caitlin_89's review
4.0
I picked up this book as a possible for using in my senior seminar paper. I chose not to use it because it's a series of novellas as opposed to short stories, and "short story cycle" was the requirement. However, this fits neatly alongside the books I did choose: Steinbeck's The Pastures of Heaven and Gardner's Someone to Crawl Back To. Rural people facing crushing loneliness, emotionally and mentally stunted, sexually deviant or disappointed, etc.
The landscape is very Steinbeck. The characters echo Faulkner and O'Connor. The style is classic and fresh at the same time. I was highlighting similes all the way through. Well done, Mr. Weil. Very well done.
The landscape is very Steinbeck. The characters echo Faulkner and O'Connor. The style is classic and fresh at the same time. I was highlighting similes all the way through. Well done, Mr. Weil. Very well done.
escapegrace's review against another edition
3.0
At a Skylight Books reading a couple of months ago, Josh Weil read from the third novella in this collection of three, and I was pretty blown away. "Sarverville Remains" is chilling, poignant, and told in a well-executed, effective form of West Virginian dialect. The other two novellas are sadly not as good. "Ridge Weather" establishes the setting of the collection well and has its touching moments, but "Stillman Wing" didn't do it for me at all.
dreesreads's review
4.0
Excellent set of 3 novellas. Loosely tied together by time and place. I thought each was my favorite as I read them. They do all have a similar feel--lonely men who don't fit in and don't understand those around them. Curiou to read more of this author's work--have no idea if that theme is his thing.
I sure wouldn't want to live in the Swain Valley, though perhaps the author feels everyone feels that way? Meaning lonely and confused. Would be a great book club book.
I sure wouldn't want to live in the Swain Valley, though perhaps the author feels everyone feels that way? Meaning lonely and confused. Would be a great book club book.
karencarlson's review
2.0
This wasn't for me; I didn't finish it. A sense of place just isn't enough for me, I guess. Detailed comments (with possible spoilers) at A Just Recompense
janet's review
4.0
Josh Weil is speaking in Athens on 2/28; my bookstore business, Avid Bookshop, will be selling copies of the book at the event. Loving the first novella so far--this book contains three linked stories.
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