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    Showdown at Yellow Butte
    Showdown at Yellow Butte
    Showdown at Yellow Butte
    Audiobook5 hours

    Showdown at Yellow Butte

    Written by Louis L'Amour

    Narrated by Jason Culp

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Tom Kedrick earned his stripes during the Civil War, fought Apaches, and even soldiered overseas. But in the high desert country of New Mexico, the battle-hardened Kedrick is entangled in a different kind of war, fueled by greed and deception. Hired by Alton Burwick to drive a pack of renegades and outlaws off the government land recently set aside for an Indian reservation, Kedrick begins to notice that things are not as they seem. As his suspicions grow, he realizes that he may be fighting on the wrong side of a land swindle. Disillusioned and outraged, Kedrick must take action against the very people who hired him–or be forced to witness the bloody massacre of innocent men and women.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
    Release dateOct 11, 2011
    ISBN9780307914897
    Showdown at Yellow Butte

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    Reviews for Showdown at Yellow Butte

    3.5/5

    3,173 ratings100 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      This story is about a military veteran hired to ramrod an eviction of squatters. He quickly discovers he's on the wrong side of the equation. Another good L'Amour, enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      The book tells the story of boys at a boarding school in New Hampshire during 1942-43. The heart of the book is the relationships between the various boys at the school. It is primarily about the protagonist, Gene, and his friend Phineas, their friendship and their rivalry. But the war is an ever present background, which eventually intrudes in the story when one student leaves to enlist, and suffers a mental breakdown as a result, before he is ever sent overseas to fight. There is a surprising plot twist at the end.

      Overall, this is a sad story, and I have mixed feelings about it.
    • 4/5
      Book title and author: A Separate Peace by John Knowles reviewed 9-13-23

      Why I picked this book up: I read this in high school, like aspects about it and had it in my library and wanted to read it after many years.

      Thoughts: Set against the backdrop of World War II A Separate Peace explores morality, patriotism, and loss of innocence through its narrator, Gene Forrester, in his relationship with classmate and friend Phineas. As a youth I was an athlete and identified with Finny for that and also his good natured, carefree and challenging nature. Gene was a great student which I also identified with and the accident that broke Finny’s leg really put a damper on his outlook and life.
      This book goes through challenges, development societal struggles and true friendships.

      Why I finished this read: it is an easy read, I got pulled into the best friend questioning motives, each other to get better, valuing each other, adjusting to death, guilt, and rivalry.

      Stars rating: 3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars for the well written relationship dynamics.
    • 4/5
      Captain Ton Kedrick accepted a job of leading a group of men which had been put together to remove some troublemakers from land that belong to a company of investors. When he arrives at the town of Mustang to pick up his crew, he notices that the town's people do not seem to like his crew or the job they have been hired to do. Upon meeting the "troublemakers", he discovers his bosses have been misleading him about the legality of their plans and the "troublemakers are actually families trying to make a living farming the disputed land.

      This leads to action filled fights with fists and guns in typical L'Amour fashion.
    • 3/5
      So, a classic of American literature. Assigned in high school English classes for decades (though I don't remember it being read in my high school), my impression is - meh. The writing is above average, lovely descriptions, but the story... well, just not so interesting. The plot involves a private boys' school just before World War II. The narrator's "best" friend is a charismatic, athletic, alpha-male, who has everyone under his thumb. The narrator, suffering from what can only be called a passive-aggressive jealousy, causes a tilt in the balance of power between them. I couldn't relate to the dynamics between the central characters and the setting was off-putting to me, but the narrator's guilt and inability to take responsibility for what happened rings true.
    • 4/5
      Poetry, through a boys' school, about a war. Contains many surprising truths about human nature.
    • 5/5
      Originally published in 1959, A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a coming-of-age story set in a New England private boy’s school during World War II. The story is about friendship, competition and the inner doubts and fears of adolescent boys. There is a school of thought that pushes a homo-erotic dynamic as implied by the interactions between the two main characters, Gene and Phineas. This is subtle and open to an individuals’ interpretation of the relationship.

      While Gene is an introvert and intellectual, Finny is an extroverted athlete who definitely has more control over their relationship. Whatever Finny wants to do, Gene, often reluctant, always follows along. As roommates, these opposites are always together. When Finny devises a daredevil club whose membership must jump from the limb of a tree into the river, Gene, although terrified, follows along. Gene admires Phineas but also is jealous of his ease with others and his ability to impress through actions. This jealousy flares up at various times, and eventually Gene acts upon impulse and this act of betrayal changes both boys forever.

      A Separate Peace is beautifully written. It moves slowly but gives the reader vivid imagery and strong character development. World War II plays a vital part but always remains in the background, shaping the boy’s world, but not controlling it. The book varies itself, sometimes sad, sometimes humorous, always moving, and for me, it felt authentic to both the time and the place.
    • 5/5
      I'm not at all exaggerating when I say that this novel is one of my favorite books I have ever read, especially when it comes to required reading from high school. It is a story that has really stuck with me, I think mostly because it speaks to universal human experiences.

