Chapter Three

That's a forty-four forty Colt's revolver in the picture, by the way.

If you want to comment, and I hope you do, don't be afraid to do so. It will ask you to identify yourself but if you're unsure of how to do that just go in anonymous and sign your name to your post. Don't be afraid to comment. Now, on to today's reading (for me, at least).

Wow, this is a great chapter! There is just so much in it! First we have Mattie's opinion of Federalists and Republicans. I'm with you, Mattie, all the way. Then we see her deal-making with the auctioneer (which will be a great role for a good character actor or a cameo in the new movie, by the way). It's a fine piece of writing. Portis was really on his game for this book, that's obvious. I like page 36, where we get three pieces of sage advice from Mattie on one page--don't eat too much, take a nap after you eat, and cover yourself while sleeping. I'll remember that, Mattie. I also like her list of bad people: murderers, robbers, train wreckers, bigamists, and counterfeiters. These are, as she says people who have ridden "the hoot-owl trail" and tasted the fruits of evil. Hilarious.

An interesting passage next: Mattie's brief history of Fort Smith politics (which I assume is mostly accurate) and then her assessment of the publishing industry. It's interesting that she identifies herself here as a writer. How do you make a young teenage girl like Mattie come alive when you're Charles Portis, a young man? Well, you give her the same interests, the same inclinations, and (most probably) the same opinions. Never confuse the narrator with the author, though. Right? Still . . .

Well, then there's the testimony of Rooster Cogburn written out as if it were dialogue in a play. Reminds me of Moby Dick, wherein Melville inserts chapters that are just suddenly in dramatic format. Interesting. It's a whalloping good tale, too, that comes out. Really, really well-written scene. Just too good.

I've notice now that Mattie has several times judged people strictly by looking at them. She looks at Odus Wharton at the end of that scene and imagines that she can see exactly how evil he is. I have a feeling that is going to get her into trouble at some point.

This so far would be a tremendous chapter, but then we also get the first scenes of Mattie with Rooster. In the first, she demonstrates her worth as a cigarette roller while beginning her persuasion. She's thought this through, and we're sure she'll get her way.

Then comes the scene in Rooster's "lair" where they share a meal and "make medicine." Good grief, I hope that the Coen's are true to the book here. This is just a fabulous scene, full of dark atmosphere and colorful language. Rooster doesn't have to buy his whisky, "he confiscates it." He's drinking "double-rectified bust-head from Madison County." I think I've had some of that! The big point of the scene comes at the end, though, when Rooster demonstrates that you can't "serve papers" on a rat. That's what Mattie's looking for.

Ha! Great stuff. A rollicking fine tale, as they say!