Todd

Great book and story, my only complaint is the same reason that I read the book after viewing the movie: it ends with the story unfinished.
I thought the movie covered the first book of a series, but turns out the author just abandoned the story after the first book.
And yes, I am “one of those” that needs closure in my book / series, so it loses a star for leaving me hanging.

Fascinating read

Very interesting book, as humorous as it is scientific. I don't know if I was more amazed at the content of the scientific studies, or the authors vast knowledge of puns and witty remarks.

Outstanding book, but not at all what I had expected.

I expected a rather straight forward, Western style thriller in the genre or a John Wayne movie or a Louis L'Amour novel. It was anything but.

The book is several things at once; it is a study in understatement, it is a philosophical commentary on today's society and politics, and it is a dark yet conflicted account of what is probably a fairly common situation at the Texas-Mexico border with a sincere and heartfelt tribute to a solid marriage mixed in.

It is also a complete rebellion against the writing rules espoused by every college in the country. The author writes in a very disorganized style, seemingly opposed to quotation marks, paragraphs, apostrophes, and dialogue clarifying pronouns. He will also launch into a back and forth dialogue that often lead me to backtrack to the beginning so I could keep track of who said what. Ironically, the book felt like a quick read so maybe the author has successfully proven that all those grammar rules just slow us down.

If you like tidy endings, closure, and a prevailing sense of justice and order, this is not the book for you. If you'd like to step inside the head of an imperfect man trying to balance enforcing the law and protecting the public with his desire to enjoy spending the rest of his life with the woman he adores, then it's an easy choice.

I'm glad I didn't read the reviews first; this handily entered my list of top 10 favorite books in my 5.5 decade life span.

I suspect it's because I related so much to many of the plot points and characters. I grew up in the south, modest family income, and lacking the beguiling looks or athletic ability that brought the right kind of attention. Instead, I was “tender hearted” as we would say, pudgy, book smart, never had the right brand of shirt / pants / shoes or jacket to satisfy the social shot-callers, and painfully shy. I also had parents who loved me deeply, but also struggled to express at times.

As a result, I relate to the main character, from the derogatory nickname to the blessing of finding a few “misfits” like yourself to not only weather the schools but also overcome. Like the story itself, I lost a few of those friends along the way. Not in as spectacular fashion, but with the same impact as the main character experienced.

So, if you can identify with any of the above, push past these reviews and give it a try. As for me, this will go in my childhood cache of meaningful memories and possessions that perplexes the “normal” people. ;)

I really liked this book. It's not a complex mind bender or interlaced mystery, but sometimes that's okay. If you're old enough to have any significant life experiences, you will find yourself identifying with some of the characters or themes.