Genre: Stories
Grade: B+
Notable People: Tom McGuane
Title: Crow Fair
Review –McGuane is a GREAT writer- in my view, one of the five best living American authors. And, he is a master of the short story form, which is not all that common. His books take place in modern day Montana and are filled with large than life characters; diverse and mesmerizing- pseudo punk- hippie cowboys. A lot to like. That said, his characters may be the most consistently depressing in modern literature. They are full of betrayal, loathing, greed, deceit, despair and orneriness. Not a likeable one in the bunch…which does detract from the big picture for me. Fortunately, the stories are short and you don’t have to wallow too long in their misery. Got to be in certain mood for this, preferably with a full stomach and slightly inebriated in some form. Read “92 in the Shade” for a McGuane primer.