Something to Be Desired

By Thomas McGuane

Book Overview

A funny, rueful, and beautifully rendered portrait of American manhood on the rocks from the highly acclaimed author of Cloudbursts and Ninety-two in the Shade In life Lucien Taylor has made several mistakes, but the two most grievous are as follows: leaving his wife and son to take up with his old flame, Emily; and putting up Emily's bail when she is arrested for murder. The upshot is that Lucien is left stranded in Montana, with a malodorous hot spring and a squandered sense of purpose. As told by Thomas McGuane, Lucien's attempt to recoup his losses makes for a book that says volumes about the lives of dogs and falcons, the yearnings of sons for fathers, and the skeptical truce that men and women sometimes reach when they get tired of fighting.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394731565
• ISBN13: 9780394731568
• Release Date: April 1985
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

The Bentrock Chronicle

If there's ever been a better picture painted of life in Livingston, Montana, I haven't read it. The town is the real life Deadrock of course, and what makes it unique is the memorable characters who inhabit the place. The hilariously flawed Lucien doesn't let bad fortune, family estrangement, or loss of love get him down. That's a mighty handy quality to have in a place like Deadrock. McGuane's novels are unique regardless of the decade he wrote them. The 1980's in this case. Who wouldn't like to inherit a ranch up the Shields Valley by default? And then turn it into another roadside attraction? Locals are doing that right now only with oil and gas wells. At least Lucien didn't inherit the land. He won it fair and square by opportunism and endurance. Sometimes you have to outlast 'em and then make hay. Important aspects of the human condition are crystal clear and humorously drawn.