The Wettest County in the World, Matt Bondurant ...
This is a hell of a novel, as hardboiled as it gets and yet equally as
poignant. It is a fictionalized version
of a true story that involves the author’s family (his grandfather and granduncles). Hard men living in hard times doing what it
takes to get along; what the people of Franklin County, Virginia have been
doing forever—making white lightning and then running it for sale; backwoods entrepreneurs
handling production and distribution.
The similarities to Cormac McCarthy are there, as are some
touches of Faulker (who is mentioned by the fictional Sherwood Anderson, a
character in the novel in Franklin County working a newspaper piece and getting
nowhere fast). There is some wonderful
history told in this novel; reflections on the depression and a particular rain
drought that makes tough times a lot tougher, but it is the story of the Bondurant
Boys that is most engaging. The sons of
Granville Bondurant are Forrest, Howard and Jack. Each is haunted by different demons that
involve guilt of one kind or another, but it is an iron will to survive at the
core of these men. For the eldest two, violence
is the skill by which they persevere; a determination to live free and unhindered
by laws and/or the machinations of a moonshine mafia; a group of men seeking
tribute for protection. The youngest,
much less inclined to kill and/or partake in the violence necessary for
vengeance, flirts with the desires of the material world (purchasing clothes
& cars with each new score), but there is a need of something greater that
ultimately drives Jack, a life with love.
No spoilers here, but the suspense is heightened by back and
forth jumps in time and writing that speaks to brilliance. The Anderson character’s several hints about
the dissolution of an American society hell bent on progress; the diminishment
of man’s creativity born of passion and sweat as he is forced to join assembly
lines and the marching drone of progress.
One cannot help but see how this will ultimately lead to a society
ruined by credit default swaps and derivatives; ultimately, a loss of self to
industry in the name of progress.
This was a wicked good read, Amici. It is highly recommended.
Here’s the trailer:
Rangers-Devils-Kings ... I just finished watching the first
period of the Rangers-Devils and it’s picked up where it left off; the Devils
obviously wanting it more than the Rangers (certainly playing harder). I’m thinking it’s gonna take somebody on the
Rangers to drop Kovalchuk ... or put some step in their skates (?) ... hey,
what do I know. I know football, not
hockey.
So somebody was listening and Prust took a wicked cheap shot
at Kovalchuk ... the Rangers responded with some fire ... but still no score
and how many times do we really think Kovalchuk will miss some of those wide
opens shots he’s finding? Period three
starts soon ...
And what’s all this hockey “one timer” speak. A “one time” (drop the “R”) to moi is center
of the craps table prop bet (2, 3, 7, 11, 12) or any combination thereof (i.e.,
aces, snake eyes, ace-duce, yo ’leven, boxcars and BIG RED ... or, if you
prefer, Hi-low, any craps, horn and a world bet).
Bottom line, from what I’ve been watching throughout these
playoffs, I don’t see anybody beating the Kings ... hopefully our guys
(Rangers) will get their act together and start playing with some desperation
(rather than waiting until they lose and go down 2-1, then 3-1 and are truly desperate).
And isn’t it fun watching the Heat take it on the chin? I doubt the Pacers will hold serve again
domani, but I’ll sure be rooting them on.
—Knucks
Sing it, Francis Albert ...
