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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first read this when I was 14 years old, devouring it on the annual pilgrimage to Prince Edward Island, a two-day car journey on the Trans Canada with not a whole lot to look at besides trees and traffic. It was an engaging, page turner of a southern gothic then, and it still holds up, 20+ years later.
This copy is an old friend, travelling with me from town to town to city, and I picked it up to read again on a whim. As I read about Dan, Clint, Flint, Pelvis, and Arden, I was reminded of how much like stew or sauce (or gumbo) a good book can be - gaining in depth of flavour and dimension with time. The book, of course, remains as it was written, but the 20 years of growing and living has deepened my appreciation for all the characters and the under-story beneath the tightly-written adventure.
This copy is an old friend, travelling with me from town to town to city, and I picked it up to read again on a whim. As I read about Dan, Clint, Flint, Pelvis, and Arden, I was reminded of how much like stew or sauce (or gumbo) a good book can be - gaining in depth of flavour and dimension with time. The book, of course, remains as it was written, but the 20 years of growing and living has deepened my appreciation for all the characters and the under-story beneath the tightly-written adventure.
I really loved this book. What great characters! So unique, so interesting. What really could be a ho-hum storyline is brought to life as only McCammon can. This should be a movie. Everything just screams Cohen brothers.
Dan- a Vietnam vet with PTSD and leukemia- is down on his luck. When the manager of a bank threatens to repossess his only possession (a Chevy pick up truck), he goes a bit crazy. During a scuffle with a guard, he accidentally shoots and kills the bank manager. Now on the run, he is pursued by a bounty hunter with a head and arm growing out of his stomach, and his new recruit sidekick, who is an Elvis impersonator. While on the run, Dan meets a girl with a huge ugly birthmark on her face who is searching for a healer called "The Bright Girl" in the Louisiana swampland.
This book was... strange. It was a typical run-and-hunt story, but with a strange twist of characters. It was good, but a bit out there for me. It wasn't my favorite story by Robert McCammon by far, but a decent read with some laughs for when you want something a little less intense. It's moral is a good one, but a little predictable. The journey there is entertaining, though.
This book was... strange. It was a typical run-and-hunt story, but with a strange twist of characters. It was good, but a bit out there for me. It wasn't my favorite story by Robert McCammon by far, but a decent read with some laughs for when you want something a little less intense. It's moral is a good one, but a little predictable. The journey there is entertaining, though.
There's something for everybody here: suspense, a little shoot-'em-up, some dark humor, and great characters, each of whom are struggling with some pretty heavy personal demons. I sympathized with Dan, was just a bit incredulous about Flint, had to smile at poor ol' Eisley, and just loved Arden and Train. It's a very good read.
I was super excited by this book. I read about two thirds of it on a plane ride, and it seemed like the perfect piece of pulp: violent, doomed, grotesque, hilarious. The characters had each grown up around their pain into unique and peculiar Southern novel types (though, I will note: it is not a Southern novel because there is no dead mule.) The prose was sharp and direct. And the narrative was headlong, picaresque, and tragic.
Then I misplaced the book. Lost it over the weekend. Found it and finished it Monday.
And the last third ruined it. What happened? All the characters found meaning and peace. And a shootout with some central casting thugs. Woddever. Not my cup of tea.
(Also, warning: most black characters are salt-of-the-earth types and consequently, dull.)
So four stars for the first two thirds, one star for the last. Two stars. Maybe you’ll like it better.
Then I misplaced the book. Lost it over the weekend. Found it and finished it Monday.
And the last third ruined it. What happened? All the characters found meaning and peace. And a shootout with some central casting thugs. Woddever. Not my cup of tea.
(Also, warning: most black characters are salt-of-the-earth types and consequently, dull.)
So four stars for the first two thirds, one star for the last. Two stars. Maybe you’ll like it better.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes