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Title: The Hereafter Gang by Neal Barrett Jr. ISBN: 1-885418-21-3 Publisher: Mojo Press Pub. Date: 05 November, 1999 Format: Paperback List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.17 (6 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Not My Thing...
Comment: I went to some effort track this book down, and 'gotta say, it didn't do much for me. The novel follows Doug, a 50+ Texan who hasn't done much in life (except lots of different ladies), as he tries to quit his job and marriage and hit the road. He keeps running into a odd characters who spin him odd tales about their lives. At times these can be funny and compelling, but mostly the book just drifts along as Doug dreams odd dreams and slips into the afterlife. The characters tend to be rather enigmatic, and other than being generally good-natured and ready to enjoy life, it's hard to get much of a sense of them. Doug's afterlife is a paradise in the form of a friendly small town filled with his childhood toys, treats, and heroes (cowboys and WWI German aces) as well as his adult foods and the lovin' of his fantasy woman. Things get progressively less interesting as he tries to figure out what he's supposed to do next. There's some nifty use of language and turns of phrase, but on the whole, it's not m cup of tea and it's not a trip I'd recommend to any of my friends.
Rating: 5
Summary: Please read this book...
Comment: ...because it will be a better world if you do.
This is one of THE funniest, most charming & bawdy books I've ever read. I love the author's vision of heaven & Jesus in Adidas sneakers with a wicked backhand. (somehow the idea of Jesus as a jock isn't so hard to take)
Barrett's obvious smarts & his witty love of words reminds me a lot of Tom Robbins. If you're a fan of Robbins-you'll love Barrett. They have a similar style & outlook. I think of Robbins as a Souther writer while Barrett is definitely Texan.
This particular novel has a highly original view of the afterlife & why we must endure the things we do while living.
I think one of the things I especially enjoyed was the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness ramblings about sitting on his porch wasting time. He talks about "watching the cat eat a leaf" and it cracked me up. There is no way I can do Barrett's wicked sense of humor justice, so I won't try. Just read the book. I swear you'll be laughing out loud.
And I don't think I've ever read anything that makes me hungrier! I wouldn't recommend this book to a vegetarian. But if you like cold beer & spicy ribs...
I've read a lot of fiction. Most good, some bad. I would rate Barrett's "Hereafter Gang" amongst some of the best fiction ever put on paper. See if you don't agree.
Rating: 5
Summary: I first heard about The Hearafter Gang . . .
Comment: ... at ArmadilloCon science fiction convention in Austin, Texas - in 1991. The book was just out in hardcover and on everyone's "must read" list. The book was a limited edition from a small press, though, and out of my price range. Luckily, I had some influence with the local public library and got them to put it on the acquisitions list. They bought it, I read it, and I've been a Barrett fan ever since.
Take the ones that are available in this order. The Hereafter Gang, Dead Dog Blues, Pink Vodka Blues, Skinny Annie Blues, and Bad Eye Blues.
Buy these books then hold onto your ribs. You've got some serious laughter ahead.
And Neal . . . I'm delighted you finally got that trade paper deal on The Hereafter Gang. If I could just convince you to bring Howie Ryder back from China I'd be a happy camper.
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Title: Sunset and Sawdust by JOE R. LANSDALE ISBN: 0375414533 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 16 March, 2004 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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Title: Havana : An Earl Swagger Novel by Stephen Hunter ISBN: 0743238087 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 07 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Therapy by Jonathan Kellerman ISBN: 0345452593 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 20 April, 2004 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: Shutter Island: A Novel by Dennis Lehane ISBN: 0688163173 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 15 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1) by Neal Stephenson ISBN: 0380977427 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 23 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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