinating and I really admire his spunk and his perseverance. But if you asked me, I'd have chosen law school!
'Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.' - Mario Puzo, The Godfather The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins? - Edgar Allan Poe So, I did this totally proper like. I read the book first.
Untainted by the movie and then went to see the movie. The book was good. It was interesting and had great characters. The writing was ok. Perhaps, I've read too many good Western/Frontier novels ( 'Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.' - Mario Puzo, The Godfather The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?
- Edgar Allan Poe So, I did this totally proper like. I read the book first. Untainted by the movie and then went to see the movie. The book was good.
It was interesting and had great characters. The writing was ok.
Perhaps, I've read too many good Western/Frontier novels (, etc., so a 3.5 star book isn't going to thrill me. It read like an older, slightly wiser awkward brother to, and seriously ). My big two beefs with the novel were the prose (again good, just not great) and the ending (meh). So, this ends up being one of those novels where the movie ends up being more expansive and beautiful and perhaps, yes, artful than the original book. Part of that is due to Punke trying to at lest stay close to original events. He was clear when he deviated from the history (in the historical note) and because of this, it didn't crescendo and payoff like the movie. The movie ended up being more violent than the book (yes, the book was violent, but in a more contained way).
The movie was like some weird mash-up/hybrid/mongrel of. The visuals were amazing. But nature is a cold bitch for sure.
I have to admit I am more fascinated by the fact that Michael Punke is Obama's Ambassador to the WTO and Deputy US Trade Representative. The guy couldn't tour with Picador's new printing/edition of the novel, couldn't go to the LA premier of the movie. He about the novel or the movie because of Federal ethics rules prohibit pimping stuff while you work for the Feds. Anyway, the guy is 10 years older than me, and first published this novel about 14+ years ago. Anyway, I end up being just as fascinated with the author's story, the story of the real Hugh Glass, and the way the book intersects and differs from the movie MORE than I was impressed by the actual book. So I guess there is THAT. Description: The year is 1823, and the trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company live a brutal frontier life.
Trapping beaver, they contend daily with the threat of Indian tribes turned warlike over the white men's encroachment on their land, and other prairie foes—like the unforgiving landscape and its creatures. Hugh Glass is among the Company's finest men, an experienced frontiersman and an expert tracker. But when a scouting mission puts him face-to-face with a grizzly bear, he is viciously Description: The year is 1823, and the trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company live a brutal frontier life. Trapping beaver, they contend daily with the threat of Indian tribes turned warlike over the white men's encroachment on their land, and other prairie foes—like the unforgiving landscape and its creatures.
Hugh Glass is among the Company's finest men, an experienced frontiersman and an expert tracker. But when a scouting mission puts him face-to-face with a grizzly bear, he is viciously mauled and not expected to survive. The Company's captain dispatches two of his men to stay behind and tend to Glass before he dies, and to give him the respect of a proper burial.
When the two men abandon him instead, taking his only means of protecting himself—including his precious gun and hatchet— with them, Glass is driven to survive by one desire: revenge. With shocking grit and determination, Glass sets out crawling inch by inch across more than three thousand miles of uncharted American frontier, negotiating predators both human and not, the threat of starvation, and the agony of his horrific wounds. The river sequence in the film, my Main Man tells me, is a human impossibility - four minutes would freeze your average healthy specimen. He knows these things and lectures at the uni on such subjects. Scenery was wonderful thoughout.
This was a quick and enjoyable book to read. Upon finishing it my first thought was that the ending was anticlimactic and the subtitle (A Novel of Revenge) was not well suited for the book.
However, after thinking about it a little more I realized that perhaps the ending, though fictionalized, is a very good summation of the nature of revenge in the real world. That it is never all it is cracked up to be. I will also say that this book does a great job of putting into perspective how very easy This was a quick and enjoyable book to read. Upon finishing it my first thought was that the ending was anticlimactic and the subtitle (A Novel of Revenge) was not well suited for the book. However, after thinking about it a little more I realized that perhaps the ending, though fictionalized, is a very good summation of the nature of revenge in the real world.
