The Outlaw Album

By:

Synopsis
Twelve timeless Ozarkian tales of those on the fringes of society, by a "stunningly original" (Associated Press) American master.Daniel Woodrell is able to lend uncanny logic to harsh, even criminal behavior in this wrenching collection of stories. Desperation-both material and psychological--motivates his characters. A husband cruelly avenges the killing of his wife's pet; an injured rapist is cared for by a young girl, until she reaches her breaking point; a disturbed veteran of Iraq is murdered for his erratic behavior; an outsider's house is set on fire by an angry neighbor. There is also the tenderness and loyalty of the vulnerable in these stories--between spouses, parents and children, siblings, and comrades in arms-which brings the troubled, sorely tested cast of characters to vivid, relatable life. And, as ever, "the music coming from Woodrell's banjo cannot be confused with the sounds of any other writer" (Donald Harington, Atlanta Journal Constitution).
Copyright:
2011

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
ISBN-13:
9780316193399
Related ISBNs:
9780316057561
Publisher:
Little, Brown and Company
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Daniel Woodrell
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
Literature and Fiction, Mystery and Thrillers
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

Reviews

2 out of 5

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I love Woodrell, but these short stories are fairly forgettable, for the most part. Like Winter's Bone, these stories have none of the humor I associate (rightly or wrongly) with Woodrell, from such works as the Bayou Trilogy, or my favorite, Tomato Red. The mood is unrelentingly stark, as we meet a cast of typically dour Ozarkers, including a guy who kills his "outsider" neighbor over not much of anything; a girl caring for her brain-damaged uncle (brain damage she inflicted on him, and rightly so); and an old man who fought with Quantrill's raiders and is having a bit of trouble adjusting to the 20th century. Mental illness seems to be a recurring theme, as few characters appear to be glued together just right. Best stories are "Uncle" and "The Black Step," but overall, I wouldn't recommend it. Short-story collections don't usually do it for me, as almost by definition, that format tends to leave the reader hanging, and this is no exception. Beyond that, the characters just don't seem to have much life to them. For the most part, they're like pen-and-ink drawings, compared to someone like Sammy Barlach from Tomato Red or Ree Dolly from Winter's Bone.