LOL. I'm going to give PJ a chance on this one and read it before I pass judgement. We can always do Proust at a later time.
Shane is only 85 pages in the hardcover version. I found it to be completely different than the other "Westerns" I've read (and I've read a lot of Louis L'Amour). Here is a quote about why Schaefer's book is different than the other Westerns:
He [Schaefer] attributed his success in the genre to his study of the classics as a literature major, his experience on newspapers, and his fascination with western history. His hallmark was thorough research and historical accuracy.