Thursday, July 8, 2021

the art of the lumberjack

The Great Glorious Goddamn of It All by Josh Ritter
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Genre: historical fiction
Review: Weldon Applegate was 13 when he and his father moved to Cordelia, Idaho.  Weldon's father wants his son removed from the civilizing influences of starched collars and Sunday services, but still intends to honor his promise to Weldon's late mother not to go to work again as a lumberjack.  Instead, he will run the general store while Weldon makes friends around town, and some pocket change, as he delivers the local hooch to its various hiding places.

But when the near-mythical lumberjack Linden Laughlin comes to town, promising the elder Applegate that they can both make a fortune if they partner together to clear the Applegate family's "Lost Lot," Weldon's father can't resist.  Weldon looks back on the results of that fateful decision from his deathbed 80+ years later and gives the reader the benefit of his acerbic observations.

From the very first sentence, readers will be transported into the rough world of lumberjacks, with all its coarseness and danger.  Filled with boldly written, exaggerated characters, this lush, yet gritty tale will captivate readers who appreciate authentic dialogue and a strong sense of place.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.

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