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dwhite1174's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
dave37's review against another edition
4.0
Fun. The first two books are more classic detective stories, though with Woodrell's tight, dark engaging prose, while the third is more Woodrell the novelist, with great characters, lovely, if dark, development, and a great plot. Recommended+
numbat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
geeeburns's review against another edition
2.0
I've enjoyed all his other books--"Winter's Bone" and "Tomato Red" epecially--but these I just didn't groove with.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
"This was Frogtown, where the sideburns were longer, the fuses shorter, the skirts higher and expectations lower, and he loved it"
On the steamy and seedy shores of the Louisiana Bayou, Detective Rene Shade walks a fine line between law and loyalty in Saint Bruno where he was born and raised. This trilogy combines three loosely connected stories of crime and justice in the shadows of Frogtown and Pan Fry.
The first story, Under the Bright Lights, has Shade, and his partner How Blanchette, investigating the murder of a city councilman. The Mayor would be happiest if the whole business could be blamed on a trigger happy burglar, but it's not how Shade sees it going. The Councillor's death seems to be linked to a power play in the criminal underbelly that is in danger of triggering a war. Shade chases his suspects right into an armed confrontation in the middle of the Marais du Croche, a swamp beset by lethal cottonmouths and hungry crocodiles.
Muscle of the Wing partners a reluctant Detective Shade with a boyhood friend, Shuggie Zeck, whose business interests are being devalued by a mysterious gang of hold up men. In a town where payback and kickbacks grease the system for politicians and criminals alike, Shade can read between the lines of his Captains orders. This investigation isn't about justice so much as vengeance.
In The Ones You Do (Criminentlies), Detective Shade is brooding over his 90-day suspension when his father, the legendary John X Shade returns to the city with a daughter and annoyed ex associates in tow. This tale features the Shade family, itself a microcosm of the environment they live in. These eccentric characters underscore the themes of loyalty, redemption and belonging that flow through the trilogy.
Daniel Woodrell envelops the reader with his atmospheric depiction of the steaming, soiled bayou and it's unique characters. His style is vividly descriptive, and its a surprising pleasure to immerse yourself in the gritty underbelly of his world. The heat, the sweat, the fear become almost tangible with his eloquent turn of phrase. The language he uses has a cultural lilt, wit and earthiness that defines his characterisation. There is a sense of raw authenticity in Woodrell's examination of the realities of life in Saint Bruno and he captures the indistinct boundaries for those that dwell in the less respectable area's of society masterfully.
Far from being a one dimensional character representing the law, Detective Rene Shade is a skillfully drawn character of principle and personal conflict. Throughout the trilogy, Woodrell reveals the flaws and strengths that define Shade. He is a nuanced character who is engaging and likeable.
Shade is surrounded by family, friends and enemies, the ordinary and the eccentric. Eldest brother Tip, runs a drinking dive named The Catfish while youngest brother, Frankie is a lawyer. Their father, John X Shade is a pool hustling legend who is defined by his absence. Shade has grown up in the town he now polices and his childhood friends are as likely to be his enemies as his informants. Woodrell's characters are all boldly drawn with attention to detail and credibility.
Wonderfully written and an engrossing read, Woodrell has a gift for story and prose. The Bayou Trilogy is an atmospheric, brash and exciting adventure through the nadir of the criminal underbelly in the deep south, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
On the steamy and seedy shores of the Louisiana Bayou, Detective Rene Shade walks a fine line between law and loyalty in Saint Bruno where he was born and raised. This trilogy combines three loosely connected stories of crime and justice in the shadows of Frogtown and Pan Fry.
The first story, Under the Bright Lights, has Shade, and his partner How Blanchette, investigating the murder of a city councilman. The Mayor would be happiest if the whole business could be blamed on a trigger happy burglar, but it's not how Shade sees it going. The Councillor's death seems to be linked to a power play in the criminal underbelly that is in danger of triggering a war. Shade chases his suspects right into an armed confrontation in the middle of the Marais du Croche, a swamp beset by lethal cottonmouths and hungry crocodiles.
Muscle of the Wing partners a reluctant Detective Shade with a boyhood friend, Shuggie Zeck, whose business interests are being devalued by a mysterious gang of hold up men. In a town where payback and kickbacks grease the system for politicians and criminals alike, Shade can read between the lines of his Captains orders. This investigation isn't about justice so much as vengeance.
In The Ones You Do (Criminentlies), Detective Shade is brooding over his 90-day suspension when his father, the legendary John X Shade returns to the city with a daughter and annoyed ex associates in tow. This tale features the Shade family, itself a microcosm of the environment they live in. These eccentric characters underscore the themes of loyalty, redemption and belonging that flow through the trilogy.
