⋙ Read Good News Edward Abbey 9780525115830 Books

Good News Edward Abbey 9780525115830 Books

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Good News Edward Abbey 9780525115830 Books

I've really enjoyed some of Abbey's writings, both fiction (Monkey Wrench Gang) and nonfiction (Desert Solitaire). This wants to be a good story, but it isn't filled out enough to be a good read and isn't concise enough to be short story. Still, Abbey always tries to make it fun.


Tags : Good News [Edward Abbey] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In Good News, Edward Abbey's acclaimed underground classic, the West is wild again. American civilization as the twentieth century knew it has crumbled. In the great Southwest,Edward Abbey,Good News,Dutton Adult,0525115838

Good News Edward Abbey 9780525115830 Books Reviews

As a summary impression, I have to believe that Edward Abbey wrote this book while in a declining/declined state. His lifespan was from 1927-1989. He was erroneously diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1980, which is the year of the copyright of this book. Perhaps this book was a creative outlet for his mind when he received the erroneous death sentence. This is the closest I can come to forgiving Abbey for this book.

The blurb on the back of the book describes Good News as a story about how "...a new breed of settlers , whites and Indians together, is creating a new life in the wilderness - a pastoral economy - with skills and savvy resurrected from the pre-industrial past. ..." This is NOT an accurate description of the story of this book. I found this book to be a depressing post-apocalyptic diatribe, with most of the story focusing on the omnipotence of those in power. Both the characters and social structure of the rebellion were incompletely described and developed. Further, the end of the book was inconclusive. If this book was Abbey's attempt to prophesy the demise of society in our country, then I think he failed. The first three pages of the book describe how society arrived in the ruined state he depicts. He should have just stopped there and called it an essay. The ensuing story does not support well the premise presented in those first three pages.

As I stated earlier, the most thought-provoking material was presented in the first three introductory pages of this book. I found the rest of the book to be increasingly tedious. Though I strongly considered abandoning it before I reached the end, I persevered to the conclusion. I experienced a brief glimmer of hope for the story during the time when the old guy/cowboy, Jack, was explaining to the Colonel why he was an absent father. Jack was unable to be present in the young life of the Colonel because it was believed that Jack died while trying to blow up a dam, when in fact he escaped and apparently hid out for over 30 years. When I read this, I thought, "Now THIS is an Edward Abbey character!" I even had a brief glimmer of hope that Jack somehow tied back into the Monkey Wrench Gang. That line of thought was never confirmed or denied in the rest of the book. There was a lack of overall character development, in my opinion. In spite of being an staunch overall fan of Edward Abbey, I'll recommend this book to no one - ever.
Good news! Read it. You won't regret it. Anything by Abbey is a must-read. Good news! Read it. You won't regret it. Anything by Abbey is a must-read.
Another great Abbey read.
Abbey is at his doomsday best with this tale that leaves a glimmer of hope that we can yet save ourselves. Say what what you want about Abbey (narcissistic, sexist, moody), the guy could write! He was also ahead of his time in his warnings about our abuse of the environment!
I've always had a problematic relationship with Edward Abbey. At some point, I always find myself wanting to throw the book against the wall, and cursing him... and yet I always come back for more. It would seem that I'm in an abusive relationship with Abbey. However, this novel was pretty wonderful and left me wanting a sequel, which we will, unfortunately never see.

It follows the adventures, if a fight for survival can be characterized as such, of various groups of survivors of an ecological and technological apocalypse, eking out an existence in the desert south west. Filled with fascinating characters, and alliances, the book explores tribalism, corruption, greed, and man's basic need for companionship which is as vital to his survival as the air that he breathes.
One of the greatest pieces of fiction ever, especially if you're an Abbey fan.
I just like everything Edward Abbey has written and this book is no exception. Well drawn characters with depth, sparkling dialogue and an intriguing plot. Can't ask for much more.
I've really enjoyed some of Abbey's writings, both fiction (Monkey Wrench Gang) and nonfiction (Desert Solitaire). This wants to be a good story, but it isn't filled out enough to be a good read and isn't concise enough to be short story. Still, Abbey always tries to make it fun.