- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine Books (Oct 20 1998)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0345426320
- ISBN-13: 978-0345426321
- Product Dimensions: 14 x 1.7 x 21.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 222 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,197,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
Edgerton returns to his native stomping grounds, small-town North Carolina, for his latest humorous portrayal of the irrationalities and peculiarities of human nature. In 1950, the community of Listre is not much more than a meager assortment of houses and businesses that have sprung up around a crossroads; a blinking traffic light was installed a while back (after a mule and a truck collided), which at least represents a certain amount of modernization. In yarn-like fashion, Edgerton perambulates around town from one citizen to another, establishing in the reader's mind who is who and what the ambience is like. Then about a third of the way through the book (up to this point, it reads more like a series of short stories than a novel), the real action begins, when a stranger arrives. Jack Umstead starts hanging around town; people notice him right away--he wears a yellow shirt every day. He begins ingratiating himself with the townsfolk, but the reader immediately knows what the town does not know, that Jack is up to no good, that he's here for his own benefit, not anyone else's. But it doesn't take long for the town to learn this, too, and in the process, we have been treated to a delightful tale of innocence and betrayal. Brad Hooper
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Kirkus Reviews
As amiable and charming as all his novels, Edgerton's latest about small-town life brings together his usual cast of drunks, church-going Baptists, and southern eccentrics, all of whom encounter the Devil in the form of a traveling ne'er-do-well. This devilish Jack Umstead (a.k.a. Rusty Smith, a.k.a. Delbert Jones, etc.) even dares to pretend he's Jesus--the true sign of the Antichrist--in deceiving the sick and elderly Dorothea Clark. Neither Dorothea nor her two sisters (who never married and are thus known as the Blaines), who run a chicken- and ice-store, were ever quite right, and they still can't understand why Dorothea went off and married that vulgar Clark fellow, Claude T. of the gold ring and Cadillac. Most of what we learn is through the eyes of little Stephen Toomey, the coddled and asthmatic son of Harvey and Alease, Alease herself a righteous and pretty woman not immune to Umstead's blandishments. Everyone in little Listre, a town that ``looked settled, ripe, timid, kind of stupid,'' is touched by Umstead's evil presence. He seduces the dreamy-eyed Cheryl Daniels, the sister of Stephen's best friend, Terry (Terry is additionally providing a spiritual crisis for the married preacher, Mr. Crenshaw). Umstead also pals up with Stephen's drunk Uncle Raleigh, a vet who lost an arm during WW II. But Umstead bides his time for his big score--he hopes to rob the Blaine Sisters when the next lightning storm comes, since that's when they abandon their home for their sister Dorothea's. Little Stephen, who wants to cuss, drink, and smoke like the men of Listre, is lucky enough to witness Umstead's bloody end. And he discovers that it's a lot more enjoyable than the readings from Aunt Margaret's Bible Stories, a volume that provides parallel texts throughout the novel. Jokes about breasts and flatulence punctuate a lighthearted treatment of good and evil and the simple world of those who are weak but seek salvation. An always enjoyable read. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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First Sentence
ALEASE TOOMEY SAT at her dresser, putting on lipstick, getting ready to take her son up to see the electric chair for the first time. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
ALEASE TOOMEY SAT at her dresser, putting on lipstick, getting ready to take her son up to see the electric chair for the first time. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, but,
By Brian Johnson (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Where Trouble Sleeps (Paperback)
What was the purpose of the story? It kept me entertained on a flight to the UK, but if the in flight entertainment system had been working, I'm not sure if I would have finished it.The version I read had questions for discussion which I found interesting, unfortunately, my book club was unable to find any meaningful answers to the questions raised. Throughout the book he wrote little blurbs about characters living in the town or near by. You expect them to have some relevance to the story, but they are never heard from again. It's almost as if these blurbs were put in to meet a page quota. I'm not usually a book snob, but I would turn my nose up at this one.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where Trouble Sleeps is a wonderful book!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Where Trouble Sleeps (Paperback)
It was great! The characters are so funny and the story is charming. It is easily one of the best books I've read in a long time. I would definitely recommend it!
3.0 out of 5 stars
Humorous scenes illuminate small town story,
This review is from: Where Trouble Sleeps (Paperback)
Of all of Edgerton's novels I've read so far, this was my least favorite, although there are portions that entertained me. In small town Listre in the 50's, 7 year old Stephen's life is unremarkable except for occasional oddities, such as his mother taking him and a friend to see the electric chair (for a deterrent) and the arrival of the mysterious "gypsy man," Delbert Jones (re name: Jack Umbaugh) whose slealth gets him into town but can't get him out.Edgerton's live reading from this book was the most entertaining author reading I have been lucky enough to attend--he read in character, played the banjo, and made the scenes he presented come to life. I was a bit disappointed that the whole novel didn't live up to the promise of the portions he shared aloud. For a better sample of his work, read Walking Across Egypt, Raney, and The Floatplane Notebooks.
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