Customer Reviews
Most Helpful
3 out of 5 stars
By
Kd
on
06-04-12
So-so
The book is comprised of about 19 stories. The cowboys are both contemporary and of the more historical type. Still, there seemed to be very little variety. The narrator sounded the exact same at all times. And the narrator was completely unable--and didn't even seem to try--to do the rare female character's voice. Additionally, the language and terms used were over-repeated. Lastly, the one interracial story between contemporary men--a black urban male and a white cowboy-type--was unsettling, to put it mildly, and a great disappointment. The white male called the black male "boy" at least twice during the tryst and while "telling" the black partner to favor him. And I don't recall "boy" being used in any of the other many stories. In light of the history in America of the use of "boy" spoken by a white person reference to a black male, being used during a sex act only brought forth images of oppression and utter disrespect and dehumanization. It was somewhat acknowledged but treated as though it wouldn't be an issue to a black male who was entirely aware of and concerned about being in an all-white, rural environment. I was hoping that the author would somehow overcome this serious lack of insight and social care, but it didn't happen. So, in the end, there's nothing left for me to recommend this book.
Read more
Hide me
4 of 5 people found this review helpful