All Things Left Wild

A Novel

By: James Wade

Narrated by: Bradford Hastings

After an attempted horse theft goes tragically wrong, 16-year-old Caleb Bentley is on the run with his mean-spirited older brother across the American Southwest at the turn of the 20th century. Caleb’s moral compass and inner courage will be tested as they travel the harsh terrain and encounter those who have carved out a life there, for good or ill.

Wealthy and bookish Randall Dawson, out of place in this rugged and violent country, is begrudgingly chasing after the Bentley brothers. With little sense of how to survive, much less how to take his revenge, Randall meets Charlotte, a woman experienced in the deadly ways of life in the West. Together they navigate the murky values of vigilante justice.

Powerful and atmospheric, lyrical and fast-paced, All Things Left Wild is a coming-of-age for one man, a midlife odyssey for the other, and an illustration of the violence and corruption prevalent in our fast-expanding country. It artfully sketches the magnificence of the American West as mirrored in the human soul.

©2020 James Wade (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Existentialist western

Although there are some shootouts, looting, and general mayhem, this Western focuses more on the mindset of its characters. It shifts perspective from first to third person, which made the narrative hard to follow initially. I wanted less philosophizing and more action.

The poetry snd vividness of the language. The descriptions of the country as experienced on horseback.

What’s not to like? Good reader, great story, enchanting evocation of both place and character

Great story..

All Things Left Wild is a well written and paced story. The narrator is excellent with a beautiful, deep timber. He is able to modify his voice and accent to portray a variety of distinct characters seamlessly.

Didn’t want it to end

Mr. Wade has written a jewel! A fast moving western filled with beautiful narrative. Almost every sentence or conversation contains a simile or description with an unexpected lyrical surprise. Occasionally there are conversations with deep philosophical meaning from least expected characters. Hard to put down because you want more. No telling how long Mr. Wade worked on this manuscript; sure hope he’s working on another!

Great new author

Not many can see the world as James Wade describes it. If you’re a Cormac Mc Carthy fan, this book is for you.

Fantastic

This book held me from beginning to end. Wonderfully written, fleshed out characters. They felt human and you could feel the pain in their decisions. As a native Texan, loved to hear all of the references in the book.

A True Feminist Writer

I love but this writer made nothing special of women standing shoulder to shoulder with the men they love, being the better shot, being brave independent and able to take care of themselves
He is not only a beautiful writer, one of the few who is able to describe how thoughts are shaped, he is a modern man

An engrossing quest for meaning in the nature of things.

James Wade’s prose is pure pleasure on several levels. His narrative is compelling; his characters are varied and full throated in revelation of themselves. His voice is enlightened and excursions into speculation of mankind’s historical realities thought provoking. His situational permutations flow easily, near poetic and descriptions are downright lyrical . All is cloaked in the traditional garments of a classic Western Novel. I strongly recommend this engrossing book to adult and mature young adult readers.

Beautifully prosed

The writing is beautiful. Wade paints us a vivid picture in every scene. His reflections on life, love, death, dreams, and other themes are described thoughtfully and through well conceived metaphor. I enjoyed this book. But it is by no means an action novel. There were times when I wished the plot would move on a little faster. The narrator did a fine job.