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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
One part actually brought tears to my eyes... rare storytelling that can do that. I even called someone very close to me and read it to them over the phone, this one part. Loved it.
It was an OK read. I didn't find really bad nor did find it a great read. Will be interesting to hear the reaction from the Reader's Group.
A pretty good book that I would categorize as "Cracker Noir." Set in the Imperial Valley, this book looks at Mexican American relations and the general weirdness in the Mexicali area. Cant' wait to start Johnny Shaw's book "Big Maria." Shaw is a fun read!
(Note: Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program)
I don't always pick up books by new or unfamiliar authors, but the synopsis of this book intrigued me, so I took a chance. I'm very glad that I did. This is an incredibly fun read about a 30 year-old college graduate ne'er-do-well, Jimmy Veeder, and his return to the Imperial Valley area where he grew up and where his father is dying. As a dying wish, the father asks his son to go find a Mexican prostitute he knew. This outrageous request is the set-up for a rollicking tale of friendship and cross-border hi jinx. At least, that's part one of the book. Part two is where things start to get screwed up and Jimmy and his best friend, Bobby, have to get out of it all alive. Throughout all of it, Jimmy will learn about the man his father really was and about how the world really is (or at least how the end of the novel would have you believe them to be). Despite the somewhat bleak outlook on people the book holds, there is a sense of hope that comes through in the last chapter. Not to mention this novel is incredibly fun in part one and harrowing in part two. I couldn't put this book down in the last 10 chapters. In his first novel, Mr. Shaw has written a crackling good read about life on the border in the Imperial Valley. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for both a good laugh and a suspenseful tale.
I don't always pick up books by new or unfamiliar authors, but the synopsis of this book intrigued me, so I took a chance. I'm very glad that I did. This is an incredibly fun read about a 30 year-old college graduate ne'er-do-well, Jimmy Veeder, and his return to the Imperial Valley area where he grew up and where his father is dying. As a dying wish, the father asks his son to go find a Mexican prostitute he knew. This outrageous request is the set-up for a rollicking tale of friendship and cross-border hi jinx. At least, that's part one of the book. Part two is where things start to get screwed up and Jimmy and his best friend, Bobby, have to get out of it all alive. Throughout all of it, Jimmy will learn about the man his father really was and about how the world really is (or at least how the end of the novel would have you believe them to be). Despite the somewhat bleak outlook on people the book holds, there is a sense of hope that comes through in the last chapter. Not to mention this novel is incredibly fun in part one and harrowing in part two. I couldn't put this book down in the last 10 chapters. In his first novel, Mr. Shaw has written a crackling good read about life on the border in the Imperial Valley. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for both a good laugh and a suspenseful tale.
The higher side of three stars. This reminds me of a cross between a Hap & Leonard novel & anything Sughrue by James Crumley, which I did actually think of myself before seeing a blurb on the back of the book saying basically that same thing. I'm heartened to see that this is the first in a series (thank you Prospector for locating book #2 for me) because I can't get enough of the banter between Jimmy & Bobby.
"'The boys say they've found a tunnel. Think it leads to the smokestack things. They're going to check it out and we should go in here ourselves.'
'They texted all that?' I leaned in, trying to read the message.
'No. It just says found tunnel. And tunnel is spelled wrong. I inferenced the rest. Found is spelled wrong too.'"
And a cover blurb by Tana French, of all people, so to paraphrase something Dan wrote years ago, if it's good enough for Tana French, it's good enough for you.
"'The boys say they've found a tunnel. Think it leads to the smokestack things. They're going to check it out and we should go in here ourselves.'
'They texted all that?' I leaned in, trying to read the message.
'No. It just says found tunnel. And tunnel is spelled wrong. I inferenced the rest. Found is spelled wrong too.'"
And a cover blurb by Tana French, of all people, so to paraphrase something Dan wrote years ago, if it's good enough for Tana French, it's good enough for you.
it's pretty damn good - a low brow goldfinch with grit and action that rewards the reader with humor .
I did not see this book coming!
When I won this as a first reads giveaway, I thought it could be a fun read, but really didn't expect the range of emotions it invoked.
I immediately felt a kinship with our protagonist, Jimmy Veeder. We have the same fashion sense (jeans and a t-shirt) and the same rebellious eating habits (bacon with syrup). He is returning home after 12 years to be with his father on his death bed. Dying is no laughing matter, right? Johnny Shaw has produced an impeccably written relationship between father and son, complete with side-splitting joke repertoire (producing tears and guffaws which made this embarrassing to read on my lunch break at work).
All five senses were used, which made the writing so vivid. The portrayal of the characters was so strong, I would recognize them on the street. The whole package come together as a five star read for me.
Immediately after reading this, I felt the urge to share this with someone... ANYone! But I realized, with a sigh, that this wouldn't be just anyone's cup of tea. It is The Hangover meets murder mystery, with such foul language, I could imagine hiding it from my mother under my mattress - when she comes to visit, that is.
Don't let the cover fool you. There is definitely copious amounts of alcohol, and enough guns to fill an armory, but there is also a solid story about love, family and friendship, against all odds.
When I won this as a first reads giveaway, I thought it could be a fun read, but really didn't expect the range of emotions it invoked.
I immediately felt a kinship with our protagonist, Jimmy Veeder. We have the same fashion sense (jeans and a t-shirt) and the same rebellious eating habits (bacon with syrup). He is returning home after 12 years to be with his father on his death bed. Dying is no laughing matter, right? Johnny Shaw has produced an impeccably written relationship between father and son, complete with side-splitting joke repertoire (producing tears and guffaws which made this embarrassing to read on my lunch break at work).
All five senses were used, which made the writing so vivid. The portrayal of the characters was so strong, I would recognize them on the street. The whole package come together as a five star read for me.
Immediately after reading this, I felt the urge to share this with someone... ANYone! But I realized, with a sigh, that this wouldn't be just anyone's cup of tea. It is The Hangover meets murder mystery, with such foul language, I could imagine hiding it from my mother under my mattress - when she comes to visit, that is.
Don't let the cover fool you. There is definitely copious amounts of alcohol, and enough guns to fill an armory, but there is also a solid story about love, family and friendship, against all odds.
An impressive debut. In my estimation, not a wasted or out of place word in 378 pages.
This is a hell of a book. Shaw tells a thrilling, hilarious story, but it's one that's built upon a foundation of real feelings, and between the beatings and the laughter and the deaths, it explores big questions, like what it means to be a friend, and how we know when we're grown up. Powerful and immensely impressive.