Unfortunately none of the characters in this sharply observed novel are at all likeable and the uncritical sexism and racism is hard to take. This is a shame as there is no doubt that Ford is a good story teller. ( )

maa man kan ju undra vad det är för sort människor som bor i den Amerikanska södern. En bok om ett antal udda personer i en trovärdig men absurd historia. Första Richard Ford som jag läst och också hans debutroman men det lär bli många fler. En riktigt bra författare. ( )

This was Ford's first novel. It is fairly amazing.

Once I finished the book, I read the back-flap description, and what I read surprised me a little. Yes, I could see how it all fitted together, but I took more "people" and "place" from the novel than I did plot. Even though I wasn't following the plot with bated breath, I was devouring the words and their incredible ability to take me into people's lives. Right into peoples lives.

Ford manages this through both dialogue that is subtle yet so revealing, and also though descriptions. Descriptions of peoples expressions, of the landscape, of their thoughts. You get to a point where he describes a characters expression, and you just know what they are thinking. This guy is a genius. And this book was, for me, about enjoying the journey. Which I did. ( )