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Like Rum-Drunk Angels
Francis Blackstone is a fourteen-year-old gunslinger with a heart of gold.
He’s fallen for the mayor’s daughter and resolves to make his mark, and his fortune, to win her favour. And what better way than to rob a Manhattan Company bank? Enter Bob Temple, the volatile outlaw who takes Francis under his wing— though not without a degree of suspicion— and so begins the adventures of the Blackstone Temple Gang as they crisscross the west in search of treasure, redemption, and the possibility of requited love.
After an encounter with a rival gang, Francis and Bob Temple are chased over the Sierras to California, where they enjoy unexpected fame as gentleman bandits. But their newfound celebrity brings hardships as well, and when their final job takes a startling turn, Francis is forced to discover what it means to make peace with a world that stands against him.
At once a tribute to boyhood enthusiasm and the heroes of classical quests, Like Rum-Drunk Angels is an offbeat, slightly magical, entirely original retelling of Aladdin as an American western.
He’s fallen for the mayor’s daughter and resolves to make his mark, and his fortune, to win her favour. And what better way than to rob a Manhattan Company bank? Enter Bob Temple, the volatile outlaw who takes Francis under his wing— though not without a degree of suspicion— and so begins the adventures of the Blackstone Temple Gang as they crisscross the west in search of treasure, redemption, and the possibility of requited love.
After an encounter with a rival gang, Francis and Bob Temple are chased over the Sierras to California, where they enjoy unexpected fame as gentleman bandits. But their newfound celebrity brings hardships as well, and when their final job takes a startling turn, Francis is forced to discover what it means to make peace with a world that stands against him.
At once a tribute to boyhood enthusiasm and the heroes of classical quests, Like Rum-Drunk Angels is an offbeat, slightly magical, entirely original retelling of Aladdin as an American western.
440 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2020
9 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Tyler Enfield
5 books16 followersMy name is Tyler Enfield, and I'm the author of Like Rum-Drunk Angels, as well as Madder Carmine, and three Young Adult novels. I live and write in Edmonton with my wife and two daughters. Feel free to visit my website at: www.TylerEnfield.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 9, 2020
I don't wish to overload this review with superlatives, so I'll be blunt; Like Rum-Drunk Angels is one fine-aged whiskey of a western. Rife with allusions as varied as One Thousand and One Nights, The Iliad, and a host of others I'm barely able to keep up with, Tyler Enfield's novel is gritty, urbane, surreal, and often hysterically funny.
If Charles Portis and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. were to team up on a project (which then went on to Patrick deWitt for notes and Richard Brautigan for a final once-over), I think Enfield's wonderful tome would be the outcome.
If Charles Portis and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. were to team up on a project (which then went on to Patrick deWitt for notes and Richard Brautigan for a final once-over), I think Enfield's wonderful tome would be the outcome.
November 14, 2020
Good times, bad times, this modern take on the western is a lot of fun and well written.
Read
June 12, 2021A sort of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are 19th-century Bank Robbers of the Old, Wild West.” There hasn’t been so much literary fun with dynamite since Thomas Pynchon’s Against the Day! Tremendously funny, but not without it serious moments, this novel lives up to all of its advance publicity.
October 24, 2022
One of the worst books I read that year, Francis is a creepy stalker who is "in love" with a girl for 8 years but doesn't bother to learn her name, and the book contains multiple occurrences of child sexual abuse.
May 26, 2020
This novel is rich and layered –– a work of art. If I had been in a movie theater watching this, I would have stood up and applauded at the end.
I had my reservations when I began the book. I am not drawn to Westerns and thought it might be more of a ‘guy’ book but I was immediately intrigued. I found the language enjoyable as it is unique, creative, and vivid with an undertone of an all-knowing, bemused perspective. It took me awhile to feel emotionally engaged with the characters but it was well worth the wait. I was soon fully invested in the journey, the characters and the outcome.