      Who hasn't experienced a bit of a rivalry with a friend? Who hasn't been driven to act out of jealousy? Who hasn't struggled with finding their place among all of those who seem to have it already "figured out"?

      I think these are things we can all say we've experienced and I think it is even more poignant for adolescent males who should not find it difficult to relate to the characters, their emotions, and their actions. It's been a while since last I read it, but the imagery and the themes are ones that stick with me.
    • 3/5
      What the everlasting what was that?????? I liked parts and disliked parts, but sheesh, it felt slow and then rushed and then smooshed in places. Like, I really don't know how to feel about this book. I liked the discussion about the psychology of war and adolescent masculinity, but the characters and pacing just felt...off.
    • 4/5
      Boys face the impact of WWII as they attend school.
    • 4/5
      This is a frequently studied novel, and I can see its fertile ground. The relationship between Gene and Phineas is a complex one, viewed through a prism from Gene's point of view. Phineas is a rebellious rules flouter; or he's an innocent Pollyanna who doesn't understand the concept of rules; or he's manipulating a deeper game of one-upmanship with Gene, and his entire personality is a subterfuge. The background is World War II, providing a ticking clock as Gene and Phineas approach enlistment age. Gene shares in the general experience of the war as simultaneously dangerous and alluring. Phineas has a different kind of response, revelling in the peace they still enjoy in the moment. He is living in the present, while the rest of his classmates are swept up by their future. This becomes a kind of lifeline as Gene struggles with what's approaching.

      The novel's fault is its blandness. At this all-white prep school there are no girls, no dating, no homosexuality; barely a hint of alcohol or driving; almost no music; no drugs, no gangs, no weapons. Everyone lives with their well-off parents, and the weirdest kid is only a naturalist who collects slugs and enjoys cross-country skiing. I am deeply surprised this book has been banned by anyone, ever (a teacher might want to lead with that mysterious fact, to keep the kids awake). But there's poignancy in scarcely being able to imagine coddled young men less prepared for the horrors of war than these.
    • 4/5
      This book was a true pleasure to read. I felt like I knew the characters very well, yet it didn't take 500 pages to develop them. I was surprised by the young men's emotions displayed to openly. Definately a classic worth reading.
    • 2/5
      I found this book to be incredibly irritating. Not the worst book I've ever read, but didn’t feel like I could'n relate to the book. I felt like I was just trekking through waiting for it to start getting good, but it never did.
    • 5/5
      Called a masterpiece and I can see why. Set in a boy’s school where an incident involving a dive from a tree explores what is in our own hearts and minds. The themes explored are interesting, and the book is well-written, very much a classic of its time.
    • 3/5
      This novel opens 15 yrs after the events in the remainder of the book. The narrator, Gene Forester, has returned to Devon School in N.H., where he was a student during WWII. He intentionally seeks out two site, both integral elements of the story: a marble staircase in one of the academic buildings and a particular tree on a loft above a river.

      The primary focus of the story o the novel involves the love-hate relationship between Gene and Finny. The former is a quiet, somewhat insecure, intellectual while the latter is a confident athletic leader among a group of boys. When Finny prods Gene to jump from a branch o the aforementioned tree into the river, Finny creates a secret society incorporating this action as an ongoing ritual. When an incident occurs involving the tree, the stage is now set for the remainder of the novel.

