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holley4734's review against another edition
5.0
It was a really great book. Totally different from the movie. :) Still a great story
kristenlopez8's review against another edition
4.0
A classic tale about America during the end of Prohibition. The two intertwining stories are told in a way that you have to keep reading and really delve into the story to figure out the meaning. The story of the three Bondurant brothers coinciding with a defeated Sherwood Anderson show the group as victims of a time gone-by as well as being misunderstood. There's gritty drama and a great gangster story that I'm sure has been translated into the upcoming movie adaptation. The only issues I had were the style of the writing which takes a while to grasp, compounded by the fact that Bondurant doesn't use quotations so I ended up having to reread dialogue. Overall a great book in the vein of Anderson and Mark Twain.
thecoolmom's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down - one of the best books I've read this year. The story of the moonshine trade during Prohibition was fascinating.
abetterbradley's review against another edition
4.0
I am so glad that I read this book. It's about these three brothers based in Virginia. They become bootleggers during Prohibition. This book has given me new insight into my father and his character. Loved it for that reason alone.
mara_miriam's review against another edition
3.0
I was concerned that this fictionalized family history might feel a bit contrived, but I came away impressed by the tenor of the voices and intrigued by the character dynamics. While the violence in this book was sometimes hard for me to take, it was generally important to the story and it was sporadic enough to not overwhelm the rest of the novel.
miriam23's review against another edition
5.0
One the best books I have read in a long time. His writing is descriptive and concise. If you are a fan of Faulkner you will enjoy his writing.
kaylawhata's review against another edition
4.0
definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the movie Lawless!
ziola's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I think this book could have been quite interesting if it was writing in a more linear fashion, but I found the jumping around between time periods confusing and irritating. I got bored and gave up about 2/3 of the way through.
wynne_ronareads's review against another edition
4.0
There have been many reviews claiming that Matt Bondurants writing style in "the Wettest County in the World" is aiming to emulate Cormac McCarthy, or even Hemingway. I can see where those are coming from, since the novel uses no quotation marks, and often interrupts sentences (EX: I was just saying to you that Forrest says, pig there oughta be brought out to pasture.) Neither mentioned bring much of anything to the story.
But it isn't enough to take away from what this book really is: a blood soaked, whirl wind ride that I enjoyed every moment of. Bondurant's tireless research shows through, the story is chock full of historical details which makes every moment completely real. The brother's each suffer from their own demons. Howard is constantly trying not to relieve the horrors he witnessed in WWI, Forrest's silence he uses to a menacing advantage, struggling to get close to others, and Jack, the youngest, who wants so deeply to be respected and whose weakness is in the material. Despite the level of violence (which translated to gut wrenching scenes on screen), the novel was enjoyable. Contrary to other reviews, I enjoyed the flashbacks with Sherwood Anderson. His experience, that of an outsider, was necessary to gain the full picture of Franklin County's code of silence around their shiners. I will agree that the flipping around in time didn't always match up (mostly because you couldn't tell if something was in the past or the future, so only after the fact you'd realize a scene was supposed to have taken place years later.) But Anderson's role in the novel didn't slow it down or bore me at all. Anderson is, as Bondurant alludes to, a classic literary figure who is often overshadowed by his more famous peers. If I had to guess, I'd bet that Bondurant aimed to emulate HIS writing style over that of McCarthy or Hemingway.
Regardless, I enjoyed this novel. Renamed movie cover, quotation mark missing version and all. (After you're done reading, see the film "Lawless," based off of it. Both are great fun!)
But it isn't enough to take away from what this book really is: a blood soaked, whirl wind ride that I enjoyed every moment of. Bondurant's tireless research shows through, the story is chock full of historical details which makes every moment completely real. The brother's each suffer from their own demons. Howard is constantly trying not to relieve the horrors he witnessed in WWI, Forrest's silence he uses to a menacing advantage, struggling to get close to others, and Jack, the youngest, who wants so deeply to be respected and whose weakness is in the material. Despite the level of violence (which translated to gut wrenching scenes on screen), the novel was enjoyable. Contrary to other reviews, I enjoyed the flashbacks with Sherwood Anderson. His experience, that of an outsider, was necessary to gain the full picture of Franklin County's code of silence around their shiners. I will agree that the flipping around in time didn't always match up (mostly because you couldn't tell if something was in the past or the future, so only after the fact you'd realize a scene was supposed to have taken place years later.) But Anderson's role in the novel didn't slow it down or bore me at all. Anderson is, as Bondurant alludes to, a classic literary figure who is often overshadowed by his more famous peers. If I had to guess, I'd bet that Bondurant aimed to emulate HIS writing style over that of McCarthy or Hemingway.
Regardless, I enjoyed this novel. Renamed movie cover, quotation mark missing version and all. (After you're done reading, see the film "Lawless," based off of it. Both are great fun!)