Nobody's Angel [Paperback]

Thomas Mcguane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 12, 1986

Patrick Fitzpatrick is a former soldier, a fourth-generation cowboy, and a whiskey addict. His grandfather wants to run away to act in movies, his sister wants to burn the house down, and his new stallion is bent on killing him: all of them urgently require attention. But increasingly Patrick himself is spiraling out of control, into that region of romantic misadventure and vanishing possibilities that is Thomas McGuane's Montana. Nowhere has McGuane mapped that territory more precisely -- or with such tenderhearted lunacy -- than in Nobody's Angel, a novel that places him in a genre of his own.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A novel of considerable compassion, strength, and resonance, from an author who's among the most arresting and fascinating of his generation."-- San Francisco Chronicle

"A masterpiece ... arguably one of the best serious novels of recent times, [with] a mastery of style and invention, delighting the reader with [McGuane's] pure command of the language." -- Indianapolis News

"McGuane's prose is witty and evocative.... Montana is to McGuane what Yoknapatawpha County was to Faulkner, a mythic place of discovery. This is a rewarding book, full of small truths." -- People

From the Inside Flap

Patrick Fitzpatrick is a former soldier, a fourth-generation cowboy, and a whiskey addict. His grandfather wants to run away to act in movies, his sister wants to burn the house down, and his new stallion is bent on killing him: all of them urgently require attention. But increasingly Patrick himself is spiraling out of control, into that region of romantic misadventure and vanishing possibilities that is Thomas McGuane's Montana. Nowhere has McGuane mapped that territory more precisely -- or with such tenderhearted lunacy -- than in Nobody's Angel, a novel that places him in a genre of his own.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; 1st Vinatge Bks Ed., Nov. 1986 edition (November 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394747380
• ISBN-13: 978-0394747385
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #894,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Thomas Mcguane is a very self indulgent writer., May 1, 2010

By 

George Willauer "George Willauer III" (Lyme, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nobody's Angel (Paperback)

His charachters seem alot more California than Montana. For example, the main charachter in this book, a supposed cowboy, spends alot of his time shopping, preparing meals of high culinary merit, cleaning the floor, shower, ect. Come on,a Montana cowboy is supposed to be out there tearing the testicals off sheep with his teeth and what-not, not acting like Martha Stewart. And no-one really has a job, at least the main charachter doesn't.They live in a world of self-indulgent make believe that seems alot more California than Montana, which is about grit of Western Code, not Williams Sanoma and Whole Foods.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Drunken Cowboy, January 13, 2010

By 

Mitchell G. Shapiro (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nobody's Angel (Paperback)

I had never heard of this writer until someone recently recommended him to me (along with his contemporary and fellow Montanan Jim Harrison). The novel was short, with many short chapters--it was easy to read and finish. Strewn with suicides, drunken stupors, horses, cowboys, dead fathers and angry grandfathers--I would describe the writing as muscular/male/macho--McGuane tends to lead you up to a tragic event--stops just short of it--and then picks up at the subsequent funeral. I doubt I will try any of his other works, but do not regret reading this one. I did like one line so much I wrote it out " When your father dies he becomes terrific through the magic of death". Wish I wrote that.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Run, don't walk out to buy this book!, February 7, 2007

By 

Douglas Hammerich "Kemmer" (Citrus Heights, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nobody's Angel (Paperback)

McGuane's use of the language and astonishing situation construction made this book a source of constant wonder and intense interest. Loved it. He's almost a Montana-based Patrick O'Brien.