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Review
"[a] galloping, defiant epic…a virtuoso performance…vigorous and sincere, located squarely in the tradition of Twain, Faulkner and McCullers." THE GUARDIAN
"In Early "Trenchmouth" Taggart…Taylor has created a marvellous, jump-off-the-page character…a defiantly incredible creation…The writing is limber, and the real life it bundles up into its freakish, charismatic character make this a genuine success that admirers of John Irving - and others too - will surely enjoy." THE INDEPENDENT
"[A] mesmerisingly fluid narrative…Smart, brash, but totally convincing, this has the makings of a page-turning literary sensation." WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY
"A confident, funny and often surprising read." METRO
"Wildly inventive." THE TIMES
“This is indeed a book that succeeds in its early pages to completely capture the reader.” LE MONDE
“It is an exceptional novel with a rare picaresque power…Taylor is a master.” LE FIGARO
"Taylor's prose is so fluid and seemingly effortless that The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart bridges the usually irreconcilable gap between popular fiction and literary fiction. It's that rare creature-a literary page-turner. . .The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart is a stunning, fully realized, unique and ambitious book that proves there's still passion, fire and brilliance in the American novel." HOUSTON CHRONICLE
"An energetic romp." DAZED AND CONFUSED
"Think of this novel as an American version of 'One Hundred Years of Solitude.'" BOB HOOVER, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
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Is there room in this world for a moral man?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Every now and then a book comes along that blows you out of the water, and this is one of those. Hearing that it was like John Irving, an author whose books I love I thought I would give this a try, and I wasn't disappointed. We are led through an odyssey that is the life of 'Trenchmouth' Taggart, from where his mother threw him in the river at a couple of months old, through his adoption by Widow Dorsett and onto the present day at a 108 years of age.
And what a life 'Trenchmouth' has lived. Growing up in southern West Virginia he is a real hillbilly, and is taught hunting and tracking at an early age by the Widow, who also makes moonshine. Finding out that he can make money in his teens by servicing women with his tongue and joining a 'holy-roller' church with talking in tongues and snake handling our hero has seen most things. When the coal wars hit Virginia in the 1920's 'Trenchmouth' is there shooting at the company hired thugs. Taking part in a bloodbath eventually leads to someone else being convicted of the deaths that he caused and he is forced into exile, becoming a wildman in the Appalachians.
Reappearing after twenty four years 'Trecnchmouth' changes his name and becomes a musician and then a journalist, playing with Chuck Berry, getting a sandwich from Hank Williams, and interviewing JFK, as well as winning a Pulitzer. But the past has a way of catching up with you and our hero has to disappear again, eventually reappearing again under another name.
This book is hard to put down and is divided into books. The prologue and epilogue are in the present. The first book is 1903-1921, then we come back on to the second book, which is 1946-1961. The third and last book is 1989-1993 where we find how much the area has changed over the years. This is M Glenn Taylor's first novel that was originally published in America in 2008. It is sure to become a hit over here with anyone who loves a good story, and it also has that touch of quirkiness to it, just like John Irving's work. I would recommend this to anyone, and I know that I will be re-reading it many times over the coming years.
And what a life 'Trenchmouth' has lived. Growing up in southern West Virginia he is a real hillbilly, and is taught hunting and tracking at an early age by the Widow, who also makes moonshine. Finding out that he can make money in his teens by servicing women with his tongue and joining a 'holy-roller' church with talking in tongues and snake handling our hero has seen most things. When the coal wars hit Virginia in the 1920's 'Trenchmouth' is there shooting at the company hired thugs. Taking part in a bloodbath eventually leads to someone else being convicted of the deaths that he caused and he is forced into exile, becoming a wildman in the Appalachians.
Reappearing after twenty four years 'Trecnchmouth' changes his name and becomes a musician and then a journalist, playing with Chuck Berry, getting a sandwich from Hank Williams, and interviewing JFK, as well as winning a Pulitzer. But the past has a way of catching up with you and our hero has to disappear again, eventually reappearing again under another name.
This book is hard to put down and is divided into books. The prologue and epilogue are in the present. The first book is 1903-1921, then we come back on to the second book, which is 1946-1961. The third and last book is 1989-1993 where we find how much the area has changed over the years. This is M Glenn Taylor's first novel that was originally published in America in 2008. It is sure to become a hit over here with anyone who loves a good story, and it also has that touch of quirkiness to it, just like John Irving's work. I would recommend this to anyone, and I know that I will be re-reading it many times over the coming years.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellent read, evoking a time and atmosphere of a long forgotten part US geography and social history brilliantly. Spanning 100 years of the life of the eponymous Trenchmouth through three 'books' it is a singually superb chronological romp through the US back country and changing facade of 20th Century America. A heady mix of Cormmac McCarthy's "Child of God" and Forrest Gump, the books owes more in literary style to the former and plot development and recurring 'luck' plot tools to the latter.
