Go in Beauty

Checkerboard Trilogy

by William Eastlake

Alexander Bowman, a writer, leaves his brother George and the family trading post, to start a new life with Perrette, his brother's wife

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Westerns

286 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

Reviews

[Vít · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hodně dobrá a krásně napsaná knížka, která není zdaleka jen o "indiánské zemi", navíc plná laskavého humoru i nostalgie. A je tam toho daleko víc, škoda že už tyhle věci skoro nikdo nečte.
Já si teď dám každopádně celou trilogii a vylepším těmhle perlám trošku skóre. A kdo má rád dobrý knížky, přidejte se :)

[Mike E. Mancini]

A western that’s absolutely unlike the typical western; it eschews the conventions of the genre with a subtlety and grace that is downright adventitious to the western.

Ingeniously named Indians are the highlight in most of the pages of Go In Beauty. They are funny, sarcastic and logical in almost every line they have throughout the novel.

Two brothers are the main characters; early on neither are all that interesting or memorable, seeming to understand their place in the story, much like Eastlake come to conclusions on how to write this novel.

There are some great scenes that stay with the reader, almost all them humorous. A hundred pages to go Eastlake finds his voice: much of it goes to a drunken novelist rambling sensibly on all that’s happened earlier, while simultaneously dodging death through the back alleys of Mexico.

Bring on part two of the checkerboard trilogy. I’ve a new favorite author to read.

[charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this novel deserves to be among the classics. progressive for its time, pretty much unknown to the canon. eastlake talked about the commodification of native land so poignantly and through the lens of borderline satire.

his prose is episodic, neurotic, interjecting, but oh so full of absolute charm and truth. this book is a new favorite, one that was so ahead of its time, so much so that it completely slipped through the cracks entirely.

alcoholic expatriates and pawn shop owners, neurotic papermen and homicidal, traumatized fugitives, poets, painters, german racers and aesthetic-obsessed filmmakers, medicine men and hunters, this book has it all, and balances it all with such clarity and depth.

a must read. you must read.

[Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down; though it was a slow read, as I had to process everything in it with a lot of time and daydreaming. The setting and the feeling of the southwest took over my whole life as I read this, and I didn't want to leave.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down. Very good book with themes of brotherhood, family, and making meaning in life. Not as good as the other 2 books in the trilogy, the Bronc People, and Portrait of the Artist with 26 Horses. Not as humorous as the other 2, but an emotional and compelling story nevertheless. Very much reminded me of Under the Volcano plot-wise: a man goes to Mexico to drink himself to death, his best days behind him. His brother living back in New Mexico grapples with the past and forgiveness. Truly sad to see these 2 brothers unable to reconcile because of past transgressions. Thematically it was heavy, it was sort of confusing at some parts, sometimes hard to follow, but ultimately what held it back from being as exemplary as Bronc and 26 was the characters weren’t as likable. The Indians are always great, but the wife wasn’t a great person, Alex was too grouchy, and George is a good guy but it was kinda painful to see him suffer.

Anyways, like I said, a good first book, but Eastlake really outdid himself in books 2 and 3.

[Jacob Howard]

conflicting book. the first two thirds of it were OK - occasionally better. the last third was great - and the ending made me emotional. inconsistent. once eastlake ropes you in though he doesn't let go. very curious to read the other two in the series now.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book to savor!!!! So much, so little, just right.

[Kelli Bacon · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't poorly written. I just didn't find the story interesting

[Lewis Manalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this one. A very interesting and honest depiction of the Southwest. Very funny at times and sad, too. Unfortunately, I don't think that this is in print anymore.