The story is an odyssey with a mythic quality. We are taken into a world of metaphor, imagination and symbolism so grounded in the vivid details of reality you don’t question anything – you are along for the ride – with a group of outlaws. Carnivals, dreams, an Indian sage, a jaguar, outlaws, music, love, treasure and a magic lamp all have role in the plot.
The characters are bigger than their personal psychology – archetypal players in a metaphysical arena. Yet the details of their personalities are uniquely individual and fascinating. As the book progresses, these outlaws and their relationships are developed more deeply. Each of them, in their own way, is filled with ponderings and questions.
“’All I know,’ says Francis, ‘ is you don’t go connecting dots, pulling shapes out of nothing, just because the mystery scares you.’”
“‘It is not possible to eat a dead man’s chocolates and not ponder your life, your purpose...”
“Francis discovers he Is waving. He discovers he is crying with his hands.”
“But Temple is pure gone, irretrievable in his examination”
Tyler is a poet as well as a novelist. One of his poems was chosen for “The Best Canadian Poetry in 2009 and his experience as a poet is evident in the language throughout. Here are a few examples to give a taste:
“The teeth in his head are spaced like tombstones. …he has clear, cool eyes, and no fear in them, which will form the primacy of any first impression.”
“As though the very kinetics of boredom has flipped some lens in his head…”
“Only dynamite could have done this kind of damage. The iron rails reach and twine like the tentacles of a kraken or some other antique leviathan emerging form the earth.”
The book works on the surface as a story, but the soil that feeds it is rich and layered. I’m sure I missed layers of meaning and literary references. There are a number of characters and subplots- the way the book reaches closure is a work of genius. It is like watching someone paint – colors are mixed, daubed on a canvas, and it is not until the end that one stands back and sees how all these brushstrokes have united to create a beautiful work of art.
This read is a truly satisfying and memorable journey. I highly recommend it.
I had my reservations when I began the book. I am not drawn to Westerns and thought it might be more of a ‘guy’ book but I was immediately intrigued. I found the language enjoyable as it is unique, creative, and vivid with an undertone of an all-knowing, bemused perspective. It took me awhile to feel emotionally engaged with the characters but it was well worth the wait. I was soon fully invested in the journey, the characters and the outcome.
The story is an odyssey with a mythic quality. We are taken into a world of metaphor, imagination and symbolism so grounded in the vivid details of reality you don’t question anything – you are along for the ride – with a group of outlaws. Carnivals, dreams, an Indian sage, a jaguar, outlaws, music, love, treasure and a magic lamp all have role in the plot.
The characters are bigger than their personal psychology – archetypal players in a metaphysical arena. Yet the details of their personalities are uniquely individual and fascinating. As the book progresses, these outlaws and their relationships are developed more deeply. Each of them, in their own way, is filled with ponderings and questions.
“’All I know,’ says Francis, ‘ is you don’t go connecting dots, pulling shapes out of nothing, just because the mystery scares you.’”
“‘It is not possible to eat a dead man’s chocolates and not ponder your life, your purpose...”
“Francis discovers he Is waving. He discovers he is crying with his hands.”
“But Temple is pure gone, irretrievable in his examination”
Tyler is a poet as well as a novelist. One of his poems was chosen for “The Best Canadian Poetry in 2009 and his experience as a poet is evident in the language throughout. Here are a few examples to give a taste:
“The teeth in his head are spaced like tombstones. …he has clear, cool eyes, and no fear in them, which will form the primacy of any first impression.”
“As though the very kinetics of boredom has flipped some lens in his head…”
“Only dynamite could have done this kind of damage. The iron rails reach and twine like the tentacles of a kraken or some other antique leviathan emerging form the earth.”
The book works on the surface as a story, but the soil that feeds it is rich and layered. I’m sure I missed layers of meaning and literary references. There are a number of characters and subplots- the way the book reaches closure is a work of genius. It is like watching someone paint – colors are mixed, daubed on a canvas, and it is not until the end that one stands back and sees how all these brushstrokes have united to create a beautiful work of art.
This read is a truly satisfying and memorable journey. I highly recommend it.