To rehash the plot elements would be to repeat other reviews, but the character of Trenchmouth representes the 'little man' of America the pioneers, prospectors, unionsts, journalists, enviromentalists and as Trenchnouth ages so we witness the changing values of a nation - a man unbable to condemn the actions and violence of the youth of modern America or the flim flam of politicians because of his own gun weilding and rebellious past. The book touches on the socio-economic decline of industry, agriculture and rural america it discusses family values, race, politics and the enduring power of music and the inherent good of people. Is trenchmouth Taggart an Aallegory for the history the US itself, maybe...
It is a uniquely engaging read, funny, dark and intelligent - never less than enthralling and wondefully written in a clean crisp POV. One of the best reads of the year for me.
To rehash the plot elements would be to repeat other reviews, but the character of Trenchmouth representes the 'little man' of America the pioneers, prospectors, unionsts, journalists, enviromentalists and as Trenchnouth ages so we witness the changing values of a nation - a man unbable to condemn the actions and violence of the youth of modern America or the flim flam of politicians because of his own gun weilding and rebellious past. The book touches on the socio-economic decline of industry, agriculture and rural america it discusses family values, race, politics and the enduring power of music and the inherent good of people. Is trenchmouth Taggart an Aallegory for the history the US itself, maybe...
It is a uniquely engaging read, funny, dark and intelligent - never less than enthralling and wondefully written in a clean crisp POV. One of the best reads of the year for me.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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This novel is divided into three sections as we read the tale of Trenchmouth Taggart. It's the early part of the story which I enjoyed best as it had me rapidly reading on, but as the story develops I felt that the style changed and I didn't enjoy it as much even though it was still a good read.
The book cover quotes similarities to John Irving and I have to say that does ring true for the first half of the book at least, with some small similarities to Irving's most recent novel Last Night in Twisted River, but only a little as Trenchmouth doesn't go nearly as deep with either characterisation or story development. For anyone who enjoys John Irving (or just a good story) then it would certainly be worth trying this book.
The book cover quotes similarities to John Irving and I have to say that does ring true for the first half of the book at least, with some small similarities to Irving's most recent novel Last Night in Twisted River, but only a little as Trenchmouth doesn't go nearly as deep with either characterisation or story development. For anyone who enjoys John Irving (or just a good story) then it would certainly be worth trying this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
samdexter
What can i say about this book to do It justice. Well I suppose in a word Epic. What a great story. I mean a great,great story. I loved all the larger than life characters. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Grant Davies
Absolutely loved it
This is one of the very many books that I have bought based on the nice front cover. I've found some of my favourite books this way so don't listen to the saying. Read more
Published 4 months ago by joevascotia
Superb Story
M Glenn Taylor is more than a great story teller, he is a spinner of yarns and that's what makes this book such a great read. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mountain Man
A breath of fresh air
What a marvellous novel! A breath of fresh air from hugely talented writer. Trenchmouth is a truly memorable character in a book I couldn't put down. A tour-de-force.
Published 11 months ago by James N. Beatson
The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart by Glenn Taylor
Glenn Taylor, a new kid on the block, but on the evidence of this book he will be around for a long time. Read more
Published 11 months ago by V. L. Harding
A cunnilinguist tells his life story
'Trenchmouth...' opens as he's interviewed as the oldest person, 108, in Virginia. Since he's just sewn up his mouth with heavy-duty fishing line, it sounds difficult. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Michael Furey
Fine story telling
The basic thing to say about M Glenn Taylor is that he is a damn fine story teller. He peoples his world with interesting and endearing characters and then fits them into a... Read more
Published 13 months ago by P. G. Harris
The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart
I enjoyed this book very much its different from the books I normaly read so I didn't expect too much from it, but I have to say as soon as I started reading I could not put it... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Jonny.D.
An enjoyable romp
Others have described what this is about. Suffice to say, it is a great read and a great laugh. It rambles at times but there's always a way forwards and plenty of corners. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Otto99
I have been looking for this book for years...
..to quantify my review title I should add that those years that I have been looking for a book like this have been since first reading " A Prayer for Owen Meany", - a book that... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Ian916
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