Shane by Jack Schaefer
All I can say is, "Wow!" There's a reason this book is a classic. By far, this is the best book I've read in a long time. The story is the basic Western myth. A mysterious man rides into town, becomes mixed up in the troubles between a rancher and farmers, and ends up saving the day. However, the depth of this book is amazing. Shane struggles with himself, with the violence in the depths of his path and the peace that he longs for. All of the events are seen through the eyes of a young boy, leaving each reader to explore the rich subtext for him- or herself. This novel inspired the classic film of the same name, but even those legendary performances can't capture the full depth of Jack Schaefer's characters. A new favorite for me!