March 2, 2022
If determinism, existentialism, and mysticism could form a genre together, this would be it, set in the Old West and complete with the lyrics of the Beatles and Steppenwolf.
The title captured my attention immediately, for that is one unusual simile. The story itself flows with unexpected and unusual perceptions, characters, and events; it is not bound to one time or one form. All the brutality and romance of the Old West is there, but it is also the violence and dreams of all life. There is a lightness in the journey west; in spite of all the trials and challenges, it is like often like a carnival as the Dynamite Kid Fan Club gains momentum. Yet there is a rich understanding of the darker elements of life, and of the human quest for fulfillment. The author tells a marvelous story with freshness and integrity. Definitely recommended!
The title captured my attention immediately, for that is one unusual simile. The story itself flows with unexpected and unusual perceptions, characters, and events; it is not bound to one time or one form. All the brutality and romance of the Old West is there, but it is also the violence and dreams of all life. There is a lightness in the journey west; in spite of all the trials and challenges, it is like often like a carnival as the Dynamite Kid Fan Club gains momentum. Yet there is a rich understanding of the darker elements of life, and of the human quest for fulfillment. The author tells a marvelous story with freshness and integrity. Definitely recommended!
March 8, 2020
This book blew my mind and heart right open. Beyond the skillfully fluid transition from wild hilarity to rapid page-turning intensity, the story leaves you with a sense of wonder which is woven as an undercurrent through every scene. I love the daring, creative language, almost as much as the characters. From endearingly terrible to profoundly virtuous, they all find a place in your heart. I hope you take the time at some point in your life to embark on the delightful, devastating, and above all magical journey that is Like Rum Drunk Angels.
August 15, 2020
Excellent western adventure book, of young Francis Blackstone and his gang robbing trains " for love", as Francis wants to get lots of wealth to win the heart of his girl away for her well to do family. It isn't just money that is gathered up but life lessons , funny events, tragic ends questioning yourself as well. One of the best books I've read this year. If you have never read a western adventure book start here.
April 16, 2021
This was a surprising book start to finish. My husband heard about this book on the cbc and thought it sounded good, so he bought it for me for Christmas. I picked it up without any more information or expectations than that. The main character is so well written. I laughed so hard a couple of times I cried, and my jaw dropped in disbelief a few times too. I couldn't wait to get back to the book to see what would happen next each night. What an adventure. What a story! Highly recommend!
August 7, 2020
Written with the open innocent heart of a child combined with the wisdom of the ancients, this is a dark western comedy filled with beauty and light. I loved Francis Blackstone's journey and transformation. If you are a fan of the Coen Brothers movies mixed with spiritual awakening then this book is for you. This book would make a brilliant screenplay.
January 14, 2021
Loved this book. It is so much more than just a western story - captured my heart. Wonderful characters, setting, story-development.
Hugs to Tyler Enfield for this gift! Though I'm disappointed he didn't insist on a hardcover release so it would be eligible for awards and accolades; certainly worthy. Suitable for fans of P. DeWitt's The Sisters Brothers or J. Irving's A Prayer For Owen Meany
Hugs to Tyler Enfield for this gift! Though I'm disappointed he didn't insist on a hardcover release so it would be eligible for awards and accolades; certainly worthy. Suitable for fans of P. DeWitt's The Sisters Brothers or J. Irving's A Prayer For Owen Meany
March 4, 2020
Like Rum Drunk Angels is a fun and funky read that kept me asking “What’s next?”. It’s got notes of adventure and intriguing slightly reminiscent of “The Big Lebowski” and dialogue that had me laughing out loud in bed. Give it a try if you’re looking for a book that you simply can’t put down.
July 1, 2021
Wow, was this an enjoyable breeze to read. It’s nice to see a spin on Western tropes that is at times funny, existential, whimsical, and touching. And painful. But not so much so that it’s a bummer.
It’s just a real delight.
It’s just a real delight.
August 3, 2021
A nice twist to your standard western train/bank robbers tale. The writing style is different, very direct, funny, light, serious, and full of twists. A wonderfully different read about coming of age in the Wild West.
