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Outrageous: The Legend of Zesty Sundrops
From criminal to war hero, Zesty’s transformation was unbelievable.
Ernest Hemingway was so impressed, he wrote a book about Sundrops’ exploits: starting with him as a boy tracking down the butchers of his mother and father and hanging them, then leaving behind the role as a hired killer for the Dixie mob, joining the army in WWII and redeeming himself with super human acts of daring and bravery, including assassinating the Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini, for which Sundrops received the coveted “Distinguished Service Cross.”
Even a play about Zesty had a long run on Broadway.
But was it all true? And did it matter if he had become a legend?
Ernest Hemingway was so impressed, he wrote a book about Sundrops’ exploits: starting with him as a boy tracking down the butchers of his mother and father and hanging them, then leaving behind the role as a hired killer for the Dixie mob, joining the army in WWII and redeeming himself with super human acts of daring and bravery, including assassinating the Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini, for which Sundrops received the coveted “Distinguished Service Cross.”
Even a play about Zesty had a long run on Broadway.
But was it all true? And did it matter if he had become a legend?
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2018
63 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 18, 2018
Outrageous is right. I had a tough time getting into this book, but once I did I found it interesting in a, "curious to where this is going sort of way." Several times I thought I would quit the book, just to have something happen that I had to know what happened next. The family arguing at the end seemed ridiculous at first. I encourage you to hang in there it's actually a bit worth it in the end.
December 17, 2018
Very poorly written. Could not hold my attention. I got about 25% of the book completed before giving up.
August 22, 2019
This book had me at the name of the main character, Zesty Sundrops. Zesty was an indian scout, a paid killer, a military scout, an assassin, and various and sundry other things in this wild adventure. Sure it's all fiction, but it makes you want to believe it. Even the people in the book have trouble believing his stories. But what fine stories they are. They even caught the attention of Ernest Hemingway, who wrote Zesty's biography.... maybe. Great story telling.
September 5, 2018
Surprised
Outrageous is a great title. The main character is outrageous! The plot is outrageous! The ending is surprisingly outrageous!
I don't want to spoil the ending but my head is still reeling.
At about Chapter 7, I could not help myself and read the first 136 pages to my Louis Lamour loving husband who then demanded his own copy. This book starts out like a grittier than normal Western/Crime novel but it develops into much, much more.
I am so glad for the twist and turns in the plot which made this novel so satisfying on so many levels. I highly recommend it.
I received this book free from Goodreads Giveaways.
Outrageous is a great title. The main character is outrageous! The plot is outrageous! The ending is surprisingly outrageous!
I don't want to spoil the ending but my head is still reeling.
At about Chapter 7, I could not help myself and read the first 136 pages to my Louis Lamour loving husband who then demanded his own copy. This book starts out like a grittier than normal Western/Crime novel but it develops into much, much more.
I am so glad for the twist and turns in the plot which made this novel so satisfying on so many levels. I highly recommend it.
I received this book free from Goodreads Giveaways.
September 6, 2018
Wow. Roller coaster ride.
Zesty Sundrops story took me back to spending time reading in the summers in the 70s when we first discovered Absurd stories like Fan Man. There is enough of Zesty’s tale to make me wonder is it true, enough outrageousness to made me wonder what is the meaning.
The action and description carried me along so I looked forward to the evenings when I could settle in and read.
Just a note...This book was out of my normal comfort zone because of the violence but because of the absurdity of it, didn’t trigger reactions. I did skim over a couple of graphic scenes.
Zesty Sundrops story took me back to spending time reading in the summers in the 70s when we first discovered Absurd stories like Fan Man. There is enough of Zesty’s tale to make me wonder is it true, enough outrageousness to made me wonder what is the meaning.
The action and description carried me along so I looked forward to the evenings when I could settle in and read.
Just a note...This book was out of my normal comfort zone because of the violence but because of the absurdity of it, didn’t trigger reactions. I did skim over a couple of graphic scenes.
September 27, 2018
Preposterous
The book opens with unexpected violence...but keep reading. Don’t take the story seriously and you will keep reading just to see what will happen next. Zesty’s adventures are numerous and far fetched, though always violent, but then, Zesty is a killer by trade. Even the ending is humorous when you consider there are families that act like his on holidays. In the end, Zesty has the last laugh.
The book opens with unexpected violence...but keep reading. Don’t take the story seriously and you will keep reading just to see what will happen next. Zesty’s adventures are numerous and far fetched, though always violent, but then, Zesty is a killer by trade. Even the ending is humorous when you consider there are families that act like his on holidays. In the end, Zesty has the last laugh.
September 3, 2018
Awful!
I could not even complete the second chapter. The references to cars and products did not match up the time period referenced in chapter one. The character dialogue was weak. I would not recommend this book.
I could not even complete the second chapter. The references to cars and products did not match up the time period referenced in chapter one. The character dialogue was weak. I would not recommend this book.
September 8, 2018
Outrageous indeed!
What a tale! I really enjoyed it, although the ending wasn’t satisfying. The family bickering got on my nerves. Still, a great adventure and good entertainment.
What a tale! I really enjoyed it, although the ending wasn’t satisfying. The family bickering got on my nerves. Still, a great adventure and good entertainment.
September 27, 2018
Hold on to your horses, you are going for a ride with this book!
November 3, 2018
A good western
Since I normally do not read western novels, it took me a bit to finish. However I did enjoy the story line and other readers will too!
Since I normally do not read western novels, it took me a bit to finish. However I did enjoy the story line and other readers will too!
November 10, 2019
Great storytelling
Loved the book but not the play part at the end although can see it’s importance. Worth a read. Good
Loved the book but not the play part at the end although can see it’s importance. Worth a read. Good
September 24, 2018
The primary story is very well written. I enjoyed how his story wove into history. However, the stage play at the end was awful. It should have been left out. I recieved this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
November 27, 2018
Too much
It started off well and had my interest, then it started reading like some of the superhero stories, which I dislike. Then complete nonsense in the ending chapters.
It started off well and had my interest, then it started reading like some of the superhero stories, which I dislike. Then complete nonsense in the ending chapters.
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October 22, 2019I have really mixed feelings about this book. I was really excited to read it and I found him to be an interesting character. It was hard to put the book down! The play at the end was super confusing. It didn't work with the rest of the book. I think there would have been a better way to incorporate that information.
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September 27, 2018I did not receive this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2018
"A side-splitting romp...author William Mark expertly uses a riveting narrative and humorous subplots to create a character driven story the reader will remember long after finishing this delightful tale." -IndieReader
"A zippy, engrossing, and offbeat work of historical fiction...satisfying and immensely entertaining!" -KIRKUS REVIEW
"The story of Zesty is delivered by Mark in a very original way. He tells his story through the third person, then a manuscript penned by Ernest Hemingway and finally a stage play by a Henry Hall. It all coalesces into a story that you'll find yourself pondering over trying to decide what is true and what isn't."
AUTHORS READING
"A zippy, engrossing, and offbeat work of historical fiction...satisfying and immensely entertaining!" -KIRKUS REVIEW
"The story of Zesty is delivered by Mark in a very original way. He tells his story through the third person, then a manuscript penned by Ernest Hemingway and finally a stage play by a Henry Hall. It all coalesces into a story that you'll find yourself pondering over trying to decide what is true and what isn't."
AUTHORS READING
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews