E. Eggen

An Excellent Story

Revisado: 04-03-08

This is an excellent story told from a low-key male perspective. It reminds me of Cormac McCarthy's work, but without the surfeit of violence. The author's reading of the story provides a calm, yet well-paced progression of the tale and the development of the characters. Just as you would expect in dealing with men, you eventually know much of their background stories, but they are played out in a natural manner as the story progresses and the characters get to know and trust each other.

The main character, Arthur Key, opines early in the story that "someone is going to die here." You don't know who it will be and it doesn't dominate the story, but its there as an undercurrent to both the physical activity and to the interactions of the three main characters with others.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

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Social and Environmental Drama

Revisado: 02-10-08

Timothy Egan is an excellent writer. Based on interviews and journals, this narrative is extremely well done. He weaves a story from actual events at least as well as Stephen Ambrose (and I mean that has high praise).

On the one hand it is a story of environmental disaster, part natural and part man-made. It underscores Mr. Egan's other work on the New West. On that topic I recommend his book "Lasso the Wind."

On the other hand it is a story of social crisis, described by people who lived through it. Mr. Egan has done U.S. history a service by providing this late-day retelling of this epic tale.

This nonfiction audio book has been as engrossing a listen and many of my favorite fiction audio books. I strongly recommend that you buy and listen to it.

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A Morality Play

Revisado: 11-05-07

This is an excellent mystery, especially considering no one is killed. This is a morality play in an amoral/immoral world. There is a moral character, but it is certainly not the narrator (although possibly he become one in the end--Finder leaves you hanging). In my opinion, the primary moral character is the narrator's bartender/paralegal buddy. He's the one who points out that the primary character had a choice. A possible secondary moral character is the ex-con who takes care of narrator's dying dad.
Its an interesting listen. I recommend it.

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Its Satire, Folks

Revisado: 08-06-07

This book is a wonderful piece of satire. Almost every character, starting with the narrator, is forgetable and absurd. The story barely hangs together, but it grows on you as you go along.

View the title as meaning about relationships, rather than about finance (though the narrator is a fledgling investment banker).

Richard Thorn is a hoot. The section with the couple in the restaurant is memorable. So is the gala in the MOMA garden. So is the scene on Carlos Slim's yacht, followed by the encounter with "Jesus" the park ranger.

Get the idea? Its a satire, and worth a listen.

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