Category: Stu’s Reviews

Genre: Book/Stories

Grade: A-

Notable People: Annie Proulx

Title: Close Range

Review: Proulx is not prolific; she has written three novels and 5-6 sets of stories in the last 30 years, but all have a level of quality of writing not often found these days. This volume is the first of four books of stories that represent her Wyoming collection- starting in the late 90s. She has lived in Wyoming for many years and has a clear fascination with the history, culture, politics and especially with the land. I found this set of stories to be quite unusual in subject matter- some of them going back to pioneer days and some current day. One is the shortest, short story on record at under one page. Another is a magnificent 8 pager that essentially narrates an entire life through a person’s held jobs. Lot of cowboys, rodeo types, ranch hands, rough necks…..people getting by in a harsh and mostly poor environment. Proulx has a sneaky sense of humor that appears in the most unusual places, but is refreshing. A few of the stories seemed way too long and rambled on in a way that had me lose interest..…but for the most part, I found myself totally absorbed in the time and place. Getting into the second set soon.

Genre: Book/Stories

Grade: A-
Notable People: Jon Talton

Title: Camelback Falls

Review: This is the second in the David Mapstone series which Talton started writing around 2001. Mapstone is the history professor turned reluctant sheriff’s deputy in Maricopa County (Phoenix), who has an on again -off again relationship with the wonderful Peraltha, who is the Chief Deputy of the large sheriff’s dept. and then becomes Sheriff. The “history shamus” , as his love interest, Lindsey (a giant-pistol packing, computer nerd deputy) calls Mapstone, is a fifth generation Phoenician (as is Talton) and has a love hate fascination with the gilded desert oasis, which results in a fascinating historical recollection of the tiny desert town that became a sprawling metro haven for winter-sick Easterners and big-buck schemers. The characters in these books are really good, and the descriptions of the Phoenix area and culture are fantastic. I was totally engaged in this book and found it really well written, but a bit disappointed towards the end with some payoff- scenes that really seemed like a stretch. Ergo, the slight ding in grading….but definitely a keeper. I’m ready for series book #3.

Genre: Book/Stories

Grade: B+

Notable People: Annie Proulx

Title: Accordion Crimes

Review: This 1996 set of stories by Proulx could be considered one long intricate novel- the story follows the travels and transfer of a mythic Green Accordion through two centuries, multiple owners, many tragedies and many transformations. Some similarity with the great film, The Red Violin…but I liked the film better than this book. Proulx is an unbelievable writer…her attention to details of all sorts is simply amazing, and her narratives are gripping. That said, this book waxed and waned for me- some of the stories more compelling than others….and it awful long. Then again, my great friend, the Naven (AKA Flaco), an accordion player of some repute, loved this book when I got it for him some years ago. You have to be up to the challenge of the writing.

Genre: Book/Stories

Grade: A

Notable People: Steve Hamilton

Title: North of Nowhere

Review: This is the fourth (of 10) in Hamilton’s Alex McKnight mystery series..…and I am totally sold. Was not sure when I read the first few- but these have now totally engaged me. Rip roaring stories set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the shores of deep, dark and majestic Lake Superior. This truly another world. Hamilton love this place and loves his characters and the storied are all twisted up beauties. I read this one in three days- could not stop. Bring me more.

Genre: Book/Stories

Grade: B

Notable People: T. Coraghessan Boyle

Title: The Relive Box and Other Stories

Review: Several years ago I noted in a review that T. C. Boyle was one of our finest writers of short stories after reading several such volumes. I am somewhat perplexed by this set of stories. Boyle has always been one our darkest and most brooding writers (check out his picture which looks like a sort of psychopath from a David Lynch film)….but this set is way too dark and too brooding even for me. The title story is a gem as are few others- but some of them are so despairing I had trouble finishing them. Boyle lives with monsters and with extremely desperate people who make one bad decision after another…nobody has relationships in these stories. They are very well written..…the man knows how to compose….but too little heart for me.

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Annie Proulx

Title: That Old Ace in the Hole

Review: This one was a real shocker-an extraordinary departure form Proulx’ previous stories and novels (“The Shipping News, “Postcards”) that I have read. She has now take her writing imagination from the northeast and Canadian sea coasts to the Panhandle of West Texas for quite the story about a culture most of us know nothing about. There’s a lot to this book- funny, complicated and moving all at the same time….in some ways the story of a young man trying to find himself; in other ways about the corporate annihilation of our lands (vis a vis big agribusiness hog farming). There are truly wonderful characters here and a portrayal of a remote, dusty, often forsaken land and culture that has somehow survived for centuries….with a touch, taste, feel and smell all its own. If you have not ever read Proulx- better to pick up the “Shipping News” but this slow moving, meandering (sometimes disjointed book) is well worth the effort.

Genre: Book

Grade: A-

Notable People: Jon Talton

Title: The Concrete Desert

Review: I read one of Talton’s David Mapstone series a few months ago and was only moderately intrigued, but decided to go back and start at the beginning; always the right idea with serial novels. This is Talton’s first novel from 1991 in which he introduces the sometimes college history professor and sometimes deputy sheriff…..and it is a barn burner. Mapstone’s boss and confidente, Mike Peralta, is a character for the ages and the descriptions of the Phoenix heat make you want to jump in a pool. Talton is fourth generation Arizonan and knows the desert inside and out, as well as the extraordinary change of The Valley from a small town unencumbered to mega-city for the retired and wealthy. I’ll be heading out to get the next one right away.

Genre: Book

Grade: B/B+

Notable People: Reed Farrell Coleman

Title: Walking the Perfect Square

Review: Coleman is new one for me…one of many on my annual list from my friend and mentor on all things literature- Neil Berman. This was a good read, though maybe not as stimulating as some of the other hard boiled urban detective type series he has guided me to. Coleman’s protagonist, Moe Prager, is a recently retired (because of knee injury) NYC cop in the late 70s. He is Jewish (significant), self-effacing and really aimless….until he gets pulled into a high level political stakes drama. Well written with a very real feel of the city in the late 70s with lots of timely cultural references ( CBGBs, Son of Sam, etc.) I got lostt at times in the chronology of the story, which occasionally moved forward to the late 90s…but enjoyed the read and will try more of the series.

Genre: Book

Grade: B+

Notable People: Taylor Brown

Title: Gods of Howl Mountain

Review: Interesting first novel I took a lark on. Set in the hollers of North Carolina after the Korean war, it is an astute portrayal of the moonshine culture and the poverty and lawlessness associated with it. There is a grandmother- healer- witch woman charter for the ages and a well woven story. The characters, in general, seemed a bit stereotypical to me and I tired of the “picking up serpents” religious stuff…but an engaging and pretty quick read if you have interest in all things Appalachian.