Customer Reviews

High Desert Barbecue

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked this book up because of the Edward Abbey/Hunter S. Thompson reference and because of the outdoors connection. I like Thompson's work and any book that involves pyromania, Flagstaff, backpacking, drugs and general insanity has got to be entertaining. This book did not disappoint - it a delight to read and outrageous! The author obviously knows his way around a campfire and loves the outdoors. I definitely recommended this book to anyone who wants a modern take on "sex, drugs and rock and roll".

HDB is a very entertaining book, I enjoyed it very much and think you might as well.

It's not a great, ponderous tome by any stretch, at most it's a light weekend read. Nor (Oh, thank you Muses!) does it at any point stop the music to explain the characters' actions or beliefs, or to lecture the reader on why he or she should act or believe that way too. That second thing being one of the two great weaknesses of the average bit of modern freedom fic, I'd have appreciated that even if Tuccille's book had disappointed in every other way.

Which it does not. Tuccille stuck to his plot and stubbornly resisted what must have been occasional temptation to pause and explain philosophical points along the way. To be honest, I don't know what effect that will have on general readers. But as a crazed freedomista myself, I found the way his protagonists dealt with their dilemma quite easy to follow, and the story delightful.

Having said that, character development is both the story's greatest strength and one of its greatest weaknesses. The protagonists are well-rounded characters - they have strengths and weaknesses that are carefully crafted and quite human, you have no trouble believing in these people. I wish I could say the same for the antagonists, who are almost uniformly one-dimensional and whose actions often descend into slapstick. If the "looters" in Atlas Shrugged had spent most of the book without their clothes on (don't ask) they'd be a lot like these characters. It's kind of jarring: the good guys are real people, but I had a very hard time suspending disbelief in the bad guys. Because HDB treats its subject matter lightly but it is really not a light subject, the book sometimes veers rather unevenly between drama and comedy. It's hard to have a light-hearted romp when people are honestly trying to kill you.

And I wish I could discuss that, but here we run into the matter of spoilers and I don't want to spoil this. So when I say that one pivotal scene was ruined for me because by the time Tuccille (skillfully) arranged a fateful meeting between two characters, I already knew what was going to happen because the resolution was quite conventional, the most I can do to defend that is to say, "Well of course (CENSORED) would (CENSOR) the (CENSORED,) and then (CENSORED) would respond by (CENSORING) the (CENSORED,) because that's what always happens." Which doesn't really explain anything, does it?

The ending is rather pat, and smacks of deus ex machina in a way I wish Tuccille had been able to find a way around but honestly I can't think of a way to improve it that doesn't involve all the protagonists being (CENSORED) or going to federal (CENSOR,) and it doesn't spoil the story by any means.

I always beat up on a book's weaknesses, but all books have weak bits and that doesn't impeach them. It only points out that the writer is human and not God. Freedomistas will thoroughly enjoy the protagonists, not all or even most of whom are far-gone opponents of government power - they're just in over their heads and muddle along as best they can, not always in the best ways imaginable. The bad guys are enjoyably despicable. I do fear that the average reader would find much of what goes on a little hard to buy, but screw the average reader if he can't take a joke. Despite the disclaimer at the beginning - "Please don't attempt to use this novel as a hiking guide" - Tuccille clearly has particular settings in mind and he describes and uses them vividly and with confidence. The plot is crisp and clear and mostly rollicks along, and if it conforms to reality no more than the settings, well, that's why they call it fiction.

I got the book in trade paperback, which cost more but I'm glad I did it because I want this little book on my shelf. The settings are lovely and quite well described, the plot and protagonists are believable and entertaining, and I intend to enjoy it again some cold afternoon, probably soon.

You should buy it.

High Desert Barbecue is a great read! It is witty and fun and easy to read. I enjoy reading about my "own backyard" from a different perspective. It really makes me want to get out there and explore more of northern AZ. Thank you to the author :) I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a literary adventure.

I'm *supposed* to be doing a WordPress install, but I got a copy of JD's High Desert Barbecue, and I haven't stopped for 8 chapters.

"Anxious over the delay in his official mission of arboreal arson,
Jason once again stood on his brakes and brought his truck to
a skidding halt. Fine Arizona soil, bone dry in the sun-drenched
intermission between monsoon rains, rose up in a cloud and settled
gently on Jason and his passengers."

It's quirky, interesting, and reads like a great road trip - flies past so fast that you don't realize you're *not* getting your work done.

If you've ever been to Colorado, Arizona, etc., you'll recognize the people, the weather, scenery, EVERYTHING. 'Cuz Tuccille writes *true life*.

Buy this - you'll enjoy it. I am. ;o)

This book was a great read. How fun to read about a "trip" through northern arizona. Fun and exciting from start to finish. Highly recommend.

This was a fully entertaining tale. I found myself sucked into the story and caring about the characters; I chuckled aloud along the journey. Anyone who ever fantasized about rebelling against an authority figure will appreciate this book. I found the description of the Northern Arizona high desert to be spot-on and inspiring - makes me want to strap on my hiking boots and head out...you never know what sights you will see on the trail. A fun read which I highly recommend, pick up this book, accept it for the fun it is, and enjoy the journey.

J.D. Tuccille can clearly tell an entertaining story while teaching us some things about what liberty means. I enjoyed it and I can't wait to see Tuccille's next novel.

Lots of action and humor. Good character development. Wonderful descriptions of the hiking trails in northern Arizona. Very funny premise and rapid-reading chapters make this book a fun read.

I highly recommend it.