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cathiedalziel's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Amazing writing, but the story is just not my cup of tea. It's much stronger than tea. Like Jack Daniels straight from the jug. If you like grit, this is for you. I was not in a "want to read grit" mood at the time, It was me; it was definitely not the author or the book.
Amazing writing, but the story is just not my cup of tea. It's much stronger than tea. Like Jack Daniels straight from the jug. If you like grit, this is for you. I was not in a "want to read grit" mood at the time, It was me; it was definitely not the author or the book.
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. It was a lot more different then I thought it would be. I was expecting it to be a Western with lots of action and shooting. This book was unique in the way that it focused more on the storytelling aspect with human interaction and the back drop of Montana. At times because of the lack of action, it was hard for me to keep my attention on the story. Which also was a problem because I was not fully invested in the rest of the characters except for the two main ones of John and Valentine. So with hardly any action and lack of intriguing characters, this book was just alright. Although, the past I found was better then the present. I liked getting to know John. His and Valentine's bond was a nice one. The ending was fine.
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
1.0
I should have seen trouble coming when the author was described as a carpenter, smelterman (whatever that is) & bareback rodeo rider. Yeah, but can he write? Well, do you think no book is complete without endless descriptions of desolate Montana landscapes? What’s your patience level for “sandstone bluffs bewigged with ancient sage”? And do you really, really like tractors? If you’re more enthralled with John Deere 3020s than a decent Silence-of-the-Lambs-like plot (a troubled young deputy is tasked to guard an aging serial killer), then the smelterman scribe has written the book you’ve been waiting for.
bmg20's review against another edition
4.0
"One thing I always did, Val, was to live my life. It wasn’t a particularly interesting life but it was on my terms. Now in here I’m just living it out. [...] Now it’s just waiting. It’s only a life technically because you’re breathing in and out. Putting in the time until you clock out."
The Ploughmen is a meandering tale that switches point of view between two men: John Gload, a 77 year old that has spent his life as a contract killer but is inevitably caught and his jailer, Valentine Millimaki who is a quiet and introspective man with a painful past and difficult personal issues he’s currently dealing with between him and his wife. These two men strike up a surprisingly quick bond between one another during Millimaki’s graveyard shifts at the jail, reminiscing on their lives, connecting in twilight over their shared bouts of insomnia.
'Then he corrected himself, said no, that’s not quite exactly right, it wasn’t tricking himself but tricking the insomnia, which he imagined as a palpable thing, a kind of shade or haunt that bent over him in his repose, passing rattling hand bones in the air above him to ward off the visitation of sweet slumber.'
There is violence but little action, mostly reflection, between the pages of this small yet potent novel. The Ploughmen is a somber story about life and hardships and learning to simply survive them. It’s written in such a way without a clear sequence of events, which I attributed to Millimaki’s continued sleepless days and nights, but doesn’t leave the reader feeling groggy but instead with that dreamy weightless feel.
'Perhaps she’d stood gazing uncomprehendingly at the emerging stars, in their milky light superimposing the enormous order wheeling overhead onto the map that seemed to hold her life in its obtuse loops and lines.'
Even if the story is not one you would typically read, the skillful writing style that Zupan possesses makes it completely worth while just for the experience alone. Stark yet completely stunning, the incredibly descriptive passages tell a story all on their own. The Ploughmen is an incredibly impressive debut and I can only hope that it’s not the last we’ve seen of this talented author.
I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Ploughmen is a meandering tale that switches point of view between two men: John Gload, a 77 year old that has spent his life as a contract killer but is inevitably caught and his jailer, Valentine Millimaki who is a quiet and introspective man with a painful past and difficult personal issues he’s currently dealing with between him and his wife. These two men strike up a surprisingly quick bond between one another during Millimaki’s graveyard shifts at the jail, reminiscing on their lives, connecting in twilight over their shared bouts of insomnia.
'Then he corrected himself, said no, that’s not quite exactly right, it wasn’t tricking himself but tricking the insomnia, which he imagined as a palpable thing, a kind of shade or haunt that bent over him in his repose, passing rattling hand bones in the air above him to ward off the visitation of sweet slumber.'
There is violence but little action, mostly reflection, between the pages of this small yet potent novel. The Ploughmen is a somber story about life and hardships and learning to simply survive them. It’s written in such a way without a clear sequence of events, which I attributed to Millimaki’s continued sleepless days and nights, but doesn’t leave the reader feeling groggy but instead with that dreamy weightless feel.
'Perhaps she’d stood gazing uncomprehendingly at the emerging stars, in their milky light superimposing the enormous order wheeling overhead onto the map that seemed to hold her life in its obtuse loops and lines.'
Even if the story is not one you would typically read, the skillful writing style that Zupan possesses makes it completely worth while just for the experience alone. Stark yet completely stunning, the incredibly descriptive passages tell a story all on their own. The Ploughmen is an incredibly impressive debut and I can only hope that it’s not the last we’ve seen of this talented author.
I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
jfr_wi's review against another edition
3.0
4 stars for the interesting storyline. 2 stars for the writing. I read the hardcover, but I wish I would have read this one Kindle with with the dictionary look-up function.
Like other reviewers noted, the author should have gone a little lighter on the thesaurus.
Like other reviewers noted, the author should have gone a little lighter on the thesaurus.
alexandraouellette's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
ktimmers's review against another edition
4.0
Short but immersive. I could see this as a good book club read as I am left with thoughts/questions.
squidsmash's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Suicide, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
cgcross's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated