Durango

Reading this wonderful book made me feel like I was sitting in some public house in Ireland, listening to an old master storyteller spin a yarn about memorable characters in situations both dire and ridiculous; and it reminded me of the value of the often-neglected art of genuine storytelling. I felt as if I had come to know the characters as real people, and I judged myself the better for having made their acquaintance. And did I meantion that the book is hilarious? The unforgettable attack of the little people is not to be missed!

That's the wild west of Ireland. There are so many things to tell about this book where do you start. The memorable scene where a clapped out bull fit only for the meatyard rouses himself to perform his swansong and in the process commands a bulls price at the fair, the naked leprechauns, the immoral ladies on their last fling with the fine young men. Keane is at his best when he is being irreverent, and this has to be his most irreverent book of all. Totally shocking and in the best tradition of Irish rural literature -every word of it is true!

This is a bonafide cattledrive novel. The fact that it takes place in Ireland of the 40's doesn't make it less exciting. There's bad guys and good guys and sweet colleens (not to mention some hootchycootchy kind of gals!) The forces of nature play a major part (both good and bad) in life on the trail. You get a true feeling for Irish country life and love and honor and pride. The characters are worth a story each, from a lascivious old widow to a gun toting Minister (yes, not everyone is Catholic)! Hallmark made a sickly sweet TV movie out of this wonderful novel, cutting out the murder and most of the mayhem. (NOW are you interested?)