This is the story of the Whitelaws, a family whose values are as far flung as
the territory they helped settle, and whose most recent generations have
pioneered the landscape of dysfunction. schovat popis
Set against the backdrop of Big Sky country, this collection of stories showcases Thomas McGuane's skillful prose and comedic brilliance reminiscent of Twain and Gogol. The narratives explore complex family dynamics, revealing uncomfortable truths as characters grapple with dementia, shifting weather, and long-standing friendships strained by unspoken animosities. With themes of connection and conflict, McGuane's wit and compassion shine through, affirming his reputation as a contemporary literary master.
Set against the backdrop of diverse landscapes, the tales explore the profound connection between place and destiny. Characters range from a boy discovering secrets on Lake Michigan to an Irish clan facing loss in Massachusetts, and a Key West survivor seeking redemption. In Big Sky country, themes of longing and reality emerge as a father attempts to influence his son's experiences, a convict finds new purpose, and a couple confronts danger on a fateful journey. McGuane's narratives celebrate the allure of land while delving into the complexities of dreams and truth.
Berl Pickett, a housepainter turned doctor in Livingston, Montana, faces ostracism when accused of negligent homicide after his former lover's death. As the son of Pentecostal rug-shampooers, he has never fit in, but his unique perspective becomes his strength in navigating the fallout. This darkly comedic tale follows Berl's journey of self-discovery and resilience, showcasing how his individuality ultimately leads him toward redemption in a small-minded community.
A novel about a former soldier in Big Sky Country whose life is spiraling out of control, from the acclaimed author of Ninety-two in the Shade and Cloudbursts, who is "among the most arresting and fascinating [writers] of his generation" ( San Francisco Chronicle ).In McGuane's first novel set in his famed American West, Patrick Fitzpatrick is a former soldier, a fourth-generation cowboy, and a whiskey addict. His grandfather wants to run away to act in movies, his sister wants to burn the house down, and his new stallion is bent on killing all of them urgently require attention. But increasingly Patrick himself is spiraling out of control, into that region of romantic misadventure and vanishing possibilities that is Thomas McGuane's Montana. Nowhere has McGuane mapped that territory more precisely—or with such tenderhearted lunacy—than in Nobody's Angel , a novel that places him in a genre of his own.
Imagine:(1) A bona-fide American freak tooling across country in a green Hudson Hornet hotly pursuing (2) a darling little millionairess who thirsts for "real experience" (3) teamed up with a double amputee, the world's fastest talking con man with a scheme to build bat towers for day-glo bats that can rid any area of insects "practically overnight." And you'll understand why The Bushwhacked Piano has been acclaimed from reviewer to reviewer!
"This is the first time I've worked without a net." The speaker is Chester Pomeroy, a washed-up rock star turned casualty of illicit substances and kamikaze passion. But we may also read these words as an aesthetic statement from Chester's creator, Thomas McGuane, who has made Panama a high-wire act of extravagant emotion and steel-nerved prose.As he haunts Key West, pestering family, threatening a potential in-law with a .38, and attempting to crucify himself on his ex's door out of sheer lovesickness, Chester emerges as the pure archetype of the McGuane hero. Out of his struggle to rejoin the human race -- and the imminent possibility that he may die trying -- McGuane has fashioned a harrowing and hilarious novel of "alligators, macadam, the sea, sticky sex, laughter, and sudden death.""Whatever risk McGuane may have sensed in attempting [Panama], the feat proves successful. The audience is left dazzled." -- The New Yorker
The story revolves around two old friends who reignite a fierce rivalry during a series of perilous games at their hunting club. Set against the backdrop of a vast preserve, the narrative explores themes of boyhood competition and the lengths to which friendships can be tested. As the feud escalates, the characters confront their past and the complexities of their relationship, leading to unexpected consequences.