by Daniel Woodrell
|
by Daniel Woodrell
|
by Daniel Woodrell
|
by Daniel Woodrell
|
by Daniel Woodrell
|
See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.
|
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The hero of Daniel Woodrell's Tomato Red is the most endearingly out- of-control loser you're likely to meet. Sammy Barlach looks like a person "who should in any circumstances be considered a suspect"; clerks follow him through the supermarket when he shops; and the police pull him over simply from habit. But in spite of his looks Sammy only wants to be loved, even if it's just by "the bunch that would have me"--and in the hardscrabble world of West Table, Missouri, that's a bunch you wouldn't necessarily want to meet. The novel begins with a heady Methedrine rush as Sammy celebrates payday by letting himself be talked into robbing a nearby mansion. Even when his newfound friends disappear as he's breaking in he persists: "You might think I should've quit on the burglary right there, but I just love people, I guess, and didn't". The break-in leads Sammy into an unlikely alliance with the Merridew family: Jamalee, Jason and their mother Bev, a prostitute in the town's ironically named Venus Holler. Flame-haired Jamalee dreams constantly of a different kind of life and plans on using Jason's extraordinary beauty as her ticket out of West Table. Jason however seems to be shaping up as what Sammy calls "country queer"-- which as Sammy observes "ain't the easiest walk to take amongst your throng of fellow humankind."
The hero of Daniel Woodrell's Tomato Red is the most endearingly out- of-control loser you're likely to meet. Sammy Barlach looks like a person "who should in any circumstances be considered a suspect"; clerks follow him through the supermarket when he shops; and the police pull him over simply from habit. But in spite of his looks Sammy only wants to be loved, even if it's just by "the bunch that would have me"--and in the hardscrabble world of West Table, Missouri, that's a bunch you wouldn't necessarily want to meet. The novel begins with a heady Methedrine rush as Sammy celebrates payday by letting himself be talked into robbing a nearby mansion. Even when his newfound friends disappear as he's breaking in he persists: "You might think I should've quit on the burglary right there, but I just love people, I guess, and didn't". The break-in leads Sammy into an unlikely alliance with the Merridew family: Jamalee, Jason and their mother Bev, a prostitute in the town's ironically named Venus Holler. Flame-haired Jamalee dreams constantly of a different kind of life and plans on using Jason's extraordinary beauty as her ticket out of West Table. Jason however seems to be shaping up as what Sammy calls "country queer"-- which as Sammy observes "ain't the easiest walk to take amongst your throng of fellow humankind."
Unfortunately for Jamalee Woodrell's Ozarks is a place that rewards ambition with disaster. Here--as in his five previous "country noir" novels--Woodrell writes with a keen understanding of class and a barely contained sense of rage. The residents of West Table's trailer parks and shotgun shacks share Sammy's sense of limited possibilities. "I ain't shit! I ain't shit! shouts your brain", Sammy thinks while wandering around the mansion, "and this place proves the point". Even when Jason sticks up for his own family, the way he does so is heartbreaking: "This expression of utter frankness takes over Jason's beautiful face, and he says, 'I don't think we're the lowest scum in town.' He didn't argue that we weren't scum, just disputed our position on the depth chart". With her mildewing etiquette guides and grandiose plans Jamalee is the only character who doesn't share their sense of defeat, and she's the only one who in the end gets away--though she leaves behind her a trail of betrayal and heartache. By the time the novel's final tragedy rolls around it seems both senseless and inevitable--as tragedies do in real life. Told in a voice that crackles with energy and wit Tomato Red is sharp, funny and--most importantly--true. --Mary Park
Synopsis
When one of their number, a young gay man, is killed, three friends from the American South set out to expose the so-called upstanding citizens who have no qualms about killing another human being because of his sexuality. From the author of UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?
 |
70% buy the item featured on this page: Tomato Red |
 |
11% buy Winter's Bone £5.99 |
 |
11% buy Muscle for the Wing (A Shade novel)£6.29 |
 |
7% buy The Death of Sweet Mister |
Customer Reviews
There are no customer reviews yet. Create your own review
| |||
Video reviews
|
 |
Customer Discussions
Beta (What's this?)|
This product's forum
(0 discussions)
Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Active discussions in related forums
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
The Body Shop |
More From Daniel Woodrell
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell 'It brings us all the satisfactions of crime thriller and mystery...
Read more
|
Up to 50% off Dental Care |
Treat Someone
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). |
|||||||
| |||||
Your Recent History
(What's this?)|
You have no recently viewed items or searches.
After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session. |
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
| ||||
Amazon Home | |
| International Sites: United States | Germany | France | Japan | Canada | China | |
| Business Programs: Sell on Amazon | Fulfilment by Amazon | Join Associates | Join Advantage | |
| Customer Service | Help | View Basket | Your Account | |
| About Amazon.co.uk | Careers at Amazon | |
| Conditions of Use & Sale | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates |