Whiskey Man

Deep South Books

by Howell Raines

The dust jacket has minor wear to the extremities.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[AJ Belongia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only novel by journalist Howell Raines. Mr. Raines was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in Feature Writing while at the New York Times and is author of My Soul is Rested, which is one of the definitive books on the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. (He is a 1964 graduate of my alma matter which is why I was interested in reading the book).

The descriptions of rural North Alabama and its people in the early 1930's are very good.

[Melissa Rhoads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cast of characters. Flawed, corrupt, probably bipolar, comical, and livin the hard life. Having Southern roots, I’m glad my Grand Daddy went north! Lol.

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice surprise for an unknown author from Alabama who later ended up as editor for The New York Times. Reminded me of William Faulkner.

[Paul Womack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good story that left me hanging. I want to like Brant but find him a major jerk.

[Delway Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coming of age novel during the early American Depression set in the hill country of northwest Alabama. Well done featuring numerous colorful characters focusing on a moonshiner, Bluenose Trogdon. The protagonist, a recent college grad, displays endless confusion and conflicted loyalties, toward Bluenose, his girlfriend, the law and community. He seems always angry, and I am never sure why. The main gripe I have is that the book does not end well. It is easy to start a story; it is very hard to end it well. I do not mean sad or catastrophic, but rather there is no resolution. The main character rides off into the sunset taking the story with him. One is left scratching his head. Very unsatisfying.