Who Would Like This Book:
Proulx's writing is absolutely breathtaking - her descriptions of Wyoming's rugged landscape and her knack for capturing quiet moments of longing are unlike anything else. If you love character-driven stories, queer literature, or emotional tales about love and resilience in tough circumstances, this book will hit home. Romance fans who crave stories that go beyond stereotypes, or anyone who appreciates powerful, concise storytelling, will find Brokeback Mountain unforgettable.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers find the story quite bleak and emotionally heavy, with a tone that can feel more tragic than uplifting. If you’re looking for a traditional happy ending, steamy romance, or fast-paced plot, you might be disappointed. The focus on subtle emotion and sparse dialogue over action or drama might not appeal to everyone. And of course, the themes of homophobia and isolation can be tough to read.
About:
"Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx is a poignant short story that explores themes of LGBT topics, forbidden love, and the rural west. The story follows the tragic love affair between two cowboys, capturing the heartbreak and struggles they face due to societal expectations and homophobia. Proulx's writing style is described as beautiful and gripping, evoking strong emotions in readers and leaving a lasting impact long after finishing the story.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for Brokeback Mountain include themes of homophobia, violence, emotional and physical trauma, and the tragedy of lost love.
Has Romance?
The story contains a significant and central romantic relationship between the two male protagonists, defining much of the narrative.
From The Publisher:
Annie Proulx has written some of the most original and brilliant short stories in contemporary literature, and for many readers and reviewers, "Brokeback Mountain" is her masterpiece.
Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist, two ranch hands, come together when they're working as sheepherder and camp tender one summer on a range above the tree line. At first, sharing an isolated tent, the attraction is casual, inevitable, but something deeper catches them that summer.
Both men work hard, marry, and have kids because that's what cowboys do. But over the course of many years and frequent separations this relationship becomes the most important thing in their lives, and they do anything they can to preserve it.
The New Yorker won the National Magazine Award for Fiction for its publication of "Brokeback Mountain," and the story was included in Prize Stories 1998: The O. Henry Awards. In gorgeous and haunting prose, Proulx limns the difficult, dangerous affair between two cowboys that survives everything but the world's violent intolerance.
Ratings (29)
Incredible (10) | |
Loved It (12) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (3) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (71):
Read It (31) | |
Want To Read (25) | |
Not Interested (15) |
1 comment(s)
This was the perfect book in the "to short" categorie! Sure it did packed a punch and in the short amount of pages it's was both romantic and heart wrenching. But my ebook was 60 pages and I was afraid I had picked up an abridged version but after looking at goodreads and seen that it's just 55 pages long makes me think otherwise. A very good short story/book but I wanted so much of the characters and writing. I might need to watch the movie instead but I'm a terrible movie watcher. Books are more my thing of entertainment
What can you read after
Brokeback Mountain?
About the Author:
Annie Proulx is the author of eight books, including the novel The Shipping News and the story collection Close Range. Her many honors include a Pulitzer Prize, a National Book Award, the Irish Times International Fiction Prize, and a PEN/Faulkner award. Her story "Brokeback Mountain," which originally appeared in The New Yorker, was made into an Academy Award-winning film. Her most recent novel is Barkskins. She lives in Seattle.
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