Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell
Straightforward in its violence, this book was difficult to read but Woodrell deserves credit for taking facts about bushwhackers, secessionists and Jayhawkers and creating a compelling tale. Woodrell is a genius at showing the humanity, or lack of humanity, in those around us...our neighbors, ourselves. The main character, Jake, travels with killers, displaying his own savagery but still there's something humane about him. Woodrell shows us how hard it is to retain any humanity in the midst of a mob and it's only when Jake has time away from the larger group that he begins to understand what compelled him into the fight and what it has cost him.
I think Daniel Woodrell is a genius and reading one of his books is necessary, even when it kind of hurts.
Oh, I forgot to say that the movie, Ride With the Devil, was based on this book. Also the book was re-published as Ride With the Devil but apparently both versions of the title are out of print.
Kim F
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