Gun connoisseurs and Gary Paulsen fans, take notice! "The Rifle" is a book to fall in love with for a variety of reasons. While I know nothing about guns, I still found this book riveting and thought provoking. I love Paulsen's attention to detail and honesty in this novel.Plot Summary:"The Rifle" by Gary Paulsen examines the "power" of guns and tackles the old adage, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." This story follows one rifle's journey over 200 years, from its creation to its present day home. It highlights the effect the gun has on each of it's owners and the unique path it carves out in history as it passed from one person to the next. Character Descriptions:Cornish McManus: Cornish is the innovative gun maker that designed and built The Rifle. He spent years perfecting the "sweet" gun and was incredibly proud of his work. The only thing he loved more than the gun was the woman he married. So much so, that he traded the gun for money to be able to have the wedding.John Byam: John, a nomad of sorts and avid hunter, traded Cornish a whole season of buckskins for the rifle. After learning of it's perfect shot, John became a legend (because of the rifle) in the Revolutionary War but later died of Dysentery.Tim Harrow: Tim, an NRA member, gun enthusiast, Big Government opponent, and flourishing alcoholic, purchased the rifle for himself in 1993. Thinking he knew, but not REALLY knowing the true history of the rifle, Tim eventually traded the gun to have a water pump on his mobile home fixed.Harvey Kline: Harvey, the owner of the mechanic shop, acquired the gun in a trade with Tim Harrow. He proudly displayed it above his fireplace for years until "the accident". Richard Mesington: Richard is a young boy and one of Harvey Kline's neighbors. He is coming of age and experiencing many firsts, such as, girlfriends, sports, etc... He and Harvey are friends until one fateful night involving the rifle.Key Issues:rifle, gun, Revolutionary War, gun control, NRA, gunsmith, flint, rifling, "sweet" rifles, stock barrel, alcoholic, Dysentery
Name: Noah S.Form 1 English, section: OrangeDate: 9-16-15Goodreads Review: Summer Reading I read The Rifle by Gary Paulsen. This book is realistic fiction. I think the author's main message in this book is if you work your hardest and take your time you can make anything good. In this case the main character makes the perfect rifle. Author Gary Paulsen chooses a third-person view, and has many different perspectives from many different people. In this book the rifle was created during the American Revolution, by a man named Cornish McManus, an apprentice gunsmith. Cornish decides to sell this rifle to John Byam a legendary sharpshooter from the American Revolution. After Byam's death, the rifle passes to a woman named Sarah, who stores it in an attic, where it is forgotten. The rifle passes through several owners, eventually ending up on someone's wall.I think One of the best parts of the book is on page 4-5 when Cornish is building the gun. Here is a quote from when he was building the rifle. Now and then, with great rarity, there came a blending of steel and wood and brass and a man's knowledge into one rifle, when it all came together just ... exactly ... right and a weapon of such beauty and accuracy was born that it might be actually worshiped." My personal thought is that I think Cornish made the right decision of selling the Rifle. I think this book showed a lot of problems from the past that are still happening today. One of the book's main messages is Gun safety. I would recommend this book to a friend because It had some good action and I thought it was really cool how the book described the Rifle. I would recommend this book to anyone.
What do You think about The Rifle (2006)?
This book started out as an interesting look at how the gun was constructed and the people who owned it, but right at the end, it turned into a rant about the dangers of guns. I felt like I had been lured into an anti-gun MLM presentation with promises of a fascinating story and got sold a case of stuff I didn't need instead. If I want to read an anti-gun book, I'll get one -- don't try to sneak it in on me. The first part is fascinating, but skip that last chapter if you don't want the slap in the face I felt it delivered.
—Tristi
"The Rifle" is a book about a hand-built, sweet rifle made by McManus and sold to a man named Bynam. Bynam was an excellent marksman and joined the Continental Army with the rifle. The gun was unbelievably accurate and Bynam took out multiple redcoats at 300 yards. This was unheard of at the time. Later, he died from dysentery after drinking the water. The people who took care of him before he died took the gun and put it in the attic. It remained there for 300 years until a young boy found it. When the young boy brought it down from the attic, his mother said she didn't want guns in the house, so he was forced to sell it. A gun enthusiast named Tim Harrow purchased the gun because he was aware of its value. After purchasing the gun, his car broke down right in front of a gas station. He found out his radiator had a crack in it and he needed a new one that would cost $400. Harv, the gas station owner, offered to fix it in trade for the rifle and a picture of Elvis. The deal was made and Harv displayed the rifle on his mantle. The next winter, Harv started a fire in the fireplace and a spark ignited the 300 year old gunpowder, shooting his neighbor. That's where the book ended. I did not like the ending very much. The book was too confusing and hard to follow due to the constant changing of characters. I would recommend this book to people who like fiction and young adults.
—Aaron_ebert
I read the book "The Rifle" and found it to be a very interesting read. It takes awhile to get into the book. It has a slow start, but once you get passed the beginning it is non-stop action. This book shows the history of a rifle that goes from the Revolutionary war to modern day. From the making of it to the final resting place of the rifle. It shows how certain events can effect history and take you on a different course with every decision you make.Gary Paulsen gives you an interesting background for an opinion on whether guns kill people or people kill people. From the start of the book during the war or the end of the book when it is just sitting on a mantle. It gives a good background on how guns can be harmless. People are the only ones that make them dangerous. From the way they are made to perfection to the person that pulls the trigger. People are the ones responsible for guns having a bad reputation.I personally liked this book because although it was slow it was interesting learning the course of the gun. You never know what was going to happen next or who's hands the gun would fall in. Gary Paulsen always kept you guessing on where the gun was going to go. Also, it was interesting because of the path he chose for the gun. From a gunsmith that made the gun, to a war hero, and to the other modern people that you wouldn't think would want the gun. You never knew what was going to happen next.
—Trevor Neidlinger
