Midnight Oil

[Powderworks] Just finished Willie

Beth Curran bcurran@columbus.rr.com
Mon, 30 Jun 2003 20:59:03 -0400


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Thanks to Robin, I finished Willie this weekend - it was facing stiff
competition from Harry Potter, which I've been reading aloud to the kids
practically nonstop, or so it seems.  Anyway, just for some background:
Given a choice, I'd rather read a novel with good, unusual, or witty
writing with little or no plot (i.e. Vonnegut) than a book with a great
plot but crappy or undistinguished use of language (King, Rice).  So
overall, I liked Willie a lot and have rated it a keeper.  There are
some great turns of phrase in there, especially in the descriptions of
the deteriorating relationship with Slim, and no embarrassing
tabloid-style tattle-tailing.  A few parts were a bit forced, but as a
whole the writing was interesting, and a gentlemanly, if occasionally
sardonic, tone prevailed.  And I think the in-print reviewers missed a
big point:  of course the book jumps around, that's what their lives on
the road have been like!
 
There were some parts that got me laughing out loud and one "guilty as
charged" slap in the face - the part poking fun at super-white women
dressed entirely in black and "fastidiously avoiding direct sunlight" -
ouch!  A direct hit!
 
I don't know if non-Oils fans would get much out of it, though.  Does
anybody have current sales figures on it or know if it's sold according
to expectation? - Beth

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thanks to Robin, I finished Willie this weekend =
&#8211; it
was facing stiff competition from Harry Potter, which I&#8217;ve been =
reading aloud
to the kids practically nonstop, or so it seems.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Anyway, just for some =
background: <span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;</span>Given a choice, I&#8217;d rather =
read a novel
with good, unusual, or witty writing with little or no plot (i.e. =
Vonnegut) than
a book with a great plot but crappy or undistinguished use of language =
(King,
Rice).<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>So overall, I liked =
Willie a
lot and have rated it a keeper.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>There
are some great turns of phrase in there, especially in the descriptions =
of the deteriorating
relationship with Slim, and no embarrassing tabloid-style =
tattle-tailing.<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>A few parts were a bit forced, =
but as a
whole the writing was interesting, and a gentlemanly, if occasionally =
sardonic,
tone prevailed.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>And I =
think the in-print
reviewers missed a big point:<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span>of course
the book jumps around, that&#8217;s what their lives on the road have =
been like!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>There were some parts that got me laughing out loud =
and one &#8220;guilty
as charged&#8221; slap in the face &#8211; the part poking fun at =
super-white women
dressed entirely in black and &#8220;fastidiously avoiding direct =
sunlight&#8221;
&#8211; ouch!<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>A direct =
hit!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I don&#8217;t know if non-Oils fans would get much =
out of
it, though.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span>Does anybody =
have current
sales figures on it or know if it&#8217;s sold according to expectation? =
- Beth<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

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