      This coming-of-age is primarily a character study. Although the novel was well written, I found myself frequently plodding through the pages. I did enjoy the author's choice of works in sentence construction, such as, "The engine of Dr. Stampole's care roared exhaustedly." I realize that I should love this book since it is the best known of Knowles books and is frequently required reading for high schools, I'm afraid that I found myself frequently disengaged.
    • 4/5
      I had never heard of this book until about a month ago and didn't realize it was a staple in some English classes. Shades of Lord of the Flies and Catcher in the Rye with a surprise ending. Not sure if the main character is more likeable at the end.
    • 3/5
      This is a fairly dark coming-of-age tale. The narrator Gene spends much of the novel analyzing his rivalry with his friend Phineas, who he causes to fall out of a tree, causing his friend to loose the ability to compete in sports. In many ways, this novel reminds me of the boys I knew growing up, as Gene strives to out-do Phineas and ultimately pushes things past their limits. It is good to see both of the young men slowly come to realize the destructiveness of their paths, but, of course, it is practically too late by the time they reach this conclusion. I liked this book as a classic of the coming-of-age tale, but I don't know that I would ever come back to the story for a second read.
    • 4/5
      I read this book in the 10th grade, and I hated it. I decided to pick it up about 5 years later, and I liked it a lot more. I won't go so far as to say that I loved it, but it was a lot more bearable for me. It was fairly interesting until the last 10 pages or so. I had to force myself to get through those pages.
    • 4/5
      I choose this audio book, mainly because, it is one of the books selected for The Great American Read PBS television series, one which I seem to have overlooked in the past.
      Gene Forester, now a man in his thirties, returns to New Hampshire's Devon boy's boarding school and as he strolls thru campus recounts the idyllic summer term of 1942 when he and his classmates were innocent, when war was only a distant distraction but also when it becomes shattered like the bones in his good friends leg, caused solely by Gene in a moment of jealousy, and the resolve of another classmate who chooses to enlist. These are pivotal moments in the story which determines much of what lies ahead for the young men as they ready for graduation and their imminent involvement in World War II. A quiet and thoughtful book.
      Spike McClure, does a wonderful job narrating the engaging and winsome prose of John Knowles.
    • 3/5
      I read this one in high school as required reading and don't remember being to fond of it. The only part that really stuck with me was that one of the boys breaks an arm (or a leg?). Something is broken and that was a pivotal moment in the story, but that's all I remember. So all that to say, nothing memorable, but I recommend it to my junior high boys to read in the hopes that maybe they'll find something interesting about it (some of them really enjoy it).
    • 5/5
      This is a terrific book. I'm not used to the boarding school genre (aside from "Harry Potter" and watching "The Emperor's Club"), and the Northeastern elitist culture is foreign to me, but the author did a thorough job painting the setting so that outsiders could understand and appreciate it. Phineas is like that Labrador Retriever everyone knows, a big, happy jock who chooses to see only the best in Gene. Gene, on the other hand, is a quiet, studious type who comes to regard his friend with suspicion, as if Phineas is knowingly mocking everyone around him. And in a split-second, Gene makes a decision that cripples Phineas. Only afterward does Gene learn that Phineas has been genuine all along. Eventually, the truth about the incident comes out, putting their friendship to the test.

      It's not a long read by any means, and deserves to be reread several times. 5 stars.
    • 3/5
      Not exactly what I anticipated, but still a mildly enjoyable read. It reads beautifully but I couldn't care much for the plot. Gene has always been introverted and jealous of his best friend Phineas. At a boy's boarding school in New England they find themselves competing in every manner of sport and game; only Phineas doesn't realize how seriously Gene takes it all. For once in his lousy life, Gene wants to be better at something than Phineas, even if it's just grades. He doesn't want to steal the spotlight he just wants to be an equal. One day while fooling around, tragedy strikes. Will things ever be the same again? Set during World War II, this tale of friendship, loyalty, and competition has still remained a classic decades later. Not my cup of tea, but not bad either.
    • 3/5
      young boys in boarding school over the summer holidays just before WWII
    • 3/5
      I'm a really big fan of WWII era books... everybody has their own experience with the war, some similar and some very different. This book captures the feelings of underage boys who must prepare to enter the war.

      This book didn't evoke the same emotion as other books, of the same and different genres, but it was good nonetheless. I especially latched onto the parallel between Phineas' death and the boys experiencing the death of the war. Although this was only captured in the last 5 or so pages of the novel, it really summarizes the whole war for those Americans that age.
    • 3/5
      In which a minor catastrophe at a boys' school laboring under the shadow of World War II sends two boys' friendship into a downward spiral. The best part about this book to me was its laconic, understated descriptions of time of day and time of season; melting snow, the afternoon light through a window, a summer night's benign silence, were all extremely evocative. And, to a point, the novel was an interesting meditation on guilt, that which we impose on ourselves and that assigned by society. However, I found the protagonists neither likable, relatable, or, at bottom, realistic. The supporting characters were barely there at all; flat and even less likable than our heroes. Perhaps the dialogue reflected schoolboy chatter of seventy-five years ago, but now it seemed pretty stilted. Long stretches of this impressed me as a mood piece, but I wasn't reading the same masterpiece that the overwrought blurbs insisted I would discover.
    • 1/5
      Lacks substance but the prose would have you believe it was saying something which it is not.
    • 4/5



      This is one of my favourite books from years ago. I've read and re-read it quite a few times. As soon as I saw that the Beach Resort where I was staying had a copy I didn't look back. It was impossible for me to put it down once I began skimming it and I still own an original copy at home. It made my day. Beach Reading it is not...
      Amazing how some books stick in the mind thirty years after you read them (in a British Council Literature Class). I still remember the utter shock when Finny died! It was so sad darn it!
      The book shows great examples of how dramatic it is to be an adolescent.

      Finny is for the ages!"
    • 4/5
      Just finished this book.. for the 2nd time. Still gets 4 stars. I understood a lot more this time around. Excellent story.
    • 2/5
      Couldn't relate to any of the characters . . .
    • 4/5
      This book had a mention in another novel I recently read so I decided I needed to reread and see if I got the same thoughts as the author quoted.

      Envy, jealousy and life altering choices.