Title: Pardner
Author: Patrick M. Browning
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing
ISBN: 9781685361433
Pages: 472
Genre: Contemporary, Coming-of-Age, Western
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
Hollywood Book Reviews
Pardner is an absorbing coming-of-age novel based on true events. The story follows Murphy, a young boy who grows up to become an experienced rancher and horseman. At the age of fourteen, Murphy, nicknamed Pardner, was what his mother considered a difficult child. With a quick tongue and temper, he would always get in trouble at school and home. His mother physically abused him and his father, always away at work, gave him little attention.
One day, he gets an offer from Doc, an experienced and respected rancher within Arizona, to lend an extra hand with the horses at his ranch. His ailing mother is all too glad to release his son and Pardner is happy to be away from home and earn a living. He always desired to make his overworked father proud and he felt that this chance was his lucky streak. Doc was his hero and Pardner wanted to become a top horseman and cowboy. There was no better person to learn from than Doc.
As he gained more experience at the ranch, he began participating in horse races and won most of them. His life was not without struggle, and slowly a series of life-altering indiscretions created a tremendous amount of irreparable damage and sorrow that became his constant companion as he moved to New Mexico and Texas in the hope of freeing himself from the guilt. Gradually, he learns that nobody else can release him from the kind of mental imprisonment he was in and that he had to forgive himself first, then ask God for help.
Set in the Western States of the United States, author Browning infuses his experience with innate writing ability and pure imagination culminating in a truly captivating read. This story was so good that one feels as if they are part of the story. The narrative will have you experience all types of emotions, while also rooting for the main character. I appreciated the backstories that the author offered which helped me understand some of the characters’ temperaments and traits such as Doc’s and Pardner’s.
Pardner by Patrick M. Browning is where every lover of literary work that reflects the American West cowboy life should start. Saddle up, hold the reins, and enjoy the ride!