tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747768554703669866.post2478110483234316531..comments2024-03-22T19:13:05.266-04:00Comments on The Dusty Bookcase: Where is Catherine Deneuve?Brian Busbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747768554703669866.post-37879127055590521162011-10-13T10:24:30.740-04:002011-10-13T10:24:30.740-04:00Yes, provinces are provinces and are never referre...Yes, provinces are provinces and are never referred to as states. I should have added that firearms legislation falls to the federal government - restrictions are the same, regardless of province or territory.<br /><br />I too appreciated the break from the formulaic revenge narrative. Interesting to note, I think, that <i>The Shrewsdale Exit</i> and Brian Garfield's <i>Death Wish</i> were first published in the same year. <br /><br />As I say, I must give Buell's third another read.Brian Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747768554703669866.post-81133483142294214642011-10-11T21:25:49.163-04:002011-10-11T21:25:49.163-04:00You make a good point. Do Canadians never refer to...You make a good point. Do Canadians never refer to provinces or regions of them as states? I guess not. My real disagreement here is over the merits of the novel. I think it's much better than you give it credit for. The suspense builds over the course of what seems like a fairly formulaic revenge narrative, and then the whole thing ends in a very satisfying fashion, but most emphatically without the familiar climactic showdown between protagonist and villain. I was surprised and pleased with the way Buell pulled this one off. <br /><br />I strongly recommend Playground. It's as vividly and tightly written as a northern version of Deliverance, but there are no human villains in this one.<br /><br />-- Michael WashburnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747768554703669866.post-78121197532300352722011-10-11T20:20:56.119-04:002011-10-11T20:20:56.119-04:00Ah, after Buell's first two novels, I was look...Ah, after Buell's first two novels, I was looking out for some indication as to setting. Things again seem vague - not needlessly, I hasten to add. I first noticed that Buell refers to "troopers", then came upon this on page 123 of the FSG edition: "Two hours later he was well into another state and into a thriving big small-town where he had breakfast and waited for nine o'clock to be sure the stores where open."<br /><br />Twice, you say. Perhaps I'll give it another read - after <i>Playground</i> and <i>A Lot to Make Up For</i>. I still think <i>The Pyx</i> and (especially) <i>Four Days</i> are unjustly neglected.<br /><br />A few sentences later we find: "He was in a state that had few restrictions on firearms."<br /><br />Not a lot, I know, but enough to place the action south of the border.<br /><br />Twice, you say. Must give it another read - after <i>Playground</i> and <i>A Lot to Make Up For</i>.Brian Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747768554703669866.post-7830795234301218302011-10-11T18:39:32.603-04:002011-10-11T18:39:32.603-04:00I've read this novel twice, and I'm wonder...I've read this novel twice, and I'm wondering on what evidence one would say that it takes place "somewhere in the United States"?<br /><br />-- Michael WashburnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com