Desperation Road | 
pickThis book left me breathless. Set in southern Mississippi, the novel explores what justice looks like in a broken world. Maben is on the run from a hard life and a fatal encounter with a sleazy cop. Russell, just released from Parchman for a drunken driving manslaughter charge, struggles to adjust to being home. Together, they weigh how to balance their pasts against an uncertain future.
so-soI have kind of a weird take on this one. It felt like a character study that relied more on the reader than on developing the characters. Not bad, just kinda meh...
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
This book really starts so strongly and I was captivated after a few pages. This is Southern noir, full of flawed characters, guns, whisky, and violence. Farris Smith has a talent for dialogue particularly between characters that don't like to talk much.
A solid book rather than an outstanding one. I thought it's early potential was squandered but I would be interested to read more Souther noir.
When the week was up each man had gate money and a manila folder tucked under his arm filled with everything the Mississippi Department of Corrections believed he needed to become a functioning member of society.
pickI really enjoyed this book. The writing was sparse, leaving out the unnecessary, sometimes it's more about what you don't say. Despite this a vivid picture was painted. Couldn't quite get my head around all the drink driving that took place though.
Saturday night goals!! Squeezing in a few chapters before Strictly starts 💃
The leckie man is here, I have no power, what to do, what to do 🤔 Ps, this book is cracking!!
Heading back to Edinburgh and University and for one horrible moment thought I was going to have to get a bus 😲 the horror!
As many of you have seen, I. Love. This. Book. I read it twice from the library. I finally had to buy my own copy. And today I got it signed by the author. And even better than that, I got to tell the author how much I loved his book. #GOALS #allthefeels
Looking forward to reading this Mississippi author.
I read the library copy of this book. I love this so much I just had to get my own. It arrived in the mail today. #BookMailBestMail I'm hoping to get it signed at the Mississippi Book Festival next month. I'm taking time off of work and I'm taking a road trip to one state over. And I am more excited about getting to listen to Michael Farris Smith on one of the panels. BTW, I just ordered the rest of his books also. More book mail to come.
pickDark, complex and gritty characters come together in this descriptive prose. It seemed as if I could smell the cigarette smoke and hear the sizzle of Coke being poured to mix with bourbon. A story of long ago love and tragedy and beginning again. Although it's a short book, it's been a long time since I've read a book in a day; I couldn't pull myself away. ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️
"The past is never dead." William Faulkner #southernlit #June
So this happened...sqwwwwweeee...
pickI went to a book conference and Michael Farris Smith was on a panel with another writer. The other writer spent much of her time telling us all the beauty of this novel. I cannot agree more. This book is full of sadness, however, you just want to keep reading. Smith has created with a sparse concise amount of words a truly formed characterization of two people you will never forget. 💯 BEST BOOK READ ALL YEAR!! Totally recommend this. Read this.
"Quit being stupid, he told himself. Stupid is a bad way to start the day."
pickThis book presents to you two flawed individuals, their decisionmaking placing them in despicable situations. Things seem to continually get worse for them. As this happens, even knowing their past transgressions, you feel sympathy. Their paths undoubtably cross, and you learn that even from terrible life choices a person can begin again and claw their way back to something better.
Well this one sure isn't a light read. 😬. I feel like the subtitle should be: Desperation Road: A Tale of Southern Misery. There's so much drinking that I feel like I've somehow gotten a contact buzz. I can't see how this could end well. #dark and #depressing
pickI just finished the audio. I liked it quite a bit. I think the narrator did wonders for this book, where there isn't a lot of action, he kept me engaged.
pickI'm a sucker for a bleak, well-written novel. 🖤
pickAaaahhhh!!! Haven't had a good grit-lit read in ages and this one sooooo hit the mark!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Saturdays are better when you get to hang with Michael Farris Smith. SERIOUSLY y'all, DESPERATION ROAD is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. Larry Brown meets Tom Franklin meets Ron Rash.
pickRedemption, forgiveness, & second chances. Dark and gritty with a deliberate pace. I was able to picture the Mississippi landscapes so vividly in my mind. The characters were so complex; even minor townspeople have distinct personalities. Russell and Maben have been to hell and back & they don't always make the best decisions, but I was rooting for them. How will these they escape their desperate situations? I wasn't sure that they would.
panWhile I never totally lost interest in Desperation Road by Micheal Farris Smith, there were just too many times that the characters' actions just didn't make sense. Also, not enough edge to the ending. Will do a full review on http://www.novelvisits.com/ next week sometime.
Everyone NEEDS this book. It is that good. I was tense the entire time I was reading it. If a story can provide physical discomfort, you know the writing's great.
pickOh my word. I cannot even tell y'all how good it is.
