“From the author of The Bridges of Madison County.”

 

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

I can’t deny it. When I saw that this was written by the same author that penned Bridges of Madison County I was very hesitant to start it. Hello, my name is Teresa and I judge books by their covers. I’m just not into all that lovey dovey, sappy, romantic stuff. And if I’m wrong I’m wrong but that’s the impression I got from the trailers for the Bridges of Madison County movie. But this was the last book I have left on my iPod and I was stuck at work. So I pushed the play button. Very glad I did.

The Long Night of Winchell Dear is about, SPOILER ALERT, a long night with a character named Winchell Dear. Other characters in the book include Winchell’s maid, an Indian squatter, Marty, The Driver and a diamondback rattlesnake named Luther. Oh, and guns and drugs play a wee tiny part.

The story flashes from character to character and also jumps back and forth in time. But it’s not hard to keep up with it all. The writing is wonderful and moves along very nicely. I’m not one that likes big flowery descriptions. If it goes on for two pages about how beautiful the sunset is I’m going to put it down. But Waller doesn’t do that and I must admit I was quite surprised.

There are quick lessons about guns (but not so much to bore anyone not interested in the subject) and poker. I found myself laughing out loud at bits of humor sprinkled within the book. It’s mentioned that Winchell’s mother didn’t want him to grow up to be a (Mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be) cowboy(s) she wanted him to be a doctor, a lawyer and such (yes, it actually says that in the book). So now that song’s going to be stuck in my head for a week. At another point I was singing a Christmas carol when one character told another one over the fence and into the car (to the Cartel’s house we go). I guess I just get a little loopy working in the building by myself at night.

If I had anything negative to say about this book it would be the narrator. If you haven’t figured it out already I listen to the audio books. Many times the narrator can make or break the book. It took me a good two discs in to get used to this narrator’s voice and cadence.

I’m going to start something new. With each book I read I’m going to try to learn three new things. From The Long Night of Winchell Dear I learned…
1. There are Mexican polkas
2. Dealing cards from under makes a different noise than dealing from the top
3. Rattlesnakes don’t like to be stepped on

OK, I already knew that last one but I was stuck for a third thing.

I also have High Plains Tango by Robert James Waller and will be loading that into my ipod soon and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for The Bridges of Madison County.

The Long Night of Winchell Dear scores a 4 on my readometer.

 

Reviewed by:

Teresa M, audio book listener

Added 1st May 2015

More Reviews By
Teresa M