April 2012: Woe to Live On

Just setting up the topic. I believe we're set to start chatting on April 9!

My book just came in at the library - not sure I'll be finished by the 9th, but I'll catch up when I'm done.

Oh, hell. I typed "Woe to Live On" into my library's search engine, and clicked on the first link without paying attention. And instead of getting a book called Woe to Live on, I have an incredibly disturbing (yet excellent) book of short stories called The Outlaw Album that contains a short story called "Woe to Live On". I have a sneaking suspicion that this is not the story we're reading, is it? I may be a few days late to the discussion, all, because I need to acquire the book I'm actually supposed to read.

I'm turning into the stereotypical absentminded scientist. Someone send help!

I am ashamed to say I will have to rely on my memory (from probably 15+ years ago) for our discussion. . . I, assuming our library would have the book, waited too late to ILL request it. After learning our library did not have a copy, I tried all my usual purchase options and again had NO luck tracking down a copy, not even a used copy. . . It has apparently become quite a collector's item and is being rereleased in June of this year.
The part of this whole story which exasperates me most, is that I owned a copy, probably had it signed when I met DW years ago, and have obviously "loaned" it to someone! Aauugh.

I just finished the book. Loved it! I'm in no big hurry to discuss it. Jennifer, I thought the stories in The Outlaw Album were up to Woodrell's writing standards, but there were a couple that bordered on gruesome imo. At least there was a sense of hope in Woe to Live On.

Brenda, I imagine it was hard for you to read about The Lawrence Massacre and those "no-good" Jayhawkers.

Still haven't started yet....

But don't wait for me. As it happens, I also have The Outlaw Album checked out of the library. Haven't started that one yet, either.

It's been a few months since I read The Outlaw Album, but if I recall correctly, I think the "Woe to Live On" story is just one small excerpt from the book Woe to Live On. I've finished the book also, but I don't mind waiting.

Like you, Brenda, I saw that it was being re-released, but I really liked the cover of the old one, so I spent more money than I should have to buy it. But I've become quite the Woodrell fan, so it was worth it to me.

Once again, I was taken in by the way he writes. It's an awful, sad story, but I'm sure it's very close to the way things were. I've been reading another book I have, A Tour Guide to Missouri's Civil War: Friend and Foe Alike, and a lot of the stories told in that book echo the battles described in Woe to Live On. One of the comments was that Missouri had it's own Civil War, that lasted quite a while longer than the country's war, and I can see it the more I read. In fact, I'm thinking about planning some trips around those tours!

But back to the book. What can I say? I really did like it, as much as you can like such a gore-fest...

He really is a brilliant writer. Almost always disturbing, but I think he is a truly gifted writer. I loved The Outlaw Album, but some of those stories really were a bit much.

I liked Woe to Live On quite a bit more than The Outlaw Album. At least there were some lighter scenes in Woe and a sense of hope, especially at the end. The stories in Outlaw were unremittingly grim. Some were worse than others, but there was no joy to be found in any of them. I think it's so funny that we've all read The Outlaw Album on our own. Might as well take it off the list, Terri!

I posted my review today. Ended up giving it 4.4 stars -- my favorite Woodrell book so far. Has anyone seen the movie "Ride With the Devil"?

I've seen the movie several times. It is very good - well worth whatever time you would invest in locating and watching it. Directed by Ang Lee, starring Toby McGuire, Jewel . . .

I read Woe many years ago and gave it a 5 star rating when I compiled my original LT library list. It is one of my all-time favorite books and some of Woodrell's best writing, in my opinion. I am eager to read it again . . . Once I can get my hands on it! (Aaaaugh)

I've got "Ride With the Devil" in my instant queue on Netflix and will watch it at the earliest opportunity - just as soon as I finish the book! About 2/3 through and "enjoying" it very much. (You know what I mean!)

Brenda, as soon as I'm finished I'll be returning my ILL copy - maybe they'll send it to you next!

I can only hope!

I just got my copy of Woe to Live On. I'm hoping to finish it this weekend.

If you can't get it any other way, Brenda, let me know & I'll bring my copy to KC.

I'll want it back though--I'm working on a collection of ALL of his books!

>15 tloeffler:: Me too, Terri. So far I have Winter's Bone and The Bayou Trilogy. Why are his books so rare in his hometown? The library doesn't even have all of them. I had to get Woe to Live On from a St. Louis library.

I wish I'd known . . . I saw Tomato Red and Death of Sweet Mister at the Lawrence Book Sale last week.
Thanks for your offer Terri!

It's here! Yeah . . . I'm off to pick up the long awaited Woe to Live On.

I started yesterday - I really like the language he's using the the book. It feels very old-fashioned, which makes sense for a Civil War novel. So many historical fiction novels have characters that speak like they lived in 2005 or something, and it drives me crazy.

I agree, Jen--I loved the language!

I own Winter's Bone, The Outlaw Album, and The Bayou Trilogy, and now Woe To Live On. I'm still kicking myself for not buying The Death of Sweet Mister when I went to his book-signing. Oh, well. He'll be back.

All right, I finished it, and wow that was great! The violence was hard to read, but I thought Woodrell did a really good job illustrating how really, there were no "good guys" in this conflict. The Federals and the Jayhawkers were horrible to the Missouri secessionists, but the Missouri boys went and murdered a bunch of Kansas civilians too (and random, unfortunate travelers). Jake and Holt were my favorite characters in the book - and both of them almost seemed more in it because of their friends, or because they wanted to feel like they were a part of this country, than because of any deep philosophical beliefs of their own.

I just finished, too. I agree with Jen - there really weren't any "good guys" in this story, were there? Loved the ending.

Finally . . .
I love this book! Woodrell is so good at using language to convey his characters voice and to advance a story line. I just have the feeling that these characters, their words and actions are authentic. Life for Missourians and Kansans was brutal in the years around the war, and many people were caught up in battles that were not their own. In spite of the fact that Jake, Jack Bull, Holt were killers, I felt they were basically good men swept up in a war to preserve the lives they knew, and to avenge the losses they'd endured.
As a resident of Lawrence, I am reminded daily of the raid this group of angry men leveled on the Jayhawkers. Houses still stand that were here then, the main street has been rebuilt, and in fact, we frequently dine at the Eldridge Hotel. There is something very poignant about reading the history of the place where I walk my daily steps.

I went to the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis yesterday evening, and saw the exhibit "Missouri's Civil War." It was very sobering to see how much of the war was in Missouri, and how it was so much worse here because there was no clear geographical division between Union and Confederate. Really makes you think.

It sounds like the war was particularly horrible here - there weren't those neat lines of armies facing each other, shooting, then going off to rest. It seems, from what I've read, like it was just constant guerilla warfare, against people they would have know their whole lives (or family). Horrible.

Love all the comments. War is hell especially when it takes place in your backyard! I think we're all in agreement that this book is another winner from Woodrell. I snagged a copy of his Tomato Red at the library book sale Monday night. Happy dance!

Jealous dance...