JC / Railbird

More Misrule

John Williams reviews Jaimy Gordon’s racetrack novel:

Lord of Misrule isn’t a chore. It’s more accurate to say that it alternately charms and befuddles. It’s possible to move from deep admiration to deep suspicion of it in the space between paragraphs. It’s wise and flaky. It’s funny intentionally and unintentionally. It begins with a bit of overworked imagery and ends with a great plainspoken sentence.

Odds on the NBA winner collects the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award?

“Lord of Misrule” is also among the 16 works competing for the Rooster in the Morning News’ annual Tournament of Books, which begins March 7. Tough competition there; “Super Sad True Love Story” is a solid favorite for the title.


2 Comments

While “Lord of Misrule” undoubtedly will be a finalist, I’m hoping folks don’t overlook Maryjean Wall’s “How Kentucky Become Southern: A Tale of Outlaws, Horse Thieves, Gamblers, and Breeders” which is quite brilliant, and significantly better written than most horse racing books I’ve read.

Posted by Valerie on January 25, 2011 @ 8:31 am

Good call, Valerie. I hope Quinella Queen returns for this year’s Ryan award. Her Monograph Mile posts would do justice to such contenders …

Posted by Jessica on January 25, 2011 @ 9:00 am