March 8, 2022
I loved the writing style, the story, and a whole bunch of stuff I didn’t know was there until my book club told me it was there (3 wishes). Funny, yet also heartbreaking in parts. If all westerns were written like this, I’d read more.
July 4, 2022
Felt a little rum-drunk myself occasionally while reading this, but quite enjoyed this offbeat western. Some things I still didn't really get at the end. The lamp? Comparisons to The Sisters Brothers obvious.
May 1, 2020
Saddlebags of fun. I wish I was fifteen to encounter this book at that age.
April 12, 2021
Magical, satisfying, fun, endearing, adventurous. Makes me want to revisit some of my other 5* reviews as this book truly deserves it.
April 14, 2021
Oh man, I *so* enjoyed this book.
Like Rum-Drunk Angels is about Francis Blackstone and the ragtag band of thieves and marauders he forms, all in the name of love. Blackstone has that rare sort of charisma, that rare sort of luck, where it seems the entire universe unspools in a way to benefit him. He's not written to be arrogant nor cocky. He's just the star ingredient. The soup swirls around him and he's never known it to be different.
The book is both funny and touching, with parts reading like a Boys Own adventure, other parts reading like a confessional. Blackstone sets off with his devoted/jealous brother, a dimwitted friend and an older, more experienced gunslinger to find his fortune so he can marry his love. No matter that he doesn't know her name. No matter that their adventures have been foretold by Amish triplets/witches. Blackstone has a lucky charm in his pocket and a protective presence watching over him.
This is ultimately what will tear the group asunder. After it's made a violent enemy through an accidental death, and after it's become famous for conducting unbelievably charming train robberies, the group will sever when Bob Temple realizes Francis has played him, keeping the charm that should have been his.
It's here that the book takes a turn, of course. Temple has been off for many pages - almost inexplicably so. The man seems to be confronting his own mortality and seems to be losing his grip to dementia. But the discovery of Francis' theft shakes him out of whatever fog has been holding him. Suddenly Francis isn't just facing down the law and the rival bandits, he's got to outrun his former partner too.
Along the way home, back to his love, there's a side encounter that I'm still trying to piece together. A young girl, impregnated by her father, becomes Francis' makeshift daughter. She drowns as they're trying to cross a river. Her appearance is brief, but shows us just how much Francis has matured, how ready he's been this entire time (despite a young age) for the responsibilities that come with adulthood.
I had quibbles with this book, with a few bumps in the plot, but never with the writing. Never with the dialogue. Never with the characters. The scene of their peyote journey will probably stick with me a long time. This book is a delight and so carefully balanced. I can't wait to see what Enfield writes next.
Like Rum-Drunk Angels is about Francis Blackstone and the ragtag band of thieves and marauders he forms, all in the name of love. Blackstone has that rare sort of charisma, that rare sort of luck, where it seems the entire universe unspools in a way to benefit him. He's not written to be arrogant nor cocky. He's just the star ingredient. The soup swirls around him and he's never known it to be different.
The book is both funny and touching, with parts reading like a Boys Own adventure, other parts reading like a confessional. Blackstone sets off with his devoted/jealous brother, a dimwitted friend and an older, more experienced gunslinger to find his fortune so he can marry his love. No matter that he doesn't know her name. No matter that their adventures have been foretold by Amish triplets/witches. Blackstone has a lucky charm in his pocket and a protective presence watching over him.
This is ultimately what will tear the group asunder. After it's made a violent enemy through an accidental death, and after it's become famous for conducting unbelievably charming train robberies, the group will sever when Bob Temple realizes Francis has played him, keeping the charm that should have been his.
It's here that the book takes a turn, of course. Temple has been off for many pages - almost inexplicably so. The man seems to be confronting his own mortality and seems to be losing his grip to dementia. But the discovery of Francis' theft shakes him out of whatever fog has been holding him. Suddenly Francis isn't just facing down the law and the rival bandits, he's got to outrun his former partner too.
