Customer Reviews

Deadwood

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

... How come the Wild West is so ...calm in this novel, you ask? Simple. Dexter chooses Charlie Utter as the central character, Bill Hickok's stoic, aloof partner, and it is he and his restrained wit that serves as backbone to this wonderful novel.

The book is split into four parts: Bill, The China Doll (a beautiful Chinese ..), Agnes (Lake, Bill's wife), and Jane (Calamity). Bill is gone by the end of his section, which surprised me because I thought this book was about Wild Bill. It is and it isn't. He isn't physically around after the first part, but his legend is everywhere, and it runs through the book.

I've read Paris Trout and Brotherly Love from Pete Dexter before, and enjoyed this one the most, for it is the funniest. Sometimes it's ha-ha funny; other times it's more reflective. It's a fine book, one that makes me wish Dexter will go back to novel writing soon.

Pete Dexter's Deadwood hews closely to historical reality. The characters are there from the well-known Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane Cannary to the lesser known but vital Charlie Utter, Hickok's widow, Agnes Lake, the China Doll, and a host of others. The events are there from the murder of Hickok to the great Deadwood fire. Are the characters drawn accurately? It seems so - certainly more accurately than the HBO series of the same name (You won't find HBO's Al Swearengen in Dexter's pages).

Much of the book is taken up with tortured internal dialogues, especially of Hitchcock's buddy Charlie Utter. Many of the characters are at least half insane and in poor Jane's case, well over half. Cruelty is the rule not the exception. Dexter's `Deadwood' is an unhappy place.

By the way, according to a story from the Rapid City Journal newspaper posted on the web page `Deadwood Discovered, the HBO series is not based on Dexter's book and Dexter says he does not watch the show - his loss in my opinion.

Highly recommended.

If you're a fan of Pete Dexter you've no doubt read everything the man has written. However, if you are unfamiliar with this superb writer and in dire need of something with more substance than your average N.Y Times bestseller list fare, please jump in. Regardless of whether you're a "western" aficinado or not this is a stunning work. Mr. Dexter's abilities with language and character place him in the highest echelon of current authors. If someone (Mr. D.?) could lovingly transcribe this into a multi-part television movie a la "Lonesome Dove" I could die happy.

I read this book after becoming interested in Deadwood via HBO's series of that name. Since Deadwood is a real place, and since both the book and the television series are based on the real place, many of the characters are common to both. They do not, however, have much more in common besides their names and some shared historic events. Pete Dexter is a fine writer, and in Deadwood he has written a particularly fine novel. Much of the novel centers on the relationship between Wild Bill and his friend Charlie Utter. Other characters whose stories are explored include Charlie's friend, the soft-brained, Bottle Fiend, Wild Bill's widow Agnes Lake, Sheriff Seth Bullock and his partner Sol Star, a beautiful and tragic Chinese singer and prostitute named China Doll, and the always surprising Calamity Jane. Well worth reading, whether or not you like Deadwood, the TV series.

Pete Dexter may be the best living American writer. I am truly a fan. DEADWOOD is not one of his best books but it is still entertaining literature. My main complaint is the lack of an over-arching plot. It is more a collection of stories about various fascinating characters who populate Deadwood, Dakota Territories, in 1876, than a traditional novel. Some of the characters are obviously historical like Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane and maybe Mr. Dexter's research has brought to life lesser known actual personages as well. My guess is that Mr. Dexter's DEADWOOD is the basis for the hit HBO series of the same name. I have seen no credit to Mr. Dexter yet but the tone, style of dialogue and general similarity of the two works is striking. In the book Al Swearingen is not the strong character that he is in the series. And Seth Bullock takes a lesser role as well in the book, while Charley Utter and Calamity Jane step to the fore. My favorite Dexter book is TRAIN with THE PAPER BOY a close second. Still, DEADWOOD shows off Mr. Dexter's writing quite well and may be one of the best western novels ever written. He can definitely claim company with Larry McMurtry.

I knew what a great writer Pete Dexter is, but somehow missed this book. Ordered a copy after enjoying the superb Deadwood television series. Pete Dexter's book Deadwood is as good as any fiction I have ever read. I am trying to stretch out the reading experience to savor each paragraph, every sentence. Looking forward to reading more of his books.

A great, great novel. It's one of those books that both fully utilizes and transcends its genre. I'd put it up there w/Little Big Man, by Tom Berger. Accessible, darkly funny, intense, insightful, and wise. It's one of the overlooked Great American Novels.

Pete Dexter's Deadwood is by far one of the best westerns on the market! In fine style he not only tells an interesting story but tells it in an entertaining manner as well. Do yourself a favor, skip a so-so movie, buy this book instead and settle down for a good read. Oh hell, if you miss the movie setting buy some Raisinettes anyway and then settle down with this very good book!

This book was fantastic. I admit that I picked it up after watching the HBO series Deadwood, but the book was by far more interesting and detailed than the TV show (shock). Pete Dexter has a gift for character development and weaving together multiple subplots into a whole new world. As an aside, this book is not for the squeamish - rape, murder, beatings, etc. are the norm in Dexter's Deadwood.

I watched the Canadian History Channel's presentation of Deadwood last fall and became an instant fan. When my wife presented me with a copy of the 1986 novel I was immediately suspicious that this would be western pulp with no basis in history. Boy was I wrong! This novel could be sub-titled "The Charlie Utter Story". Charlie's colorful career is the vessel that carries you through this wonderful period of history; a history that's filled with comedy, tragedy, and always fascinating characters. Al Swearingen turns out to be somewhat more liberal in his sexual tastes than his HBO namesake. Handsome Dick, Bill's wife Agnes, Captain Jack, Pink Buford, the Bottle Fiend, the China Doll, the vile Boone May, and Sol Star's involvement in the great Deadwood fire could provide the basis for many new seasons of the HBO show.

Pete Dexter is a genius who has taken American histoy and turned it into one of the most entertaining books that I've read in the past year.