We will be discussing Three-Ten To Yuma by Elmore Leonard tonight at 8:00. Here's a link (the story is towards the bottom):
Story of the Week: Three-Ten to Yuma
Be there, aloha
Story of the Week: Three-Ten to Yuma
Be there, aloha
Discussion Group March 13 - Three-Ten To Yuma by Elmore Leonard
- Thread starter fljoe0
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...chiming in early as usual....had never read his material before, and this was a damn fine read!!!.....descriptive backdrop, taut storyline and a well measured increase to the final payoff....only quibble is right at the beginning when there is mention made of. Winchester being drawn from a saddle scabbard, but after that it’s gone and just the shotgun and legendary Colt are the firepower...,,
I don't know what is wrong with a Winchester being drawn from a saddle scabbard, teach me oh obiwan kenobi.
...nothing a’tall grasshopper....it’s just that the weapon is drawn, but he still has an open hand while toting the scatter gun....the rifle just vanished....
Ohhhhh, I didn't pick up on that.
I enjoyed this story. I've either read it before, or I've seen the movie, or maybe something similar? I don't know, it felt vaguely familiar to me the entire time I was reading. My dad watched westerns all the time, so I bet I saw this exact part of the movie because we only had one TV and 3 channels and whatever dad watched, I watched.
I loved the fact that it was a western. I believe challenging ourselves to read stuff we don't normally read is a good thing. Keeps our minds engaged and thinking.
I don't know if I would've stayed the course in delivering the guy. If I had a family and kids and making peanuts and surrounded by men actively and happily ready to kill me.... was it pride in the job? stubbornness? Or just the 150 bucks? I think at first he thinks that's good money. And then becomes embarrassed about the sum. But he definitely values himself a little more at the end.
I loved the fact that it was a western. I believe challenging ourselves to read stuff we don't normally read is a good thing. Keeps our minds engaged and thinking.
I don't know if I would've stayed the course in delivering the guy. If I had a family and kids and making peanuts and surrounded by men actively and happily ready to kill me.... was it pride in the job? stubbornness? Or just the 150 bucks? I think at first he thinks that's good money. And then becomes embarrassed about the sum. But he definitely values himself a little more at the end.
...I think it came down to being true to himself and his calling to law enforcement...
I too enjoy reading a western. Much different than the movie- better actually. I like when my minds eye can envision rather than see on screen.
Good tension and action withing the words. Characters were well defined-
Scallen was determined to accomplish his job, yet we saw a degree of concern and fear. Kidd showed many sides. Enjoyed watching a "relationship" develop between them.
Good tension and action withing the words. Characters were well defined-
Scallen was determined to accomplish his job, yet we saw a degree of concern and fear. Kidd showed many sides. Enjoyed watching a "relationship" develop between them.
Yes, I think Kidd respected him. Knew he was a formidable man. And just a little bit....I felt like he really didn't want Scallen to be hurt. I think he hesitated at the end when the guy yelled "go down!" But quickly chose himself.
There was a lot of blink-of-an-eye decisions made on everyone's part there at the end. It could've gone in anyone's favor.
The fact that Scallen was saying to himself, "wait for the target." It just so reminded me of Roland.
shoot with my mind. I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father. I kill with my heart.” ― Stephen King, The Gunslinger.
...ayuh...good comparison....
You get a blue ribbon for that one.
I think it's impressive the amount of tension that Elmore packed into just a few pages. This story had an ominous feel about it right from the start.
The book The Complete Westerns Of Elmore Leonard is very good. There are 20 or so stories in the book and I assume from the title of the book that these are the only Western short stories he wrote. He did write a few Western novels (and screenplays I believe) before he went to a life of crime. 
I've never heard Quinton Tarantino talk about if Elmore influenced his screen play writing but Tarrantino's movie characters talk a lot like Elmore's crime novel characters. Also, Tarrantino made the movie Jackie Brown which was adapted from Elmore's Rum Punch.
I've never heard Quinton Tarantino talk about if Elmore influenced his screen play writing but Tarrantino's movie characters talk a lot like Elmore's crime novel characters. Also, Tarrantino made the movie Jackie Brown which was adapted from Elmore's Rum Punch.
I found this gem on Elmore's wikipedia page
His favorite epithet was one given by Britain's New Musical Express: "the poet laureate of wild a*holes with revolvers".
fljoe0 you may find this article/ interview has some insightThe book The Complete Westerns Of Elmore Leonard is very good. There are 20 or so stories in the book and I assume from the title of the book that these are the only Western short stories he wrote. He did write a few Western novels (and screenplays I believe) before he went to a life of crime.
I've never heard Quinton Tarantino talk about if Elmore influenced his screen play writing but Tarrantino's movie characters talk a lot like Elmore's crime novel characters. Also, Tarrantino made the movie Jackie Brown which was adapted from Elmore's Rum Punch.
Yes. It made me anxious.
That was a very good interview. Lots of information in that and tackles some tough subjects like this "I'm offended" bull crap happening today.
"I believed that the true of heart recognize the true of heart. If I’m doing what I’m doing and you’re comin from the same place, you’ll see it, no question about it."
I'm right here with him. Each of us can take a topic and come at it from different perspectives. Different meanings. Why do we all have to cater to one meaning of something when that wasn't our intent at all? Know someone's intent before you light em' up.
That probably makes no sense, but, "the true of heart will recognize the true of heart" in that statement.
Very interesting. THanks spidey.
you are welcome. Found it very interesting too.