Along the way home, back to his love, there's a side encounter that I'm still trying to piece together. A young girl, impregnated by her father, becomes Francis' makeshift daughter. She drowns as they're trying to cross a river. Her appearance is brief, but shows us just how much Francis has matured, how ready he's been this entire time (despite a young age) for the responsibilities that come with adulthood.
I had quibbles with this book, with a few bumps in the plot, but never with the writing. Never with the dialogue. Never with the characters. The scene of their peyote journey will probably stick with me a long time. This book is a delight and so carefully balanced. I can't wait to see what Enfield writes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2025
Samuel lowers his pistol. "I confess your intentions elude me."
"Think of me as your personal stonewaller," the bank teller responds.
"My what?"
"I'm your stonewaller. It's what I do."
"That's a job?"
"It is indeed. My job is to filibuster. To perplex or otherwise distract and oppose through congenial repartee."
"I think it's time you brought out the manager."
"He would tell you the same thing."
"Then the person supervising the manager. Can we talk to them?"
"Yes, but again. That person would abide by similar job descriptions."
"Look, we need to speak with someone who has the authority to think for himself."
"Oh my. You'll have to go pretty high up for that."
Francis Blackstone falls in love with the Governor's daughter and needs some cash, quick. He joins up with a local outlaw named Bob Temple to learn the bandit trade and prove his worth. From there, we get a rowdy, humorous, escalatingly dangerous and smart half-tongue-in-cheek coming-of-age Odyssey-type western tale.
In "Like Rum Drunk Angels" (2020) I kind of see a flipped and respectfully-inverted "True Grit" idea, though a little rougher because that's how modern-written westerns usually go, replacing the good 14-year-old Mattie Ross young female character with the 14-year-old heartsick bad boy Francis, and replacing the knightly vulgar Rooster Cogburn with the uncaring and broken outlaw Bob Temple. The "True Grit" comparison pretty much ends there with the characters; as to plot, "Drunk Angels" has similarity to the aforementioned Odyssey, of course, and maybe Huck Finn, as the Blackstone Templars make their way to California to find their fortune and purpose, going from adventure to adventure, making friends and enemies and learning life lessons along the way.
Verdict: Themes of existential meaning, restlessness, loneliness, growth, trying to find rightness in the gray area between right and wrong, luck, misfortune, friendship, and inward reflection, and also a fun western adventure tale, make "Like Rum-Drunk Angels" a modern classic for readers who like westerns or for any reader who is just looking for something different. Loved it.
Jeff's Rating: 5 / 5 (Excellent)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
"Think of me as your personal stonewaller," the bank teller responds.
"My what?"
"I'm your stonewaller. It's what I do."
"That's a job?"
"It is indeed. My job is to filibuster. To perplex or otherwise distract and oppose through congenial repartee."
"I think it's time you brought out the manager."
"He would tell you the same thing."
"Then the person supervising the manager. Can we talk to them?"
"Yes, but again. That person would abide by similar job descriptions."
"Look, we need to speak with someone who has the authority to think for himself."
"Oh my. You'll have to go pretty high up for that."
Francis Blackstone falls in love with the Governor's daughter and needs some cash, quick. He joins up with a local outlaw named Bob Temple to learn the bandit trade and prove his worth. From there, we get a rowdy, humorous, escalatingly dangerous and smart half-tongue-in-cheek coming-of-age Odyssey-type western tale.
In "Like Rum Drunk Angels" (2020) I kind of see a flipped and respectfully-inverted "True Grit" idea, though a little rougher because that's how modern-written westerns usually go, replacing the good 14-year-old Mattie Ross young female character with the 14-year-old heartsick bad boy Francis, and replacing the knightly vulgar Rooster Cogburn with the uncaring and broken outlaw Bob Temple. The "True Grit" comparison pretty much ends there with the characters; as to plot, "Drunk Angels" has similarity to the aforementioned Odyssey, of course, and maybe Huck Finn, as the Blackstone Templars make their way to California to find their fortune and purpose, going from adventure to adventure, making friends and enemies and learning life lessons along the way.
