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Sweeney
The fictional High Plains village of Sweeney, New Mexico, population 856 and falling, is like so many small towns in rural America--once vibrant and alive but now a dry husk of obsolescence, decay, and despair. Only its few remaining citizens care that it not die like so many other towns, but when a handful of them concoct a plot to draw attention to their hometown, the result is a hilarious romp through the oddities and opportunities of small town life. Aliens, nudists, naked bull riders, Druids, phony Indians, and real Indians--all play a role in Sweeney's quixotic journey of survival and self-discovery.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 26, 2018
Fiction / modern New Mexico
299 pages / 833 KB
5 Stars
This book was published by the University of New Mexico Press, and while I couldn't find it in the usual places, I did find it in AbeBooks.com, ISBN 10: 082635033X ISBN 13: 9780826350336 – if you look in the usual places by author, not title, you'll probably find it.
When I finally found my local library (about as easy to get to for me as falling off a log!) I asked the librarian for some ideas on local history. This is one of the books recommended, although it is fiction. Librarians are very special people. This book is marvelous!
It is the story of a fictional town, Sweeney, on the high plains of New Mexico, which like many other small towns, is dying. The young people are leaving as soon as they can for the life of the big cities, businesses have closed, people have moved. The die-hards want to bring the town back to life—or die trying. It is a marvelous story about the handful of people who set about performing CPR for this fun town. And I, for one, am glad it's fiction, or I would feel very badly that I moved to Albuquerque instead of Sweeney. (I love Albuquerque, and even finally learned to spell the name, but oh, I really love Sweeney. I think it's the New Mexican version of Camelot.)
In this well-told tale, you will meet Druids, nudists, a naked bull rider named Bare-assed Bob, Indians both real and not, and a whole bunch of the crazy citizens who make up the town. I laughed out loud on several occasions. It kind of reminded me of the movie, M*A*S*H, and the line about the only way to remain sane was to go insane. Well, "Crazy ideas are the only kind that work..." in Sweeney.
For a great fun read, find a copy of this book. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.
299 pages / 833 KB
5 Stars
This book was published by the University of New Mexico Press, and while I couldn't find it in the usual places, I did find it in AbeBooks.com, ISBN 10: 082635033X ISBN 13: 9780826350336 – if you look in the usual places by author, not title, you'll probably find it.
When I finally found my local library (about as easy to get to for me as falling off a log!) I asked the librarian for some ideas on local history. This is one of the books recommended, although it is fiction. Librarians are very special people. This book is marvelous!
It is the story of a fictional town, Sweeney, on the high plains of New Mexico, which like many other small towns, is dying. The young people are leaving as soon as they can for the life of the big cities, businesses have closed, people have moved. The die-hards want to bring the town back to life—or die trying. It is a marvelous story about the handful of people who set about performing CPR for this fun town. And I, for one, am glad it's fiction, or I would feel very badly that I moved to Albuquerque instead of Sweeney. (I love Albuquerque, and even finally learned to spell the name, but oh, I really love Sweeney. I think it's the New Mexican version of Camelot.)
In this well-told tale, you will meet Druids, nudists, a naked bull rider named Bare-assed Bob, Indians both real and not, and a whole bunch of the crazy citizens who make up the town. I laughed out loud on several occasions. It kind of reminded me of the movie, M*A*S*H, and the line about the only way to remain sane was to go insane. Well, "Crazy ideas are the only kind that work..." in Sweeney.
For a great fun read, find a copy of this book. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.
July 6, 2023
This is one of those feel good books that can just make your heart swell. A small dying town in Eastern New Mexico is looking for a way to stay alive. With a cast of characters and some crazy events, you will fall in love with Sweeney, and perhaps look at your own small town in a new light.
April 15, 2022
Great characters. Amusing. Read this during a power outage with a flashlight.
April 26, 2012
It’s a novel published by UNM Press, It’s about life in an obscure and expiring Eastern NM town, and it’s funny and heartwarming both. Do you like Garrison Keillor, or Fanny Flagg? This author is a worthy successor. The characters ring true, and the story is told from many perspectives, so that you see why people do what they do ... and that love is what everyone, deep down, needs.
And also it’s really funny, as the townspeople figure out a remarkable way to save the town.
And also it’s really funny, as the townspeople figure out a remarkable way to save the town.
July 28, 2013
Excellent New Mexico story yet universal in its treatment of the value of small town life. I love the characters who all end up being likable and interesting. Just enough quirkiness to qualify as a New Mexico story in plot and characters. A fun ready yet with a serious look at human nature. Recommended for anyone looking for a story that's pleasant to read with a satisfying ending.
December 5, 2014
Fun story about saving a small rural town in New Mexico. The characters are delightful and the story is one that I know because of growing up in a small town.
Lin and I heard the author read a portion of this at a Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival in Tinkertown, NM and he sold us on the book!
A great read for anyone interested in small town America.
Lin and I heard the author read a portion of this at a Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival in Tinkertown, NM and he sold us on the book!
A great read for anyone interested in small town America.
December 16, 2011
A superb first novel by Mr. Julyan that combines a great message with a lot of wit and insight into life on the High Plains of New Mexico. A great caste of characters makes this a very enjoyable read.
July 27, 2014
This wacky, fun book would be make an excellent screen play for a movie in the genre of "A Mighty Wind" and "Best in Show". Sweeney is a mythical New Mexican town, in the middle of nowhere where nothing ever happens, until now.
April 5, 2016
Live anywhere near the area portrayed (and this includes several adjoining states...) and you'll recognize 95% of what you are reading. Otherwise .... 'sweet' ... as I told a friend, recently. ((Cormac McCarthy's 'trilogy', this is **not**!))
August 22, 2016
Great little novel about a dying small eastern new mexico town reinvigorating itself in unexpected ways.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews