Chris’s Comments (group member since May 12, 2018)

Chris’s comments from the What's the Name of That Book??? group.

I'm looking for a paperback western novel I read in 1990s, about people travelling in a wagon train. A young man with the train is in love with a lady - I do not remember if he gets her or not. He is considered quite undistinguished, but there is a scene near the end where there is an attack by Indians, and the lady sees the young man 'fighting for all their lives'. There is also a scene by a camp fire where the young man is 'pulling the turkey' - a vulgar name for masturbating

I'm trying to identify a western novel by Richard S Wheeler, one of the Skye's West series. Part of the story involves Barnaby Skye, and various people he is escorting west in the 1840s, having their outer clothes and weapons taken from them, so that they are left hungry and struggling to survive in cold weather. I think it might have been written in the 1990s. I think I read it then, or in the noughties

no not that one, but thank you for your input. I know I bought the book from the 'adult fiction' section of the bookshop, but what I remember of the story makes me wonder if it was really a YA story and was misplaced. I bought it in the 80s and I don't think the author was a famous one ☺️

Not that, but thank you for your input! This is a book I bought in the 1980s, and I've been racking my brains for ages trying to remember the title & author! 😂

thank you for all your help! I bought this book in a UK bookshop called WH Smith, and it was in the adult fiction section, but from what I remember of the story it could have been a good one for YA or teen (I was a bit older than this). The book wasn't a favourite or anything, but it has stuck in my mind somehow nevertheless ☺️

I'm not absolutely positive that the author is male. It's such a long time since I read this book. It's possible that my aged memory is playing tricks on me! 😀

no, think the author was not famous, and I think his name might have been Tim or Kim. But thank you!

it was before 1989. I'm guessing it was mid to late 80s

Thank you all! I have had a look at all of the above, but do not think any of these are the one I'm looking for, though The Way of Our People sounds to have a very similar plot. The boy out hunting was definitely alone in the story I read. I remember buying the book from a bookshop (in the UK) in the 1980s. I've been trying to remember it for the last few years as I enjoyed the story, and it's driving me mad! :) Again many thanks for your help - your suggestions seem like excellent books!

Yes he is. I think there is a wise older figure in the book, but he is hunting alone

Thank you for your help. That looks like a good one, but it's not the one I'm looking for. In this book, the young main character was hunting an animal in the woods. I don't think there were any more tests for him. I think he used a bow. I don't remember if he killed the animal at the end. I think I read this novel in late 1980s

Sorry, it's an adult western

I think I read this in mid 1990s

Not The Son, but thank you. Still looking for this book, and now think the 'spirit' seen by a lead character was a man (a male Indian) rather than a horse. I think the author was called Robert. There was a scene where the young man was fighting Indians when the wagons were attacked, and the lady he loves was thinking that he was 'fighting for all their lives'

Thank you for your help Kiri & Rainbowheart - still haven't found it. I'm thinking the author was male, not famous, maybe called Tim or Kim and that the book was a bit obscure. I have it in my mind that the Indian youth was maybe Minnesota Sioux or Ojibwe, or perhaps even Chippewa. I think he was hunting with a bow. There was a wise male character who was his advisor. I remember the cover being predominantly blue, with perhaps an animal??? I think the story took place in winter. The mention of white men and reservations at the end was just a few sentences long.

Again, thank you for your help :)

An afterthought - I think the boy in this novel was of the Sioux Indians of Minnesota or Ojibwe

Thank you, I've had a look at his books, but I don't think he is the one. I remember buying the book about 1990, and it had been newly published at that time. The author may have been female. I think I enjoyed it but it was not a favourite, or I'd remember it. thank you for your suggestion ☺️

An afterthought - the book was definitely not the well-known story of Rorke's Drift, despite the possibility of there being Zulus in the story. I do not think the author was a very famous one. I think there was an animal skull on the cover, possibly bottom right corner

I think there was a female character, adult but young, and a young male also. I'm thinking there might have been Zulus in this book too

thank you! 😃