Arkansas
by John Brandon
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 150)
Read in June, 2008
I liked this book. It moved quickly and for the most part I thought the characters were well developed. My only complaint with the characters was near the end when a whole bunch of shit hits the fan and the deadpan writing starts to feel thin. I liked Johnna but felt that some of her reactions were a bit lacking and unrealistic.
I was annoyed by Swin's attitude though I thought he was better realized than Kyle. I never really clicked with Kyle, who I think entered a life of crime because it tur...more
I was annoyed by Swin's attitude though I thought he was better realized than Kyle. I never really clicked with Kyle, who I think entered a life of crime because it tur...more
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Read in February, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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recommends it for:
smart tough guys (and gals)
The story of 3 aimless young men and the bizarre, darkly-comic paths each takes to becoming a career criminal, Arkansas will satisfy that craving you didn't even know you had for a book that reads like a Tarantino/Elmore Leonard/Samuel Beckett joint production. John Brandon serves up a masterly blend of intersecting stories, sparkling dialogue and--maybe best of all--his detailed and constantly-expanding character histories which lull us into a false sense of security even while we know ...more
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Read in April, 2008
OK, I wanted to like this book and I did finish it, which is more than I can say at this point in my life for most 2-star books. But the whole time I kept thinking: "I bet this book was fun to write"--and never once found myself thinking about the pleasures or rewards of the reading. And in the end, for all the beauty of its packaging, it was light stuff, a "guys' novel" for the self-style intellectual who thinks s/he is above such things. It would make an easy and completely...more
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Read in December, 2007
This book is perfection. If Cormac McCarthy were as funny as Elmore Leonard and they wrote about aimless twentysomethings vaguely attempting to commit a crime but mostly just talking about nothing in particular, it would read something like this. God damn, John Brandon, you are a discovery for the centuries.
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Read in May, 2008
Proceeding along a decent clip with this one, enough random motion to keep my ADD/ODD brain thoroughly infused with interest. Makes me nostalgic for my time time spent in the south criss-crossing it on my own wiley adventures between Tampa and New Orleans, yes, Memphis included. Same verve as reflected in McSweeney's Qtly. Concern but still not enough to convince me to sign up for the book of the month subscription. Will need a couple more like this or Bowl of Cherries....Will have more to ad...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
people who will ready anything McSweeney's tells them to.
This book was published by the folks at McSweeney's, so you can imagine the stellar reviews they gave themselves for it. The plot -- two losers fall into a life of crime -- is not very compelling, and the whole thing moves really slow. There are also a lot flashbacks which fall into a second person narrative that is probably supposed to be mysterious, but any idiot can figure out who "you" are 1/3 of the way through the book. I would give this one star, except that I really liked th...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone
It was a little confusing at first - characters just start talking with no introduction.
But this was a great book about southern drug dealers. Not that you will learn anything about dealing drugs in the south. If that is what you are looking for try "Southern Drug Dealing for Dummies." I hear it is really good.
Never knew what was coming next, but when something happened it made perfect sense. I feel like I got to know these people.
I got this from the McSweeney's book of...more
But this was a great book about southern drug dealers. Not that you will learn anything about dealing drugs in the south. If that is what you are looking for try "Southern Drug Dealing for Dummies." I hear it is really good.
Never knew what was coming next, but when something happened it made perfect sense. I feel like I got to know these people.
I got this from the McSweeney's book of...more
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Read in February, 2008
Is there a dude lit equivalent to chick lit? If so, this book would be it, admittedly at a high literary end. It's the first of my McSweeney's "book of the month" membership and is beautifully bound, which really does add to the pleasure of reading. It was funny and the story kept me reading, but I'm afraid the characters were a little too quirky and emotionally damaged to be believable or really sympathetic. Quite of bit of violence, too.
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Read in May, 2008
I'll chime in with an echoed, "Got this as a McSweeney's book-of-the-month offering." Despite subscribing for a few months, this is the first I've come around to starting. Fifty pages in: Meh. I'm picking at it. Not something I'd ordinarily read, but maybe it will pick up.
Edit: By 50 pages to the end, however, it got more compelling. Again, not something I'd ordinarily pick up, but not bad. Took a while to get the ball rolling, though.
Edit: By 50 pages to the end, however, it got more compelling. Again, not something I'd ordinarily pick up, but not bad. Took a while to get the ball rolling, though.
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Read in March, 2008
A well written book about things I'm not interested in. I couldn't connect with the characters or the storyline so I stopped about halfway through.
I got this as part of McSweeney's book of the month club; I wouldn't have picked it out on my own. Fans of crime novels could find a lot to like in this book -- the dialog is natural and the characters are well-drawn -- but I just wasn't enjoying it.
I got this as part of McSweeney's book of the month club; I wouldn't have picked it out on my own. Fans of crime novels could find a lot to like in this book -- the dialog is natural and the characters are well-drawn -- but I just wasn't enjoying it.
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Read in April, 2008
Tore through this one smiling the entire time. I love it when things happen in a book. Especially when the sentences make me turn just the slightest bit green with envy (or jealousy). Great voice, great read.
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Folks who love dense stories, bizarre characters, awesome plots.
Lately, McSweeneys has been on a roll. First there was Bowl of Cherries by Millard Kaufman, now Arkansas by John Brandon. Two first novels, both mind blowingly awesome.
I could explain stuff about the book, but screw it, I'll just say "read it" and leave it at that. You won't be sorry.
I could explain stuff about the book, but screw it, I'll just say "read it" and leave it at that. You won't be sorry.
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Those McSweeney's people sure know how to find'em.
Non-linear narrative makes you work for it, and the characters are too too believable. They're drug dealers, but they're normal people. Which is why it's more believable, cos that Scarface G-unit sh*t is off the tip.
Non-linear narrative makes you work for it, and the characters are too too believable. They're drug dealers, but they're normal people. Which is why it's more believable, cos that Scarface G-unit sh*t is off the tip.
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Read in June, 2008
Some good ideas in this book but the use of an occasional second person POV, meta-ficitonal flourishes, and rather boring sentence structure ultimately turned this one into a groaner. Another great book design from McSweeney's that the content couldn't back up.
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I read a snippet of this book in the mcsweeney's rectangle and was really taken by the way the characters interacted and formed.
its very entertaining.
its very entertaining.
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The first selection of the "Rock and Roll Mamas reading Club" (not our official name but a fairly apt description. Moves quickly and reminiscent of Tom Robbins, just not as deep and somewhat predictable. Fun nonetheless.
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Read in February, 2008
A manly book for manly men. Says a lot about our inability to escape the system, even when trying to cheat it. A great portrait of the jaded Western young person, complete with compassion, wit and essential human detail.
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Read in February, 2008
This is part of my McSweeney's book of the month subscription. It's nice to get random books in the mail that I may not have read otherwise.
Very well written tale of some drug d
Very well written tale of some drug d
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Read in May, 2008
hmmm. This could have been much better, it's got a good basic structure of a story but could have been developed more. I'd be interested in reading this author's second book.
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