Juliet in August

Warren, Dianne. Juliet in August. New York: Putnam. 2010. Print.

First Sentences:

It was the end of August, before the Perry Land and Cattle Company's fall gather, and the ranch cowboys had too much time on their hands

They were standing around the dusty yard watching the horses swat flies with their tails when the young buck, Ivan Dodge, somehow managed to convinced on of the old veteran cowboys -- Henry Merchant was his name -- to meet his challenge of a hundred-mile horse race through the dunes and the grasslands of the Little Snake Hills.

Description:

Just after finishing Dianne Warren's uniquely satisfying novel Juliet in August, I had a dream that included her characters. It's not often a book affects with me like that, but such is the staying power of Warren's tales of people living in a small town on the edge of the western United States.

Warren, a noted short story writer, offers chapters of seemingly stand-alone tales of strong, independent people. But eventually the characters and stories overlap as the townspeople of the small town of Juiliet run into each other, talk about their neighbors, help friends with problems, and reminisce on legends of historical figures and events. What emerges is a wide-ranging glimpse into one town's people, their relationships, and the environment they call home.

The wind blows until dawn, releasing the past, howling at the boundaries of the present. The land forever changing shape.

In Juliet over a two-day period, there emerges the story of an Arabian horse that escapes from its trailer and wanders to a nearby farm, only to be found by a farmer and ridden on a meandering 100-mile ride through the countryside. Then there is rancher heavily in debt who contemplates the evilness of the banker who won't extend his loan one more time. Contrasted with this story are the episodes in that same banker's life as he sadly contemplates what actions he must take against his friends who cannot repay money owed to the bank. Then there's the lovely, slow-developing relationship between a drive-in movie theater owner and a quiet widow who happens to be his sister-in-law. 

He hopes he won't turn into one of those old bachelors who sleeps in the same sheets until they wear out, and then doesn't bother with sheets at all, and eventually doesn't bother washing the one dirty plate, just gives it to the dog to lick and calls it good enough.

There are so many similar characters revealed through solid tales of these real people trying to understand and succeed in relationships with family, friends, and their own inner beings.

This is a lovely collection of stories woven into a novel of the life of individuals intertwined in a small town. Warren is a master storyteller, but more importantly someone with a clear knowledge of the emotions, hopes, and uncertainties felt by people in this tiny town as well as in the world. Best of all, Juliet in August is expertly written in a sure hand, with words flowing gently like a quiet stream lulling you into dreaminess.

Lee is not the only one who is restless, awake.

Open windows encourage air to circulate, curtains barely moving in what can't quite be called a breeze. Air conditioners and overhead fans, bedsprings and pillow-top mattresses shifting under the weight of sleepless bodies, radios turned to all-night talk stations. A rooster crowing, confused about the time of day. The yip of coyotes, cattle bawling, tires spinning on gravel. The ping of a bullet ricocheting off a metal highway sign. A match rasping across a rough surface.  The sound of laughter, a whispered shhhh. 

A brilliant read, one not soon forgotten (as I found out). Highly recommended.

Happy reading. 

Fred

www.firstsentencereader.blogspot.com

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If this book interests you, be sure to check out:

Young, Carrie. Nothing To Do But Stay

Wonderful recollections about the people and life in the small farming community on the North Dakota plains. (previously reviewed here)

Haruf, Kent. Plainsong

More wonderful recollections about the people and life in the small farming community on the North Dakota plains.

Coplin, Amanda. The Orchardist

A reclusive rancher takes in two pregnant runaway teen girls and faces the questions of how his and their lives will change by this action. (previously reviewed here)