Verdict: Themes of existential meaning, restlessness, loneliness, growth, trying to find rightness in the gray area between right and wrong, luck, misfortune, friendship, and inward reflection, and also a fun western adventure tale, make "Like Rum-Drunk Angels" a modern classic for readers who like westerns or for any reader who is just looking for something different. Loved it.
Jeff's Rating: 5 / 5 (Excellent)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
May 10, 2021
This is a tough review for me, up until about a quarter of the way through I was loving it and would have given it a 5 stars if that enjoyment had continued...But alas it didn't. Tyler Enfield is a gifted writer, the obvious comparison would be to Patrick Dewitt's The Sisters Brothers or like Cormac McCarthy played for laughs but Enfeld has a unique writing voice and I really enjoyed his writing style. There were some laugh aloud paragaphs, not something I generally associate with Westerns.
I don't want to waste too much time summarizing the plot and I'm weary of going into details with my criticisms for fear of giving too much away. Suffice to this this is the story of charming, handsome and very headstrong young man who travels across the American West to California with his loyal brother, a goofy friend and a famed killer Cowbow they befriend. His goal is to rob a bank, make his riches and then win the hand of the girl he's fallen in love with (he literally calls her girl because he doesn't know her name). I started to become disullisioned with the book when I realize there really wasn't any plot progression, clever writing and hilarious dialogue that I can easily imagine being made into a great movie isn't enough to carry a book for its entirety as far as I'm concerned. The plotting of the book is very light and frankly the motivations and interactions of the characters made very little sense. I don't need a super straight-laced plot structure but the book just seemed to fall a bit flat in the end. I have to stress that I really loved the beginning and plan to read more of Tyler Enfeld's work.
I don't want to waste too much time summarizing the plot and I'm weary of going into details with my criticisms for fear of giving too much away. Suffice to this this is the story of charming, handsome and very headstrong young man who travels across the American West to California with his loyal brother, a goofy friend and a famed killer Cowbow they befriend. His goal is to rob a bank, make his riches and then win the hand of the girl he's fallen in love with (he literally calls her girl because he doesn't know her name). I started to become disullisioned with the book when I realize there really wasn't any plot progression, clever writing and hilarious dialogue that I can easily imagine being made into a great movie isn't enough to carry a book for its entirety as far as I'm concerned. The plotting of the book is very light and frankly the motivations and interactions of the characters made very little sense. I don't need a super straight-laced plot structure but the book just seemed to fall a bit flat in the end. I have to stress that I really loved the beginning and plan to read more of Tyler Enfeld's work.
March 26, 2025
3.5
This was so much fun to read! 'Even Outlaws Need Math' will remain the funniest thing I've ever read; I read it to my whole family multiple times because I couldn't believe how unserious the whole thing is.
The book itself doesn't take anything but love < in all forms. Romantic, familial, platonic > seriously.
This was just so much fun! I couldn't stop smiling until the last, like 60 pages, shit gets real.
I love Francis' approach to robbing trains. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Francis and the way his mind works. He's such a good main character! Temple with his slow lunacy but careful steps was interesting. Ned is unintentionally ridiculous; the dude steals 3 horses, names his Ned, gets shot in the ass, wants to write an autobiography, and decides to open a confection shop will thousands of dollars stolen from other people, 10/10. Samuel has my heart; he is so sweet and unassuming, and then boom! Older brother guilt and the unfortunate experience of trying to grab your destiny, but it keeps being torn from your hands.
How kind all the boys are, well mannered and made for fame.
The lack of description for some parts made the book seem more magical and left you desperate to turn the page and figure out all that happens.
If you just want a good time with a posse of cowboys who ride and die for each other, this is a great book.
Finished 8:20pm
This was so much fun to read! 'Even Outlaws Need Math' will remain the funniest thing I've ever read; I read it to my whole family multiple times because I couldn't believe how unserious the whole thing is.