Daniel Woodrell envelops the reader with his atmospheric depiction of the steaming, soiled bayou and it's unique characters. His style is vividly descriptive, and its a surprising pleasure to immerse yourself in the gritty underbelly of his world. The heat, the sweat, the fear become almost tangible with his eloquent turn of phrase. The language he uses has a cultural lilt, wit and earthiness that defines his characterisation. There is a sense of raw authenticity in Woodrell's examination of the realities of life in Saint Bruno and he captures the indistinct boundaries for those that dwell in the less respectable area's of society masterfully.
Far from being a one dimensional character representing the law, Detective Rene Shade is a skillfully drawn character of principle and personal conflict. Throughout the trilogy, Woodrell reveals the flaws and strengths that define Shade. He is a nuanced character who is engaging and likeable.
Shade is surrounded by family, friends and enemies, the ordinary and the eccentric. Eldest brother Tip, runs a drinking dive named The Catfish while youngest brother, Frankie is a lawyer. Their father, John X Shade is a pool hustling legend who is defined by his absence. Shade has grown up in the town he now polices and his childhood friends are as likely to be his enemies as his informants. Woodrell's characters are all boldly drawn with attention to detail and credibility.
Wonderfully written and an engrossing read, Woodrell has a gift for story and prose. The Bayou Trilogy is an atmospheric, brash and exciting adventure through the nadir of the criminal underbelly in the deep south, and I look forward to reading more by this author.
tinabaich's review against another edition
3.0
The Bayou Trilogy gathers together Woodrell’s three novels featuring police detective Rene Shade, Under the Bright Lights (1986), Muscle for the Wing (1988), and The Ones You Do (1992). These titles represent three of Woodrell’s first four books and certainly make me willing to read more of his work.
Rene Shade works in the the parish of St. Bruno, a town with clearly defined lines between blacks and whites with internal lines between the law and the criminals that sometimes blur. St. Bruno is the sort of place where the police know quite well who the criminals are, but each side keeps to itself until someone dies. In Under the Bright Lights, the lines are crossed and the town threatens to boil over after the murder of a black city councilman. Shade has to work quickly to keep the peace.
Muscle for the Wing features a prison gang hitting the biggest crime bosses in town. Shade has to walk a fine line between following orders and following the law. Unfortunately for Shade, he doesn't have the same sense of compromise that the town bosses and even his own brothers have.
The Ones You Do finds Shade on suspension after the events of Muscle for the Wing and unlikely to ever be a police officer again. In the midst of his soul-searching, John X. Shade, the family patriarch, returns to St. Bruno after years of roaming. He’s on the run from another shady character (please excuse the pun) who thinks John X. stole his money. For once, John X. is completely innocent and is just trying to protect the wife who’s just left him and the daughter he’s left to care for. This was my least favorite of the three, but that's mainly due to my desire for happy endings...though happy endings are in the eye of the beholder.
The three novels taken together create an interesting vignette of one man and his town. In fact, it’s hard for me to imagine reading them individually and separated by time. They flow together perfectly to create a single work. I’d especially recommend The Bayou Trilogy to those of you who enjoy the setting of the South, which is exceptionally well done by Mr. Woodrell.
http://iubookgirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-bayou-trilogy.html
Rene Shade works in the the parish of St. Bruno, a town with clearly defined lines between blacks and whites with internal lines between the law and the criminals that sometimes blur. St. Bruno is the sort of place where the police know quite well who the criminals are, but each side keeps to itself until someone dies. In Under the Bright Lights, the lines are crossed and the town threatens to boil over after the murder of a black city councilman. Shade has to work quickly to keep the peace.
Muscle for the Wing features a prison gang hitting the biggest crime bosses in town. Shade has to walk a fine line between following orders and following the law. Unfortunately for Shade, he doesn't have the same sense of compromise that the town bosses and even his own brothers have.
The Ones You Do finds Shade on suspension after the events of Muscle for the Wing and unlikely to ever be a police officer again. In the midst of his soul-searching, John X. Shade, the family patriarch, returns to St. Bruno after years of roaming. He’s on the run from another shady character (please excuse the pun) who thinks John X. stole his money. For once, John X. is completely innocent and is just trying to protect the wife who’s just left him and the daughter he’s left to care for. This was my least favorite of the three, but that's mainly due to my desire for happy endings...though happy endings are in the eye of the beholder.
The three novels taken together create an interesting vignette of one man and his town. In fact, it’s hard for me to imagine reading them individually and separated by time. They flow together perfectly to create a single work. I’d especially recommend The Bayou Trilogy to those of you who enjoy the setting of the South, which is exceptionally well done by Mr. Woodrell.
http://iubookgirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-bayou-trilogy.html
henrycapuano's review against another edition
3.0
A constantly rotating rogue’s gallery of villains ensures this trilogy is always moving and constantly engaging. However, heavy dollops of the male gaze, overwrought dialogue and naval gazing keep this one out of the 4 star category… I’m glad the sex scenes were short.
nematome's review against another edition
4.0
I haven’t read very much that could be considered “noir” but I really enjoyed these. It was rewarding to read them in sequence, because I grew more and more attached to the characters and setting with each one.
Under the Bright Lights is an introduction to Rene Shade, a lifetime resident of St. Bruno, Louisiana, and a resigned, morally ambiguous detective.
He was not guided by a total love of law, but he was more for it than against it and this, he felt, made him reasonable. And that was the summit of his aspirations.
Between the neighboring communities of Pan Fry and Frogtown, there is a strict racial divide, and the gangs fight for dominance. Rene and his corpulent partner Blanchete are called in to investigate the murder of a rising star politician from Pan Fry. Both men have strong ties to Frogtown’s underbelly which complicates their involvement. This story also follows Jewel Cobb, an arrogant young patsy with murderous fantasies.
In Muscle For the Wing, Shade is teamed up with a childhood friend, now thug, to catch a cop-killer. Wanda Bone Bouvier, a young, resourceful, and weary woman, finds herself in the unlikely position of gang-leader when her older husband Ronnie is incarcerated.
Without a doubt, The Ones You Do is my favorite of the three. This story follows Shade’s father John X as he returns to Frogtown with Shade’s ten year old half-sister in tow, after his much younger wife runs out on him and leaves him in hot water.
Noir has always seemed like a boy’s club to me. The girls are easy and none too bright, the violence is over the top, and the men are hard and embittered. Yes, I know that this is a stereotype that I need to get over. Actually this whole train of thought led me to google “female noir authors” and I will be heading your way soon, [a:Patricia Highsmith|7622|Patricia Highsmith|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1217411179p2/7622.jpg]! My point is, while some of the women in these stories fit the description from above, Daniel Woodrell never fails to make them into fully realized characters. Yes, they are indeed overly sexed and a bit on the slow side, but they are also shrewd and self-preserving, and long-suffering. Wanda Bone Bouvier is one of my favorite characters from this book. She does what she has to do, while dealing with the egos and occasional incompetence around her. She finds happiness with men as she can, but recognizes that with most she is no more than a “highly prized household convenience."
Also, sometimes when I am reading an “intimate” scene featuring one of these ladies it's like I can practically feel the author leering over my shoulder. Jeez buddy, I get it! You have a rape fantasy. That’s very nice. Now, go sit in the corner, because the pages are getting so oily that the sheen is starting to blind me. Well, that never happens here. I actually felt more like Daniel Woodrell was sitting at a respectful distance, arms crossed, eyes mid roll, and saying, “Criminentlies but men are poor posturing bastards, aren’t they?” There are also about seven strong female characters (not to mention a whole handful of great male characters) in The Ones You Do.
It seems really evident to me that Daniel Woodrell gets a lot of joy out of playing with words. The descriptions and dialogue in these stories are just plain fun to read. I listened to this one, and I was flat out amazed when I realized that the narrator is none other than Bronson “Balki” Pinchot! I have to warn my fellow listeners that he is an extremely slow narrator (which makes absolute sense, given the three extra syllables that every word seems to have). I think that he did a fantastic job narrating: he does great accents (ignorant northerners, French gangsters, and Bayou natives) and he does well with both male and female characters. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Perfect Musical Pairing
Why choose just one when I can have three?
John Lee Hooker – Mad Man Blues
These stories are all set near one of the Jazz capitals of the U.S., which is unfortunate because I am sadly lacking in that area. I admit that I don’t really “get” Jazz. I mean, I do like it…but my brain doesn’t explode with awesomeness when I listen to or anything. But, I can definitely appreciate Blues. I feel that the first story is the darkest of the three, and this song definitely fits the mood of it.
She & Him – I Was Made For You
Wanda, I think that you would enjoy this song, which is my little nod to your method of survival. Perhaps this song will also prove useful the next time you take the stage for a “narrative” strip?
Arthur Alexander – Every Day I Have to Cry Some
Arthur Alexander was an extremely talented song writer and performer but he never got the fame that he so deserved. This song, for me, captures the resigned and mournful tone of John X. Shade in the last story.
Under the Bright Lights is an introduction to Rene Shade, a lifetime resident of St. Bruno, Louisiana, and a resigned, morally ambiguous detective.
He was not guided by a total love of law, but he was more for it than against it and this, he felt, made him reasonable. And that was the summit of his aspirations.
Between the neighboring communities of Pan Fry and Frogtown, there is a strict racial divide, and the gangs fight for dominance. Rene and his corpulent partner Blanchete are called in to investigate the murder of a rising star politician from Pan Fry. Both men have strong ties to Frogtown’s underbelly which complicates their involvement. This story also follows Jewel Cobb, an arrogant young patsy with murderous fantasies.
In Muscle For the Wing, Shade is teamed up with a childhood friend, now thug, to catch a cop-killer. Wanda Bone Bouvier, a young, resourceful, and weary woman, finds herself in the unlikely position of gang-leader when her older husband Ronnie is incarcerated.
Without a doubt, The Ones You Do is my favorite of the three. This story follows Shade’s father John X as he returns to Frogtown with Shade’s ten year old half-sister in tow, after his much younger wife runs out on him and leaves him in hot water.
Noir has always seemed like a boy’s club to me. The girls are easy and none too bright, the violence is over the top, and the men are hard and embittered. Yes, I know that this is a stereotype that I need to get over. Actually this whole train of thought led me to google “female noir authors” and I will be heading your way soon, [a:Patricia Highsmith|7622|Patricia Highsmith|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1217411179p2/7622.jpg]! My point is, while some of the women in these stories fit the description from above, Daniel Woodrell never fails to make them into fully realized characters. Yes, they are indeed overly sexed and a bit on the slow side, but they are also shrewd and self-preserving, and long-suffering. Wanda Bone Bouvier is one of my favorite characters from this book. She does what she has to do, while dealing with the egos and occasional incompetence around her. She finds happiness with men as she can, but recognizes that with most she is no more than a “highly prized household convenience."
Also, sometimes when I am reading an “intimate” scene featuring one of these ladies it's like I can practically feel the author leering over my shoulder. Jeez buddy, I get it! You have a rape fantasy. That’s very nice. Now, go sit in the corner, because the pages are getting so oily that the sheen is starting to blind me. Well, that never happens here. I actually felt more like Daniel Woodrell was sitting at a respectful distance, arms crossed, eyes mid roll, and saying, “Criminentlies but men are poor posturing bastards, aren’t they?” There are also about seven strong female characters (not to mention a whole handful of great male characters) in The Ones You Do.
It seems really evident to me that Daniel Woodrell gets a lot of joy out of playing with words. The descriptions and dialogue in these stories are just plain fun to read. I listened to this one, and I was flat out amazed when I realized that the narrator is none other than Bronson “Balki” Pinchot! I have to warn my fellow listeners that he is an extremely slow narrator (which makes absolute sense, given the three extra syllables that every word seems to have). I think that he did a fantastic job narrating: he does great accents (ignorant northerners, French gangsters, and Bayou natives) and he does well with both male and female characters. I highly recommend the audiobook!
Perfect Musical Pairing
Why choose just one when I can have three?
John Lee Hooker – Mad Man Blues
These stories are all set near one of the Jazz capitals of the U.S., which is unfortunate because I am sadly lacking in that area. I admit that I don’t really “get” Jazz. I mean, I do like it…but my brain doesn’t explode with awesomeness when I listen to or anything. But, I can definitely appreciate Blues. I feel that the first story is the darkest of the three, and this song definitely fits the mood of it.
She & Him – I Was Made For You
Wanda, I think that you would enjoy this song, which is my little nod to your method of survival. Perhaps this song will also prove useful the next time you take the stage for a “narrative” strip?
Arthur Alexander – Every Day I Have to Cry Some
Arthur Alexander was an extremely talented song writer and performer but he never got the fame that he so deserved. This song, for me, captures the resigned and mournful tone of John X. Shade in the last story.
conchfritters's review against another edition
4.0
i loved this. it reminded me of david lynch's wild at heart and bad lieutenant: port of call. i hope to god lee daniels doesn't get ahold of it.
screamdogreads's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewing this book is pretty tricky, since it's essentially 3 individual novels slapped together as a trilogy. Each novel however, blends seamlessly into the last, and each one is every bit as enjoyable as the one before it.
This is a soul crushing and bleak set of books, filled with deeply flawed characters whose lives seem like nothing but misery and suffering. The best way to describe these books, is to say that Woodrell is descriptive to a point of it being almost heartbreaking.
This is a soul crushing and bleak set of books, filled with deeply flawed characters whose lives seem like nothing but misery and suffering. The best way to describe these books, is to say that Woodrell is descriptive to a point of it being almost heartbreaking.
"Comprehension made Duncan rigid, and he let his important eye flap shut, choosing not the view the most glamorous occurrence, the straight-razor finale, to this his gaudy, but already forgotten life."
Despite the original publishing date, these novels never once felt dated, each of them had a modernized noir flair to them, making them feel like books that could have been published 2 or 3 years ago. This comes, in large part from Woodrell's distinctive writing style which gives him a voice that so few authors can emulate.