Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Bantam (1983), Edition: Reissue, 186 pages
Description
Fiction. Western. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:Alone in the big city, a fierce young frontierswoman must outsmart a dangerous con man before she can stake her claim to the family fortune. Sixteen-year-old Echo Sackett has never been far from her Tennessee home�??until she makes the long trek to Philadelphia to collect her inheritance. In the wilderness Echo can take care of herself as well as any man, but she never imagined the challenge that awaits: a crooked city lawyer who intends to take advantage of her by any means necessary. Echo will need all of her wits to best this scoundrel and make it back home in one pie
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
Louis L'Amour's Ride the River is, I think, a little out of the ordinary for a Sackett novel. The Sackett hero of this tale is not a hero, but a heroine—Echo Sackett, a mountain girl from the hills of Tennessee, who has come down to the “settlements” (that is, Philadelphia) to claim an
The love interest is Dorian Chantry, nephew of a redoubtable old lawyer, Finian Chantry, who knew Echo’s grandfather. Finian sends Dorian to look out for Echo, who has some dangerous characters on her trail—but as things turn out, Echo manages just fine on her own and actually looks out more for Dorian than he does for her. From my limited knowledge of L’Amour’s body of work, I’d say this is somewhat unusual. But quite fun!
Is L'Amour's writing really top notch? No. The dialogue can be stilted, and he relies on a lot of clichés to build his world. My only exposure to his work has been an audiobook of Lando, so I'm not sure how my perception of the writing would change if I were reading a printed book. And yet, there are moments of good description, deft character development, and high drama. I chuckled at one wry description of the Sacketts: "they were ready to fight at the drop of a hat—and they’d drop it themselves."
One thing I didn’t care for was how L'Amour switches back and forth between a first-person narrative told by Echo and the third-person omniscient narrator voice. I'm not sure how he could have solved his plot challenges in any other way, but I would have preferred a more consistent style. But the story clips along at a good pace, and I was eager to keep listening when my commute ended. That hasn’t happened in awhile with the audiobooks I’ve been listening to, so yeah, that was refreshing.
L’Amour has been accused of racism, and I’m not saying some of his work isn’t dated in that regard. But I found the African-American character, Archie, an interesting inclusion. It’s the bad guys who view him as less than human and property to be exploited, while the good characters treat him with respect, appreciate his contribution to the journey, listen to his advice, are concerned with his welfare, and seem to accept him as an equal. He isn’t a main character in the story, but he’s there. No Native Americans appear in the tale, but I did notice that Echo’s attitude toward them seems very dispassionate; she makes no moral judgment about the stories of scalping and abduction that she relates. I would have to read more L’Amour to speak more definitively to the attitudes about race that his stories promote.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and while L’Amour will never rate as a first-class artist with me, he does tell a good story and I can understand his popularity.
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inheritance advertised in the paper. Sixteen years old and a dead shot with a rifle, Echo’s determined to get home with the large inheritance that is rightfully hers—no matter what crooked lawyers, dangerous thugs, and rough country that stand in her way. The love interest is Dorian Chantry, nephew of a redoubtable old lawyer, Finian Chantry, who knew Echo’s grandfather. Finian sends Dorian to look out for Echo, who has some dangerous characters on her trail—but as things turn out, Echo manages just fine on her own and actually looks out more for Dorian than he does for her. From my limited knowledge of L’Amour’s body of work, I’d say this is somewhat unusual. But quite fun!
Is L'Amour's writing really top notch? No. The dialogue can be stilted, and he relies on a lot of clichés to build his world. My only exposure to his work has been an audiobook of Lando, so I'm not sure how my perception of the writing would change if I were reading a printed book. And yet, there are moments of good description, deft character development, and high drama. I chuckled at one wry description of the Sacketts: "they were ready to fight at the drop of a hat—and they’d drop it themselves."
One thing I didn’t care for was how L'Amour switches back and forth between a first-person narrative told by Echo and the third-person omniscient narrator voice. I'm not sure how he could have solved his plot challenges in any other way, but I would have preferred a more consistent style. But the story clips along at a good pace, and I was eager to keep listening when my commute ended. That hasn’t happened in awhile with the audiobooks I’ve been listening to, so yeah, that was refreshing.
L’Amour has been accused of racism, and I’m not saying some of his work isn’t dated in that regard. But I found the African-American character, Archie, an interesting inclusion. It’s the bad guys who view him as less than human and property to be exploited, while the good characters treat him with respect, appreciate his contribution to the journey, listen to his advice, are concerned with his welfare, and seem to accept him as an equal. He isn’t a main character in the story, but he’s there. No Native Americans appear in the tale, but I did notice that Echo’s attitude toward them seems very dispassionate; she makes no moral judgment about the stories of scalping and abduction that she relates. I would have to read more L’Amour to speak more definitively to the attitudes about race that his stories promote.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and while L’Amour will never rate as a first-class artist with me, he does tell a good story and I can understand his popularity.
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LibraryThing member MaggiRayne
I've always loved this one best of L'Amour's books, it's about a girl who shoots and gets the guy, how could it get better?
