Scan barcode
emma_astrida's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jgking's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wintrovia's review against another edition
3.0
Like most short story collections, the quality is variable with this book but overall I think it's a enjoyable book. Despite each story standing on its own, them all sharing the common location of Wyoming gave the book a coherent feel that made it hang together well. I found myself loving Annie Peoulx's turns of phrase in her writing and the way she can draw believable and distinctive characters with her words in very few lines. On the other hand, I found some of the stories quite anticlimactic at times, and the stories I liked the least I was left feeling "Is that it?" By far the strongest story in the collection is Brokback Mountain, which Ang Lee made into a film. Overall, I enjoyed the collection and would read more of Proulx's work even if some of these story's swung into kitchen sink drama at times.
book_concierge's review against another edition
5.0
The star of this collection is "Brokeback Mountain," and my review and rating are specific to that story.
Ennis and Jack hire on as sheep tenders for the summer, and come to love one another. But they each go their own way, marrying and having children. Still, they "just can't quit you," and meet once or twice a year for "fishing" expeditions. The story covers 20 years of their relationship in spare language - so much is said by what is NOT said. A powerful story that haunts the reader long after it is finished. (The movie, with a screenplay by Larry McMurtry, is nothing short of wonderful.)
Ennis and Jack hire on as sheep tenders for the summer, and come to love one another. But they each go their own way, marrying and having children. Still, they "just can't quit you," and meet once or twice a year for "fishing" expeditions. The story covers 20 years of their relationship in spare language - so much is said by what is NOT said. A powerful story that haunts the reader long after it is finished. (The movie, with a screenplay by Larry McMurtry, is nothing short of wonderful.)
whosevita's review against another edition
3.0
Apparently Annie wrote this book as her reaction to growing up in the state of Wyoming. If it was her intention to paint the ranchers and people that lived there as sexual devious, violent, stupid and intolerant ranchers that filled their days with shooting and raping she certainly succeeded. Not a single likable character in all of these stories. (Except maybe brokeback mountain?) But of course that doesnt necessarily mean its bad.
Some stories did intrigue me but left me with an empty feeling. Did it mean something? What was it trying to say? Did it even have a broader message? Most of the stories had horrible themes. Plot twists -like that the sort of likeable character you've been reading about was actually a malignant pedophile- were hiding behind corners on every turn.
Despite that I have finished it. The writing style got some getting used to but it read away very quickly.
The stories were all very morbid, but in a way I couldn't stop reading. Like true crime but instead that all very weird and uncanny stories about ranchers.
Some stories did intrigue me but left me with an empty feeling. Did it mean something? What was it trying to say? Did it even have a broader message? Most of the stories had horrible themes. Plot twists -like that the sort of likeable character you've been reading about was actually a malignant pedophile- were hiding behind corners on every turn.
Despite that I have finished it. The writing style got some getting used to but it read away very quickly.
The stories were all very morbid, but in a way I couldn't stop reading. Like true crime but instead that all very weird and uncanny stories about ranchers.
aberdeenwaters's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful and tender collection of short stories.
will_meringue's review against another edition
3.5
Ennis was back on his feet and somehow, as a coat hanger is straightened to open a locked car and then bent again to its original shape, they torqued things almost to where they had been, for what they'd said was no news. Nothing ended, nothing began, nothing resolved.
I read Brokeback Mountain about three years ago for uni, and adore both the film and stage play, so I thought I'd give the rest of the collection a try. Annie Proulx can put you in a setting like nobody else, with unusual, evocative description and sometimes with heart-stopping insight into human nature. There's no doubt though that Brokeback Mountain is the jewel of this particular collection, and I found the other stories mostly uneven. I own another collection of hers though so I'd be interested in picking it up.
I read Brokeback Mountain about three years ago for uni, and adore both the film and stage play, so I thought I'd give the rest of the collection a try. Annie Proulx can put you in a setting like nobody else, with unusual, evocative description and sometimes with heart-stopping insight into human nature. There's no doubt though that Brokeback Mountain is the jewel of this particular collection, and I found the other stories mostly uneven. I own another collection of hers though so I'd be interested in picking it up.