That it is never all it is cracked up to be. I will also say that this book does a great job of putting into perspective how very easy we have it these day compared to 150+ years ago. For anyone who craves more of this kind of thing (but perhaps less fiction) I would recommend 'Sources of the River', an excellent book that is based on the extensive journals of Canada's version of Lewis and Clark, David Thompson.
Thompson is the one who made the maps that L&C used to get to the Mandan Villages. A great read - gripping, well-written, and tightly constructed. I'm not much of a reader of American Westerns, but I found The Revenant to be an interesting mix that is not easily placed in any obvious genre - it is part historical fiction but also part Undaunted Courage, part Into Thin Air. It is a fast-paced, entertaining read. In other ways, however, it is a very intelligent, nuanced examination of human nature - never heavy-handed and surprisingly moving.
I also highly recommend it as a gift A great read - gripping, well-written, and tightly constructed. I'm not much of a reader of American Westerns, but I found The Revenant to be an interesting mix that is not easily placed in any obvious genre - it is part historical fiction but also part Undaunted Courage, part Into Thin Air. It is a fast-paced, entertaining read. In other ways, however, it is a very intelligent, nuanced examination of human nature - never heavy-handed and surprisingly moving. I also highly recommend it as a gift for those readers who profess never to read novels because they are 'too boring': the story includes great historical detail about, among other things, the fur trade, Mountain Men, outdoor survival skills, and the incredible natural terrain of the West.
The biggest problem I had while reading this book was that the writing just didn't capture any emotion or personality. It was very cut and dried distant third person, but as an account of slightly fictionalized true historical events though, I do think it made the story of Glass accessible to a modern audience. The book is very different than the movie, but this is much closer to the real story of Hugh Glass's life.
Another fall back of the book is the ending. There doesn't seem to be one. If it The biggest problem I had while reading this book was that the writing just didn't capture any emotion or personality. It was very cut and dried distant third person, but as an account of slightly fictionalized true historical events though, I do think it made the story of Glass accessible to a modern audience.
The book is very different than the movie, but this is much closer to the real story of Hugh Glass's life. Another fall back of the book is the ending. There doesn't seem to be one. If it was going to be fictionalized, it would have greatly benefited from a decent story arc. This very much was just a documentation of a life. And that's cool. But the movie took those liberties and gave a more satisfying conclusion and I know, I know.
I shouldn't compare a book to it's movie, but I loved that gritty tale of retribution in the movie so much that I guess my expectations were sky high. However, I couldn't stop reading.
Perhaps I felt so strongly for Glass because I had seen the movie first, but I NEEDED to follow him to the end of his quest. I neither loved or disliked this story. I'm glad I read it if for nothing else but to see a TRUE tale of human survival (my fave), and to see a glimpse of early settler life. Nothing will make you more thankful for being born in present times than reading tales of our nation's early history. So many wrongs, and so many struggles. This novel is fiction - based on true facts -but fiction. Hugh Glass is a trapper who works for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company.
In 1823, while scouting food for the men he was traveling with, he accidentally comes upon a bear who mauls him, while trying to protect her cubs. Glass is next to death. The company tries to carry him, as they continue their travels to the Fort, but find that this is not working so decide to leave him, to prevent their possible detection by the local rampaging Indians. This novel is fiction - based on true facts -but fiction. Hugh Glass is a trapper who works for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. In 1823, while scouting food for the men he was traveling with, he accidentally comes upon a bear who mauls him, while trying to protect her cubs. Glass is next to death.
The company tries to carry him, as they continue their travels to the Fort, but find that this is not working so decide to leave him, to prevent their possible detection by the local rampaging Indians. They leave him in the care of two of his co-trappers.
They are to wait for his death and bury him. After a short wait, they not only leave him to die alone, they steal his gear, the very necessities that are needed to keep a man alive in the wilderness. Through sheer grit and determination Glass survives.
He starts his 3000 mile journey by dragging himself, only feet the first day. The story continues as he seeks revenge against the two men who left him to die. This has been made into a movie starring Leo DeCaprio - which comes out in Jan of 2016.
Well, after just digesting a group read set in the Civil War, you'd think I'd be sick of hanging out in the 1800s. Incredibly, I've been happily glued to The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge, set in 1823. Yes, this is the book on which the Leonardo DiCaprio movie was based, but I didn't let that stop me. If you've seen the trailers or glimpsed the book jacket, none of the below will be a big spoiler - although there are things in the book ignored by the movie and of course, Hollywood's heroism Well, after just digesting a group read set in the Civil War, you'd think I'd be sick of hanging out in the 1800s. Incredibly, I've been happily glued to The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge, set in 1823. Yes, this is the book on which the Leonardo DiCaprio movie was based, but I didn't let that stop me.
If you've seen the trailers or glimpsed the book jacket, none of the below will be a big spoiler - although there are things in the book ignored by the movie and of course, Hollywood's heroism and anguish tossed in as a substitute. This is, however, an honest assessment from a middle aged lady - not some high action or shoot-em-up movie junkie. The book was pretty impossible for me to put down.
Yes, it's historical fiction, but the portions that were true were amazing. Hugh Glass was a real life fellow who as a child, loved to read. His parents thought this tendency might lead to a scholarly future, but instead, it made him crave the exploration of new places. He became a sailor - a cabin boy, actually, at age 16. Here in Louisiana, we know all about Jean Lafitte the pirate (or Baratarian, which is the polite term for Lafitte), and it turns out that his crew overtook the ship that Glass was serving on.
Young Glass faked his ability to understand French and was taken on as a hand by Lafitte's crew instead of being thrown overboard like most of his fellow sailors. From there, Hugh eventually ended up ashore in Campeche (now known as Galveston), embroiled in a skirmish and with no supplies. A jouncing wagon, running from the fight, ended up being the salvation of Hugh and his comrade - a box of very expensive rifles toppled off. They each grabbed one and ran like hell.
Glass's perspective? That beautifully-made rifle was his defense. It provided him a living. And it was a reminder, a decade later, of all that he had been through and the friends he lost along the way. After surviving Pawnee capture and attacks made by the Arikara tribe, when that rifle was stolen from him and he was left for dead, Hugh Glass refused to take it lying down. Two 'friends' from the Rocky Mountain Fur Company were the men he sought to find and punish, and as a man who seemingly had come back from the dead, Glass was indeed a revenant for them.
This historical fiction was well researched, as best can be for frontier history 200 years old, but the story was told so beautifully, it was impossible to separate out the poetic license. One thing I loved was the appearance of Toussaint Charbonneau, the widower of Sacagawea. The author took real occurrences known about Charbonneau and others, then added them in. In the story, Toussaint saw himself as solely an interpreter and refused to take turns keeping overnight watch for attack.
He thought himself above it - this fact is documented in the writings of Lewis and Clark. There are other little tidbits for history lovers, and the factual pieces make this a fun read - if you're okay with an occasional scalping, the eating of dog, and a few maggots in one's wounds. Granted, a story about revenge, dodging arrows and bullets, and slogging through snow could be seen as a Debbie Downer.but there are these funny and sometimes poignant moments brought in by various frontiersmen. I adored the French Canadian brothers whose insults for one another were only surpassed by their love.
Anyway, although I listened to this via audio from the library (totally kick butt narration), I loved the book so much that I've ordered a hard copy for my husband and son. If you need a gift idea for Father's Day, I highly recommend The Revenant. For this middle aged lady, it was pretty awesome too.
|
 Créer mon blog |
Créer mon compte |