tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post4059424530036438914..comments2023-11-05T10:11:31.578+00:00Comments on Just William's Luck: 'Shame and blood and degradation'William Rycrofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-2344920578775265402011-09-23T09:12:27.409+01:002011-09-23T09:12:27.409+01:00Thanks for the comments Annabel and Shona, interes...Thanks for the comments Annabel and Shona, interesting to read two very different conclusions. I think everyone will agree that this is an entertaining read and that in itself can't be underestimated when thinking about what judges will put through in a competition that demands they read hundreds of books and some of them several times! As I said in my review I'll be surprised if this triumphs, my own personal favourite so far is Half Blood Blues which marries entertainment with something a little more interesting, but I can also think of several books that I've read this year that are better than anything I've read on the Booker list. Not a vintage year for the prize in my opinion.William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-7874504334381506202011-09-23T04:21:48.458+01:002011-09-23T04:21:48.458+01:00Will,
Like you I found this an entertaining read ...Will, <br />Like you I found this an entertaining read but I’m a bit surprised to see it both on the Booker short list and on the long list for Canada’s Giller Prize. <br /><br />I have to admit that it does have some relative bad luck in that it is the third western I have read in the past 6 months (the other two being “Blood Meridian” and “True Grit”) and it pales in comparison to those two.<br /><br />I thought the novel was a pretty formulaic western. We have the two cowboys, frequently as-good-as-brothers, in this case, actual brothers. We have the downtrodden woman with the heart of gold, usually a hooker but in this case, the bookkeeper (though naturally there are hookers here too). We have the trail and the broken, crazy characters along the way. We have the Big Man Who Runs This Town and Everyone In It (twice, two different towns). We have the poor souls, who are smart in all the wrong ways to survive, who are the object of their quest. And we have the trusty, one-eyed horse, the sole object of our lead character’s genuine affection.<br /><br />Overall, it’s a good story well told but not particularly memorable or notable. I’ve already forgotten the brother’s first names.Shona Cookhttp://twitter.com/#!/wayfaringreadernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-20140169227177652222011-09-18T19:32:11.802+01:002011-09-18T19:32:11.802+01:00Fab Review. I love Westerns generally, and I adore...Fab Review. I love Westerns generally, and I adored this book - best thing I've read this year (pre-Booker long-listing - I feel smug about that!) <br /><br />It worked on many levels for me - the obvious Blues Brother/Coen Brothers/Deadwood sheer entertainment value, but also as you identify the sense of fate throughout. Eli was a fantastic narrator too,(love the quote you picked!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-18944943171415587122011-09-15T19:20:44.834+01:002011-09-15T19:20:44.834+01:00Interesting you should mention Half Blood Blues as...Interesting you should mention Half Blood Blues as that is the other book on the list I fancied and I'm about 50 pages from the end of it as I type. I think it's rather good: great narrative voice, fab dialogue, deftly plotted and really interesting. My favourite of the few I've read so far. That's me ruining its chances of winning. I might give the Barnes a go too.<br /><br />Westerns are boring. Now let's not fall out before we've even met (more on that soon). Thanks as ever for the comments Max.William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-35317901651698982832011-09-15T18:16:49.270+01:002011-09-15T18:16:49.270+01:00How can you hate Westerns?
That aside, given thi...How can you hate Westerns? <br /><br />That aside, given this year's judging panel I think this is in with a chance. It's one of only two this year I'm really likely to read (Half Blood Blues, though I may read the Barnes I suppose). That doesn't mean I think it's a Booker novel, but then I don't think Booker novels have a chance at the Booker anymore so that may well help it.<br /><br />Nice review as ever.<br /><br />Still, don't like Westerns. I'm shocked. That's like not liking puppies and kittens. It's just wrong.Max Cairnduffhttp://www.pechorinsjournal.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com