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A review by pfracassi
The Auctioneer by Joan Samson
3.0
Look, with all due respect to Joan Samson, who tragically died of cancer within weeks of this book's publication, and who is a wonderful writer, this book is more theme than story. Here's what I mean by that:
The whole premise of this story is based on the idea that a bunch of farmers with acres and acres of land they've owned for generations would allow an outsider to "smooth-talk" them into giving away a) All their earthly belongings b) All their cattle and livestock c) All their GUNS d) Their children???
I totally get that Samson was trying to make a point. But even with the idea that the whole book is an allegory for XYZ, you still need to base the tale in some sort of rooted reality. Either that, or go straight allegory so it reads as more of a fable.
But Samson tried to have it both ways. Creating a realistic thriller / horror novel with "real" characters struggling to overcome an evil interloper, and a heavily-themed allegory on material possessions or modern vs tradition or blah blah blah.
Point is this. If you ever worked on a farm, or ever knew an actual farmer, this story is as laughable as it is infuriating. Because folks, if you think a farmer would let you so much as put a fingertip on his or her belongings without catching a cloud of buckshot in the process, than you're out of your mind.
Samson would have us believe that a whole community of farmers would stand idly by while the villain and a bunch of "deputies with sidearms" take their furniture, their most sacred belongings, their tools, their livestock, inappropriately fondle their wives and seduce their children... while they all just sort of fret and pace and wonder what to do.
Yeah, okay.
Sorry, but like I said, even the most outlandish fantasies need some basis in reality, especially when they're actually shooting for realism, and this book is so frustratingly impossible that you spend the entire time mentally screaming at the characters (and the author) to show a tiny bit of realistic, empathetic humanity. (I personally know of two uncles that would have happily gunned-down and secretly buried the antagonist and his cronies by the end of chapter two).
And by the time they do finally stand up for themselves, you don't care anymore because it's been drawn out too long and you no longer believe a word of the story or care about these unrealistic people.
That all said, the writing is wonderful, and the basic premise is actually interesting, and the themes are worth exploring, but the blind eye to reality is ultimately too much to overcome.
The whole premise of this story is based on the idea that a bunch of farmers with acres and acres of land they've owned for generations would allow an outsider to "smooth-talk" them into giving away a) All their earthly belongings b) All their cattle and livestock c) All their GUNS d) Their children???
I totally get that Samson was trying to make a point. But even with the idea that the whole book is an allegory for XYZ, you still need to base the tale in some sort of rooted reality. Either that, or go straight allegory so it reads as more of a fable.
But Samson tried to have it both ways. Creating a realistic thriller / horror novel with "real" characters struggling to overcome an evil interloper, and a heavily-themed allegory on material possessions or modern vs tradition or blah blah blah.
Point is this. If you ever worked on a farm, or ever knew an actual farmer, this story is as laughable as it is infuriating. Because folks, if you think a farmer would let you so much as put a fingertip on his or her belongings without catching a cloud of buckshot in the process, than you're out of your mind.
Samson would have us believe that a whole community of farmers would stand idly by while the villain and a bunch of "deputies with sidearms" take their furniture, their most sacred belongings, their tools, their livestock, inappropriately fondle their wives and seduce their children... while they all just sort of fret and pace and wonder what to do.
Yeah, okay.
Sorry, but like I said, even the most outlandish fantasies need some basis in reality, especially when they're actually shooting for realism, and this book is so frustratingly impossible that you spend the entire time mentally screaming at the characters (and the author) to show a tiny bit of realistic, empathetic humanity. (I personally know of two uncles that would have happily gunned-down and secretly buried the antagonist and his cronies by the end of chapter two).
And by the time they do finally stand up for themselves, you don't care anymore because it's been drawn out too long and you no longer believe a word of the story or care about these unrealistic people.
That all said, the writing is wonderful, and the basic premise is actually interesting, and the themes are worth exploring, but the blind eye to reality is ultimately too much to overcome.