[luv2lurkhere]

I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Westerns are one of the last books I would choose to read. It was well written and I completely forgot I was reading a western.

I, too, wondered while reading this book if Shane could be a real person. The story was more real to me believing that he was.

One thing I couldn't quite figure out was what Shane might be still be running from. Does anyone have any ideas on this? If he had felt he redeemed himself, it seems as though he would stop running. But the way he left I had the impression he was still running.

[PJ-Comix]

Westerns are one of the last books I would choose to read. It was well written and I completely forgot I was reading a western.

That's why I chose Shane. Also it is a quick book to read and I figure it would be an easy way to ease folks into the Reading Club.

One thing I couldn't quite figure out was what Shane might be still be running from.

Unlike the movies, being a gunfighter wasn't very glamous. Most, like Wild Bill Hickock, ended up in a bad way. Wyatt Earp was perhaps an exception but he ended up marrying well so that saved him from the usual gunfighter's fate which his other brothers met.

[order_of_reason]

If he had felt he redeemed himself, it seems as though he would stop running.

But again, Shane knew throughout his time with the family that he was only 'playing farmer' as he put it. Part of his redeemption may have been doing that one good thing, that would put his sins behind him, and then moving on with his life.

I am not arguing your poing (a good one too!), just bringing up a possibliity

[ppaul]

One thing I couldn't quite figure out was what Shane might be still be running from.

What?
A guilty conscience.

[miss marmelstein]

I believe Shane says it himself: "There's no running away from a killing."

I always thought that Shane had been a gunfighter once hired by the evil types he ends up confronting. I don't really think he's based on a real person. Jack Shaeffer often used the character of a shady, sometimes nameless man who either redeems himself or establishes his manhood through forced violence. This, by the way, is a great read for young people.