LibraryThing member keegopatrick
So far I am loving this book! It is one of my favorite LL books that I have ever read! It is so much different than all the other Sackett novels that I have read starting with the main character being a female instead of a boy like usual. Also, the book has taken place primarily in Philly up until
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this point which is really weird. I am trying to post reviews as I read with this book. I will see how it goes but so far it is pretty weird and I don't know if I will be able to stick with it. Show Less
LibraryThing member clif_hiker
Fourth or fifth in the Sackett saga, and the first to introduce a female Sackett. Jump forward about 200 years from Jubal Sackett exploring the western mountains, back to Tennessee.. we meet young Echo Sackett, a 16 year old rifle toting, knife carrying female incarnation of the Sackett archtype
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(beautiful to boot!). Echo has to collect an inheritance from Philadelphia and a bunch of bad men are trying to steal it from her... she meets a young Chantry, falls in love, which sets up a later couple of books (Borden Chantry etc.), and finally makes it back to her beloved Tennessee mountains. Short and sweet, not nearly so much naval-gazing about destiny and such (maybe because she's female??). There's still some typical L'Amour preaching, but it's not quite as overbearing in this story. 3 1/2 stars. Bring on Tell, Orrin and Ty... Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
This is the fifth book in the Sackett Series. Although I enjoyed this book more than the previous one, I would still class it as an average western story. A feisty mountain girl called Echo Sackett travels from her home in Tennessee to Philadelphia to receive a inheritance. She picks up trouble in
I find Louis L’Amour a bit stiff and preachy in his writing, but I have vowed to read this series and I plan to continue on.
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the form of a gang of thugs who wish to rob her but they have misjudged her and don’t know that she is an expert shot and is very capable at looking after herself.I find Louis L’Amour a bit stiff and preachy in his writing, but I have vowed to read this series and I plan to continue on.
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LibraryThing member Momo-Chan
Ride the River was a very interesting book considering it is the first of the Sackett series to be from the point of view from a girl instead of a man. I like the way that the Chantry's are brought into yet another Sackett book. Throughout L'Amour's books Sackett's run into the Chantry's or
Ride the River wasn't my most favorite Sackett book but it was a good book none the less.
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vice-versa. Echo Sackett is the youngest desendent of Kin Ring Sackett, and it has come to her attention that she is due a large amount of inheritance. Echo lives high in the mountains with her mother, brothers, and her uncle. But since her brothers are a long ways off hunting and her uncle is bed ridden she is the only one who can go and get the money. Traveling alone to claim her money a particular man targets her for her money. A man who never expected word of her inheritance to reach her. With Chantry's help Echo get her money and leaves, but she is followed and her money is taken. several times. Chantry sends his nephew to help her even though she does not want it. In the end Chantry helps her along with some of her kin folk of a different mountain.Ride the River wasn't my most favorite Sackett book but it was a good book none the less.
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LibraryThing member PatBrooks
My first and still my favorite Sackett book. Knowing how painstakingly L'Amour does his research, this book was very insightful on the mountain culture of the times, as well as being an interesting, fast paced, action filled tale. Echo is spunky, smart, and fearless - who could ask for anything
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more in a heroine? Show Less
LibraryThing member TerrillDavis
This was a great tale through the eyes of Echo Sackett. I loved the story line and the characters were well developed. However, I did feel that some of the novel seemed a bit rushed and he did a bit of head hopping in this story. But giving him the benefit of the doubt, this was originally wrote in
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the 60's. This might have been the law of the land in writing back then. But overall, it was a good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member zjakkelien
Never knew there was a book about a female Sackett! It was good, typical L'Amour style and an excellent heroine. Echo will accept help where she needs it, but mostly helps herself.
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
This was a different turn for L'Amour as the lead is Echo Sackett, a young woman. She's competent, feminine enough, and knowledgeable. Yes, she ends up getting help from some of the descendants of Yance Sackett, but it was reasonable given the situation.
I also like how it ties into the Chantry
I also like how it ties into the Chantry
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series (which I need to pick up, too.) I think if you like Westerns, even though this takes place between Philadelphia and Tennessee, that you'd like this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member fuzzi
Mountain gal heads to the city to pick up an inheritance left by a friend of the family. She meets with trouble and danger from those who will stop at nothing to take her money, and possibly her life.
I enjoyed this addition to the Sackett series, and would have liked reading more about Echo and
I enjoyed this addition to the Sackett series, and would have liked reading more about Echo and
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her family. Show Less
LibraryThing member kazan
Not a big Louis Lamour fan but I started reading this tale and could not put it down.
LibraryThing member jamesjarrett00
Western historical fiction. Chronologically the 5th book in the Sackett's series. Echo Sackett must go to Philadelphia to retrieve some money left to the youngest living Sackett. She figures out that someone is trying to rob her of this inheritance. She gets the help of a local lawyer, Finian
I do enjoy Mr. L'Amour's easy to read style of writing. His work is always a guilty pleasure.
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Chantry, to get her money from a shyster lawyer. Echo then heads home back to the mountains alone. Finian is worried that she will not make it home and sends his nephew Dorian and a freeman Archie to help her. She makes it home, defeating the robbers, with the help of Dorian, Archie, and local Sacketts. But not without hardship. I do enjoy Mr. L'Amour's easy to read style of writing. His work is always a guilty pleasure.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1983-07
Physical description
186 p.; 4.17 inches
ISBN
0553276832 / 9780553276831