The book itself doesn't take anything but love < in all forms. Romantic, familial, platonic > seriously.
This was just so much fun! I couldn't stop smiling until the last, like 60 pages, shit gets real.
I love Francis' approach to robbing trains. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Francis and the way his mind works. He's such a good main character! Temple with his slow lunacy but careful steps was interesting. Ned is unintentionally ridiculous; the dude steals 3 horses, names his Ned, gets shot in the ass, wants to write an autobiography, and decides to open a confection shop will thousands of dollars stolen from other people, 10/10. Samuel has my heart; he is so sweet and unassuming, and then boom! Older brother guilt and the unfortunate experience of trying to grab your destiny, but it keeps being torn from your hands.
How kind all the boys are, well mannered and made for fame.
The lack of description for some parts made the book seem more magical and left you desperate to turn the page and figure out all that happens.
If you just want a good time with a posse of cowboys who ride and die for each other, this is a great book.
Finished 8:20pm
October 14, 2023
I really just didnt like this one, I couldn't follow the plot very well because i just wasnt enjoying my read.
Keep in mind I read this book about 3 years ago which doesnt help this review but I just remember really not liking it and i don't even know how I didn't DNF it. Reading the summary, it wasn't a genre I was used to or ever tried reading but I told myself I could read something different for once.
I specifically remember one scene where boys (boys right? Like teenagers.) were flirting and being flirted with by a grown adult woman (?????) And the end was incredibly underwhelming.
Some people may like this book but I certainly didn't.
Keep in mind I read this book about 3 years ago which doesnt help this review but I just remember really not liking it and i don't even know how I didn't DNF it. Reading the summary, it wasn't a genre I was used to or ever tried reading but I told myself I could read something different for once.
I specifically remember one scene where boys (boys right? Like teenagers.) were flirting and being flirted with by a grown adult woman (?????) And the end was incredibly underwhelming.
Some people may like this book but I certainly didn't.
January 5, 2021
Is it funny? Yes, in a flying piano, dumb sidekick sort of way. I quickly knew it wasn't my type of humour. I stuck with it, thinking I might get drawn in to the plot. There's a lot of white space, so in no time I was on page 200 and still no plot. Just a series of chance encounters and flashbacks mimicking a sketch comedy show. I had been expecting a novel, felt misled, and decided not to invest any more time to see if the "moving", "warm", or "tender" promised on the back would finally be revealed. I skimmed the rest, thus DNF.
March 3, 2021
Well, that was interesting. I see the references to Aladdin. I never really got into this book and the beginning really dragged on for me. There was no action or push to keep me involved in the story. The characters weren’t as developed as I would have liked; I just didn’t get the sense of knowing any of them. I wanted more than what was offered.
July 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the humorous take on the Western tropes, the characters, the story. It was all very engaging. My only complaint is the final scene between Francis and Bob Temple felt a little cliched, which was disappointing in a book that had avoided cliches as studiously as this one did. Otherwise, an excellent book.
November 8, 2023
Canadian author and screenwriter Ian Weir reviews "Like Rum-Drunk Angels" perfectly:
"Tyler Enfield opens a treasure chest of familiar Western tropes, turns them upside down and inside out, and makes them dance. Funny, absurd, wildly inventive, and then - just as you're least prepared for it - deeply moving. Magic."
I wish I could rate it 100 Stars!
"Tyler Enfield opens a treasure chest of familiar Western tropes, turns them upside down and inside out, and makes them dance. Funny, absurd, wildly inventive, and then - just as you're least prepared for it - deeply moving. Magic."
I wish I could rate it 100 Stars!
November 12, 2020
I enjoy books with substance, patience and depth. This book teased all of the above but the storytelling was hurried, fragmented and painfully episodic. Felt like I was skimming a story rather than being told a story. By the end I didn’t really care about the heroes journey or the outcome.
January 15, 2021
A good yarn, but the over the top style threatened to overwhelm the narrative and the ending was....unexpected for the genre. Still, an enjoyable read.
January 28, 2021
not my cup of tea
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews