High Lonesome

Rating:
Summary: I Don't Get It.............
Review: I found Hannah's stories uninteresting and very difficult to follow. His writing , moreover , seemed disjointed and strained. I had trouble finishing this rather short book--which is very unusual for me. I initially thought perhaps it is just me, but having read the reviews of Hannah's subsequent, Yonder Stands Your Orphan I see that other readers apparently share my view of Hannah's writing. Skip this one and read Larry Brown's outstanding Facing the Music instead.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, indeed, this is good.
Review: I picked up High Lonesome at the public library and brought it home with me a day or two ago. Read some stories last night, a few this morning when I woke up. There's good, good writing in this little book. It's not always easy writing, but it lets you in on not a few truths, some big, some small. Made me go down to the corner store and buy a six-pack of PBR tallboys and drink one in the hot hot sun, it still an hour before noon, just to think about the lives and the heartache and every now and again crazy joy I'd just been privilaged to glimpse.

Yes, yes.

Rating:
Summary: Read and learn
Review: This is a collection of short stories by one of the best writers in America today, which is why I'm amazed nobody seems to know about him. He's either a well-kept secret, or is perhaps symptomatic of the incestuous nature of the publishing world. I just can't figure why he's not better-known than he is, because he's so good.

Regardless, learn from this man if you desire to write decent stuff. I go through his books with a highlighter, marking good lines, of which there are plenty. Here's one from "Get Some Young":

"Walthall bought an ancient Jaguar sedan for nothing, and when it ran, smelling like Britain on the skids or the glove of a soiled duke..."

Like all good southern writers, Hannah uncovers the contradictions and depravities of the South with beautiful language. The previously-mentioned story is full of odd characters, while "A Creature in the Bay of St. Louis" is a laid-back story of youthful misadventure; "Carriba" is a bizarre tale of disgrace and redemption (?) with some great language; "Snerd and Niggero" deals with adultery, southern-style, and so on. Twisted southern living portrayed with magical prose.

Hannah is a joy to read (although not an easy read at times), and his works sparkle with lyrical gems that shine for you even if you don't know a bijou from a beignet.